Bio
With experience practicing tax law as in-house and outside counsel, Melanie offers her clients a unique well-rounded perspective on both the legal and business operational issues that arise.
Her practice focuses on representing nonprofit organizations in a wide array of areas. She has formed and secured tax-exempt status for complex organizations, including charter schools, museums, religious-based entities, educational centers, private foundations, and public charities with various missions. She has represented nonprofit organizations in tax-exempt bond financing transactions, sponsorship agreements, complex grant and subgrant negotiations, and expansions into new mission-driven activities. Boards of directors rely on her to guide them through sensitive, complicated issues regarding financial statements, lobbying compliance, treatment of revenues and expenses, compensation, and disclosure of items on annual returns.
Melanie also handles tax issues on behalf of her clients. Her experience includes drafting partnership and LLC agreements, structuring complex organizational arrangements, and advising on transactional tax planning. She has guided clients through complicated real estate transactions, including like-kind exchanges, tax credits deals, and public bond financing. Her clients trust her to lead them through planned giving options in trusts, wills, and family limited liability partnerships.