Nonprofit & Education

Many of Sullivan's lawyers work with nonprofit organizations, including: foundations, schools, churches, social service agencies, arts organizations, hospitals, museums, and environmental groups, as well as trade associations, social clubs and taxable nonprofits.

Nonprofit organizations face a different set of complex legal issues than those faced by commercial businesses; however, their procedures and policies are equally, if not more so, under public and government scrutiny. Our lawyers provide sound, cost-effective counsel to their clients by focusing on the unique legal needs of the nonprofit sector, working on their organizational structure, teaching about adhering to nonprofit law, and often serving on advisory boards and committees. Common issues that arise in the nonprofit sector include: employment, tax exempt financing, real estate, intellectual property, environmental, employee benefits, government relations, and litigation matters.

Representative Client Work

• Represented the New York City Police Foundation in connection with the development of a municipal licensing program for trademarks owned by the NYPD
• Advised the New York City Police Foundation in connection with the negotiation of various agreements by which the Foundation purchases and acquires technology for the benefit of the NYPD, including a state-of-the-art control room display and video system for NYPD headquarters
• Represented the world's largest nonprofit institute of gemological research, education and gem rating with real estate transactions, and construction-related matters
• Helped create College Bound Dorchester (formerly known as Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses, Inc.) by merging several settlement houses, including The Little House, which just celebrated its 100th anniversary. Since that time, countless attorneys and paralegals have devoted thousands of hours of pro bono time to College Bound Dorchester in a variety of disciplines including tax, litigation, real estate, general corporate, financing, employment and benefits
• Fully support the legal needs of Neighborhood House Charter School, a model of success within the charter school movement. Pro-bono services for this client include real estate, general corporate, financing, tax, employment and benefits work. Several of our attorneys have also served as clerks and/or trustees of each of this organization
• Represented major U.S. universities regarding protection of trademarks and team logos on merchandise and team uniforms
• Represented commercial property owners and developers of a number of Japanese schools who have established locations in the U.S.
• Successfully arbitrated a contract dispute concerning a charter school and its management company resulting in an award of approximately $1 million and dismissal of several million dollars in counterclaims
• Established full insurance coverage for a private university in connection with hazing claims that had generated a multimillion dollar punitive damages award