Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli has added nationally recognized nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations attorney Andrew Grumet, who becomes Chair of the firm’s Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice Group. Grumet will be in Polsinelli’s New York City office and brings a group of three professionals with him: Christina Cahill, associate, Nicole Ribeiro, director of strategic philanthropy and Erica Seaborne, manager of strategic philanthropy. Grumet and his team join Polsinelli from Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP.
With more than 20 years of experience, Grumet’s global practice focuses on the representation of nonprofit organizations. It also includes a wide array of charitable giving and philanthropic organizations, including a number of high-profile, A-list individuals and their philanthropic endeavors and partnerships.
“We are energized by this strong, diverse team of nonprofit professionals as they bring unique and highly-skilled capabilities to Polsinelli,” said Business Department Chair Frank Ross, Jr. “In addition to their decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, this group offers unique services for all clients, which will be a key differentiator for us. They will be able to offer nonprofit legal services of the highest quality, but also offer strategic advice on numerous operational utilities for our clients.”
Grumet works with some of the largest multinational tax-exempt organizations, from family foundations, public charities and schools, to museums, hospitals, religious organizations, community trusts and donor-advised funds and trade associations. His clients span from mission-driven companies, major American sports teams, athletes and entertainers, healthcare institutions and some of the most prestigious universities, to global foundations in Africa, India, China and the European nations. Grumet assumes the practice chair role from longtime Chair Thomas Schenkelberg, who will remain with the group.
The nonprofit group’s work extends beyond the traditional legal aspects and is based upon taking a holistic approach to working with clients, proving demand for this diverse team of individuals with substantial experience working at nonprofit organizations in a variety of capacities, including front-line fundraising.
“Polsinelli is one of the few firms in the U.S. that truly has an established nonprofit practice that mirrors what our group does, and that’s not something you find at many organizations. We had a unique opportunity to combine two well-established groups and take one big jump towards long-term goals together,” said Grumet. “Each of our team members has unique skill sets; together we are a much greater group. We’re pleased to join Polsinelli and collaborate with our new colleagues across the country.”
As an active speaker and a prominent media contributor, Grumet is regularly an expert source on trending and important developments affecting nonprofit organizations. He is frequently quoted and mentioned in publications such as TIME, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The International Herald Tribune.
Associate Christina Cahill brings background in mergers and acquisitions, litigation and complex government, leveraging that experience to provide strategic counsel to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. Prior to receiving her law degree from the University of Chicago Law School, she was a Teach for America corps member teaching in South Bronx, New York.
As Polsinelli’s Director of Strategic Philanthropy, Nicole Ribeiro helps clients navigate through the complexities of management and formation of tax-exempt entities. She brings more than a decade of experience guiding charitable giving and philanthropic organizations. Ribeiro is a graduate of Rutgers University.
Erica Seaborne advises clients on qualifications for tax-exempt status, corporate governance practices and policies and structuring philanthropic efforts to meet the client’s and donor’s goals. She brings fundraising, development, operations, finance and human resource experience to her role as manager of strategic philanthropy. Seaborne received a Master of Public Administration professional degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Polsinelli’s established Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice Group is comprised of nationally-recognized nonprofit attorneys who bring decades of industry knowledge on state and federal tax and nonprofit issues. Attorneys in the practice have written numerous books covering a variety of nonprofit legal and tax topics. The Nonprofit Organizations Practice offers services including governance, joint ventures, entity structuring, mergers and acquisitions, Form 990 consulting, fundraising, charitable giving, tax compliance, planning to minimize Unrelated Business Income and grantmaking and impact investing.
Grumet’s group provides a full range of professional services focused on solving many of the challenges nonprofits, mission driven companies, social entrepreneurs and philanthropists encounter through the Strategic Nonprofit Solutions team.
Source: www.polsinelli.com
