The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Davis Wright Tremaine LLP assists philanthropists, nonprofits, and tax-exempt organizations on corporate, tax, and regulatory issues affecting these organizations, their founders, and donors. The firm deals with issues related to financial services, healthcare, media, energy, and climate, as well as cases where charity intersects with technology. Jean Tom, working at the San Francisco office, and Laverne Woods, based in Seattle, jointly lead the practice. The ’extremely professional and capable’ Tom advises social entrepreneurs, public charities, and private foundations on all aspects of nonprofits, from choosing and forming an entity to complex organizational structuring, grantmaking, and corporate governance. Woods brings deep experience in the nonprofit sector, managing complex restructurings of tax-exempt systems, investigations by state authorities, and nonprofit mergers and acquisitions. Another key member, Thomas Schroeder, based in Seattle, is a name to note in relation to complex state and federal laws and regulations.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The firm is different from other firms in the depth of their tax exempt experience. They are extremely knowledgeable and "know their lane" more so than many other lawyers we work with. They are also kind and reasonable as people, which matters.'
- ‘Jean Tom is the quintessential attorney and lead counsel for our organization. She is highly intelligent and provides expert advice. She always makes herself available to us and she prioritizes our needs in a meaningful way. She is committed to us, and our work, and she takes great care to ensure that while within all legal bounds at all times, we are not constrained in our ability to do our work. Jean is not just a legal partner; she is our mission partner as well.'
Key clients
- ## INSERTED START: 20-01-2025 04:50:06 Vale Group, FKA Vulcan Inc. Home Planet Fund The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) Rights and Resources Institute NoVo Foundation Larsen-Lam Climate Change RippleWorks, Inc. Seattle Foundation Institute for Nonprofit News Inatai Foundation, FKA Group Health Community Foundation
Work highlights
Advised on a multi-year restructuring of a vast array of the globe-spanning charitable and philanthropic ventures of Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen through Vulcan Inc., the Paul G. Allen Foundation and others.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Jean Tom; LaVerne Woods
Other key lawyers
Thomas Schroeder; Monica Rodriguez; Gillian Murphy