Practice

Cliff has been advising philanthropic organizations for more than twenty five years. He counsels the firm’s nonprofit clients through every stage of the corporate life cycle, from incorporating and obtaining tax-exemption, to key corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, major asset transfers, and dissolution.

He provides legal advice and practical solutions to public charities, private foundations and individual philanthropists on a wide range of issues including:

• Nonprofit formation and federal tax exemption
• Real estate transactions and disposition
• Complex tax issues, including nonprofit/for-profit transactions and revenue sharing
• Protection of charitable assets through endowments, subsidiaries, trusts and other supporting organizations
• Protection of the charity’s interest in the execution of estates, bequests and other gifts
• Safeguarding of public reputation
• Intellectual property and trademarking
• Board governance and liability issues

Representative Work

• Provided advisement in response to adverse publicity for numerous celebrity clients in respect to philanthropic endeavors
• Investigated theft of $4 million in charity’s assets and assisted authorities in obtaining conviction against former charity directors and current board member
• Successfully shepherded the dissolution of NYANA in 2008, a charity supporting Jewish refugees for more than sixty years, managing to maintain and transition program operations through the process
• Assisted churches and synagogues in the establishment of an endowment for the long-term protection of their assets through a gift agreement

Professional & Nonprofit Affiliations

New York City Bar Association, Exempt Organizations Committee, member

International Peace Institute, board member

SAY Theater Company, board member

American Chai Trust, board member

Education

City University of New York, School of Law, J.D.

University of Wisconsin/Madison, B. A.

Bar Admissions

New York

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District and the Southern District

U.S. Supreme Court