Chicago Law Partners

Chief Operating Officer: Kimberly A. Pendo

Managing Partner: Jed R. Mandel

Senior Partners: Susan F. Carlson, Timothy French

Number of Paralegals, Trademark Specialists, Professional & Support Staff: 10

Chicago Law Partners, LLC (“CLP”) was formed in 2010 in order to focus on meeting the broad and diverse needs of not-for-profit organizations. CLP believes that a boutique law firm dedicated to not-for-profit organizations provides the most favorable setting for delivering legal services to its clients. In addition to the firm’s four principals, CLP is home to experienced associates and support staff, including paralegals, trademark specialists, and other professionals who serve CLP’s clients.

CLP is a specialized law practice focused exclusively on representing professional societies, trade associations, foundations, religious organizations, charities and other types of not-for-profit organizations. CLP's attorney's serve as general counsel to more than 100 international, national, state and local not-for-profit organizations. CLP represents groups with small and large staffs, as well as those that are managed by association management companies. CLP's clients range from organizations with budgets of less than $250,000 to those with revenues in the tens of millions.

CLP's areas of practice include corporate governance; federal, state and local tax and tax exemption; meetings, tradeshows, travel, hospitality and convention issues; intellectual property including copyright and trademark prosecution and enforcement, royalty, licensing and other intellectual property matters; antitrust; mergers, acquisitions and asset sales; contract review, negotiation and preparation; charitable solicitation and planned giving; publishing; electronic communications; amicus briefs; standard-setting, certification and accreditation; disciplinary proceedings; for-profit subsidiaries; sponsorships; litigation related matters; employee benefits; labor and employment; legislative and regulatory matters; advocacy; marketing; affinity agreements; sweepstakes and gaming; fundraising; privacy issues; insurance; and chapter relations.

CLP's attorneys have a strong working knowledge of the legal issues of special interest to not-for-profit organizations, as well as the manner in which they typically like to conduct business. For example, CLP's attorneys jumped into action when Hurricane Katrina and the September 11 attacks forced associations to cancel their meetings, and were prepared when COVID-19 resulted in meeting cancellations, hotel and convention center closures, and institutional travel bans issued in the wake of federal, state, and local shutdowns more pervasive in number, geographic scope, and length of time than in any other period in recent history. CLP's attorneys' in-depth knowledge of the antitrust laws guides them as they counsel clients in the board room, member meetings and in dealings with vendors, competitors, and government agencies. CLP counsels clients on the full range of employment issues they face, including hiring and firing, succession planning, policy development, and harassment training. CLP attorneys were among the first to advise not-for-profit organizations as to the new and developing legal issues associated with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, social media, and data privacy matters. In addition, CLP attorneys frequently assist their clients in relations with Congress, state governments, and regulatory agencies by, among other things, preparing, analyzing, and presenting legislation, position papers, and testifying before governmental agencies. CLP attorneys have worked with clients to develop certification programs from the ground up.

To provide a sense of just some of the services CLP's attorneys routinely provide clients and to highlight their experience representing not-for-profit organizations, CLP attorneys recently have:

• Advised not-for-profit organizations on the preparation, amendment, adoption, and interpretation of their articles of incorporation, bylaws, policies, and other governance documents.
• Negotiated the acquisition of a multi-million-dollar for-profit business on behalf of a client exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Presented workshops and educational sessions to chapter and affiliate leaders focused on not-for-profit governance, legal and other issues.
• Counseled not-for-profit organizations on all matters related to hiring, retaining, and terminating employees, including disciplinary matters, performance improvement plans, reductions in force (“RIFs”) and investigations.
• Prepared release and waiver of liability agreements for those attending educational meetings and social events during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Assisted multiple clients with respect to the submission of insurance claims for recovery of lost revenue following COVID-19 related meeting cancellations with successful multi-million-dollar results.
• Successfully asserted force majeure terminations of hotel and convention center contracts for properties across the country.
• Assisted clients in the development and ongoing operations of professional credentialing and product certification programs.
• Represented governing boards and committees in preparing for and conducting member disciplinary hearings.
• Provided an analysis of state law and the association’s bylaws to determine whether the organization was authorized to hold its annual members’ meeting “virtually” and assess its options with respect to officer and director elections.
• Conducted harassment training for both association staff and boards.
• Negotiated the acquisition of a Patient Safety Organization (“PSO”) from a for-profit corporation on behalf of a health care association.
• Advise health care associations with respect to the ongoing operation of PSOs.
• Advised clients with respect to their obligations under the EU General Data Protection Regulation and other privacy laws and regulations.
• Protected clients’ rights to federally registered copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property, including the registration of trademarks, certification marks and copyrights.
• Reviewed and negotiated commercial leases for office space.
• Counseled national organizations in establishing and enforcing rules and regulations concerning their relationships with chapters or other affiliates.
• Negotiated agreements to license association names, trademarks and mailing lists in return for royalties.
• Negotiated Association Management System (AMS) software agreements.
• Developed comments and presented testimony on legislative initiatives and agency rulemakings.
• Merged the operation of several not-for-profit organizations into newly formed entities.
• Formed for-profit subsidiaries on behalf of not-for-profit organizations and provided advice with respect to the operation of such entities.
• Created policies governing the publication of practice standards and guidelines designed to minimize the organization’s liability.
• Represented governing boards and committees in preparing for and conducting disciplinary hearings.
• Counseled organizations on issues arising out of financial distress and budgetary shortfalls.
• Prepared conflict of interest disclosure materials for use by volunteers.
• Developed grant programs and agreements for Section 501(c)(3) organizations.
• Undertaken all aspects of forming Section 501(c)(3) foundations related to a “parent” Section 501(c)(6) association.
• Negotiated publishing contracts for professional journals.
• Advised organizations on minimizing potential liability arising from their Web sites through various policies and procedures, notices and disclaimers.
• Negotiated cancellation and attrition clauses in hotel and convention center contracts.
• Advised associations on special meeting procedures, election disputes, and membership decisions.
• Challenged Internal Revenue Service audits assessing additional unrelated business income tax.
• Developed and implemented procedures for responding to third-party subpoenas.

Chicago Law Partners is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 810, Chicago, IL 60606. CLP's telephone number is (312) 929-1950 and its website address is: www.chicagolawpartners.com.