United States • Tax
3

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

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

More information
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP works with philanthropists, nonprofits, and tax-exempt organizations active in a broad range of endeavors to provide advice on tax, nonprofit corporate, and charitable trust law, as well as other operational issues faced in the sector. Team lead Laverne Woods works from Seattle and covers all aspects of nonprofit governance, endowment management, and mission-related investing. Jean Tom is a San Francisco-based key contact for a number of prominent tech clients who also handles tax matters in the healthcare, social welfare, and conservation sectors, among others. Tom Schroeder, who works between Seattle and Los Angeles, covers formations, dissolutions, and reorganizations, as well as all aspects of tax qualification and compliance. Marisa Meltebeke is a key name in the Portland office.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Excellent skills both in terms of black letter knowledge of law as well as breadth of experience handling situations. Good contacts with regulators. Building a good bench of associates to add to the excellent partners in this area.’

  • ‘Jean Tom is a well-regarded expert in all aspects of laws applicable to nonprofits. She provides a very thorough analysis of issues, but is still able to balance that with practical advice. ’

  • ‘Marisa Meltebeke has served as our primary point of contact for many years, and she has been excellent. It is a plus having Laverne Woods as a member of the DWT team, with her national reputation. ’

  • ‘Marisa Meltebeke has been particularly personable and professional to work with. She is quick to respond, knows when she needs to do additional research, and is very conscientious. She gives practical advice and is mindful of being efficient.’

  • ‘Consistently, Tom Schroeder exhibits strong analytical skills, which match his natural intellectual curiosity. A skilled and seasoned attorney, Tom is attentive to detail, as he analyzes the complex legal questions referred to his office. Tom possesses excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.'

  • Tom Schroeder is calm under pressure, and provides practical, client-friendly advice. He is also a genuinely good person.’
  • 'Practical advice, deep knowledge.'

Key clients

  • Vulcan Inc.
  • Inatai Foundation
  • FKA Group Health Community Foundation
  • Servant Foundation
  • Seattle Mariners and Mariners Care
  • Johnson & Johnson Foundation United States
  • NoVo Foundation
  • ASPCA
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
  • Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Work highlights

  • Advised Vulcan Inc. on a multi-year restructuring of an array of multinational charitable and philanthropic ventures.
  • Acted for the Servant Foundation on a range of tax matters.
  • Advised USC on nonprofit governance, executive compensation, employment and employee benefits, and tax-exempt organizations counsel.

Lawyers

Practice head

LaVerne Woods

Other key lawyers

Jean Tom; Tom Schroeder; Marisa Meltebeke