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 team we work with, lead by Jean Tom, is extremely capable in the non- profit field. The team is diverse in their experience and will get the job done efficiently and on time. Jean and her team are very capable and are great to work with.'
- ‘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.'
- ‘My main contact with the firm is Jean Tom. Jean is extremely professional and capable in all aspects of the non- profit sector. Jean is always very responsive and we have relied on her expertise, advice and counsel over the past five years.'
- ‘They're just incredibly knowledgeable and supportive when we come to them with a question or concern. Often, we don't even necessarily have a clearly formulated question. We're able to come to DWT with a vague area of concern and they help us both figure out the right question and then offer concrete, actionable advice.'
- ‘The partner, Jean Tom, has served as an invaluable asset to my work for well over a decade. She is an excellent lawyer: smart, thorough and always on top of the latest developments in her practice area. Beyond this, she is strategic and practical thinker who helps us address our issues in a fulsome way, as not just our lawyer but also as a thought partner on thorny business issues.'
- ‘DWT's approach and philosophy are a perfect complement to most mission-driven organizations. They provide expert advice, but grounded in the context of present-day realities and challenges. They work with us to get to solutions that are practical and doable, never overcomplicating issues.'
- ‘The tax exempt organizations group offers a broad spectrum of expertise and integrates their advice with that of other practices groups within their firm to address the full legal and business needs of clients.'
- ‘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.'
- ‘Everyone has their area of specialization, and DWT is fantastic at rerouting our question to make sure it goes to the right person so we can get the best possible advice. Thomas Schroeder has been a terrific thought partner, as well as Monica Rodriguez, and Gillian Murphy.'
Key clients
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- 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
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.
Advised Movement for Black Lives on a myriad of legal issues, including helping it spin out from a fiscal sponsor into an independent nonprofit organization and building a multi-entity legal structure involving affiliated 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and other types of entities to better serve the movement ecosystem.
Advised the Seattle Foundation for decades on nonprofit corporate governance, federal tax law compliance, including compliance related to administering donor-advised funds, and proper structuring and oversight of fiscal sponsorships and supporting organizations.
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