John Bennett

Partner in the Firm’s Exempt Organizations Practice and Head of the Group’s Endowment Advisory Practice, John advises endowed universities, foundations, hospitals, cultural institutions and other institutional investors, such as family offices, in connection with a broad range of investment activities, including the review and negotiation of documentation relating to investments in private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds, energy and other natural resources funds, hedge funds, managed accounts, funds-of-one and similar investment vehicles, as well as in secondary market transactions involving the purchase and sale of interests in such investment vehicles. As a key piece of his investment-related practice, John represents public charities and private foundations in connection with impact investments and mission- and program-related investments in areas including education, conservation, climate change mitigation and remediation, affordable housing, and support of small businesses. A significant part of John’s practice also includes advising public charities and private foundations on structural and operating issues, including formation, governance, mergers, reorganizations, complex issues around domestic and international grantmaking and taxation, including, in particular, compliance with the portions of the tax rules applicable to tax-exempt organizations.

Joined Firm 2008; Partner 2025.

American Bar Association, Section of Taxation, Exempt Organizations Committee; Global Impact Investing Network/ISLP Legal Practitioners Group (2015 – 2017); New York City Bar Association, Committee on Non-Profit Organizations (2013 – 2016).

J.D., Columbia Law School, 2008 (James Kent Scholar, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar); B.A., Tufts University, 2001 (Thesis Honors).