Ms Laura Butzel > Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
1133 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NY 10036
NEW YORK
United States
Laura Butzel photo

Work Department

Tax-Exempt Organizations

Position

Laura Butzel is a partner in the firm’s Tax-Exempt Organizations Group. She advises tax-exempt, not-for-profit organizations on a broad range of operating issues, including corporate governance and fiduciary duties, joint ventures, program-related investments, structuring subsidiaries, unrelated business income tax and other tax issues, executive compensation, intellectual property and other issues. Her clients include private foundations as well as cultural, human and civil liberties, environmental, publishing, educational, and religious organizations. She also advises charitable clients on endowment issues, publishing and licensing issues, international and domestic grantmaking, lobbying, political activities, and the rules particular to private foundations, among other issues. An active lecturer, Ms. Butzel has presented on a wide range of issues including governance and tax concerns, investment policies and procedures, intellectual property, web site development and internet issues of charitable organizations, joint ventures and political activities of charitable entities. She serves as an officer of a number of charitable organizations and is a director of The Mertz-Gilmore Foundation and trustee of Teachers College at Columbia University. She is also a former trustee of The John B. Pierce Laboratory and The John B. Pierce Foundation, and of the Shelburne Museum.

Career

Admitted in New York

Memberships

Trustee, Teachers College at Columbia University; Member, American Bar Association (Committee on Tax Exempt Organizations); National Association of College & University Attorneys; Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Former Secretary, 1998–2000); Trustee, Shelburne Museum; Board Member, Mertz Gilmore Foundation; Former Trustee, John B. Pierce Foundation and John B. Pierce Laboratory; Secretary, Greentree Foundation

Education

J.D., 1991, New York University School of Law (cum laude, American Jurisprudence Award in Evidence, Executive Editor, Review of Law & Social Change); B.A., 1985, Wesleyan University

Leisure

Contributor to http://exemptorgresource.com/

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Tax > Not-for-profit (Fortune 1000 private foundations, national trade associations, and charities)

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP advises philanthropists, tax-exempt organizations, and other stakeholders active in a broad range of sectors, including education, art, and life sciences. In addition to advising on domestic projects and operations, the group offers support in international jurisdictions, with experience handling matters related to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Laura Butzel, who leads the team, works with a broad roaster of clients that includes universities, corporate foundations, and religious groups. Robin Krause handles domestic and international matters across numerous sectors, including conservation, education, and healthcare. John Sare‘s practice focuses on matters relating to charitable gifts and endowments. Justin Zaremby handles corporate transactions for tax-exempt organizations and covers joint ventures, M&A, and restructuring. Susan Vignola has prior experience working within nonprofit institutions and advises on rules relating to lobbying and political activity. All lawyers mentioned work from the New York office.