The nonprofit sector in Maine is extremely diverse and represents a significant part of Maine’s economy. Our attorneys understand this and specialize in providing creative and practical legal solutions for organizations representing all parts of the nonprofit sector.
Business Law
Eaton Peabody’s Business Law practice offers a breadth of hands-on experience in the general representation of nonprofit business entities, as well as specialties such as mergers and acquisitions, antitrust, finance, bankruptcy and creditors rights, nonprofit organizations, international law and corporate tax. We represent nonprofits of all sizes from small start-ups to long established organizations.
Labor & Employment
Our Labor & Employment Practice is tailored to provide employment advice, training and preventive services that address the unique needs of non-profit employers. We represent nonprofit employers throughout Maine and provide advice on personnel handbooks and policies, questions relating to FMLA, discipline, discharge, wage and hour, sexual harassment investigations, discrimination, union and other employment matters.
Often this group is requested to provide seminars to employers and employees featuring labor management issues. We also represent nonprofit employers at proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Maine Human Rights Commission, OSHA, the Unemployment Insurance Commission, Maine and National Labor Relations Boards, and before arbitrators and the courts.
Planned Giving
A central focus of Eaton Peabody’s Estate Planning & Wealth Transfer practice is providing advice to a broad range of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, including colleges and universities, museums, private foundations, social welfare organizations and other nonprofit entities.
We have experience in a diverse range of issues affecting nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations including planned giving, fundraising, excise tax avoidance, governance, formation of joint ventures and both exempt and non-exempt subsidiaries, and unrelated business taxable income. We have formed numerous nonprofit entities and have extensive experience in obtaining recognition of tax-exempt status for these organizations.
Tax
We have the ability and expertise to assist you with tax issues throughout all stages of your nonprofit’s existence. Our tax practice represents numerous charitable and tax-exempt organizations on a broad range of issues including executive compensation, unrelated business taxable income, and the special rules relating to public charities and private foundations.
We advise our nonprofit clients with respect to tax issues that arise in formation and securing tax-exempt status for nonprofit entities. Once the nonprofit is up and running, we are available to provide ongoing guidance to assure that the nonprofit operates without violating complex IRS rules unique to nonprofit entities. We are also able to assist in the liquidation and dissolution of nonprofit entities.
To learn more about services specific to nonprofit and tax exempt organizations, please contact Nathaniel S. Putnam at 207-992-4814.