Lawyers

Experience

Mr. May is a co-chair of the firm's Nonprofit Organizations and Associations Section, and a member of the firm's Business and Corporate Law and Taxation Sections.  Clients he serves include associations, retirement communities, health care providers, educational institutions and human services organizations, as well as established and emerging businesses operating in various sectors. He advises clients on business, transactional and tax matters, and acts as general outside counsel for a number of organizations and businesses.  Select experience includes entity formations, joint ventures, asset acquisitions and mergers, contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, tax planning and tax controversy matters.

Nonprofit Organizations and Associations

• Co-chair of the firm's Nonprofit Organizations and Associations Section
• Chair of Tax-Exempt Organizations Subcommittee, Section of Taxation, MSBA

Entity Formations and Tax-Exempt Status Recognition

• Represent numerous nonprofit organizations and associations seeking recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS and state taxing authorities, including public charities, private foundations, social welfare organizations, and trade and professional associations
• Worked with nonprofit client to obtain tax-exempt status recognition for a unique program to provide a broad range of medical and non-medical services to seniors to help them to stay in their own homes and communities
• Represented an institution of higher education in the formation and successful application for recognition of tax-exempt status of an affiliate nonprofit organization that will pursue grants and support the promotion and delivery of research and educational programs outside of the United States
• Represented a nonprofit healthcare institution in the formation of, and application for recognition of tax-exempt status for, affiliated nonprofit organizations that will support the institution's mission by delivering administrative services to and holding property for the benefit of the institution
• Successfully represented several nonprofit organizations in IRS examinations of their Forms 990 and tax-exempt status; assessment of taxes or penalties was ultimately avoided and tax-exempt status was maintained

Governance and Fiduciary Duties

• Work with numerous nonprofit clients on corporate governance and policy matters, as well as matters relating to corporate charters and bylaws, including amendments, state law compliance, rule interpretation, etc.
• Work with nonprofit clients on crafting customized corporate policies on various topics, including conflict of interest, corporate ethics, whistleblowers, document retention and destruction, gifts and donations, joint ventures, etc.
• Conduct training sessions for nonprofit organizations on corporate and tax-exempt status compliance matters, governance issues, and directors and officers duties, responsibilities and potential liabilities
• Counseled numerous nonprofit organizations in determining whether certain transactions or compensation arrangements could trigger intermediate sanctions penalties under IRC Section 4958, and procedures for creating a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness in connection with any related party transactions.

Joint Ventures

• Advise associations and nonprofit clients on the formation of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies for nonprofit purposes and investments in ancillary business ventures
• Represented nonprofit healthcare system in successful negotiation and documentation of a multi-million dollar joint venture transaction and obtained ruling from IRS recognizing no adverse impact on tax-exempt status from implementation of the transaction

Affiliates and Subsidiaries

• Advise numerous nonprofit clients on strategies for formation of affiliates and subsidiaries used to purchase assets, make investments, receive certain donations, operate related activities, operate unrelated businesses, structure joint venture activities, etc.
• Assisted several membership associations with state chapter issues, including development of affiliate agreements

Nonprofit Corporate Services

• Act as outside general counsel for numerous nonprofit organizations
• Regularly advise nonprofit organizations on corporate, licensing and regulatory compliance matters
• Regularly draft, review and negotiate purchase, sale, services and consulting contracts on behalf of associations and nonprofit organizations
• Represented nonprofit client in successful sale of subsidiary business in connection with "roll-up" transaction involving a private equity buyer
• Represented nonprofit client on analysis of federal and multi-state licensing issues relating to consumer services to be provided on a national basis and implementation of registration and compliance program relating to same
• Represented and counseled several nonprofit organizations in considering and consummating merger and combination transactions with other nonprofits
• Represented numerous nonprofit organizations in the negotiation and drafting of contracts for purchases and sales of good and services, licensing of intellectual property, publishing, affinity arrangements, sponsorships, etc.
• Worked with a nonprofit association on strategy for developing an effective process to review and address member complaints, and continue to advise client on handling of specific complaints.

Unrelated Business Income Analysis

• Represent numerous nonprofit organizations and associations in determining whether certain business transactions will trigger unrelated business income tax
• Represented a nonprofit supporting organization and its affiliated supported organization in obtaining favorable rulings from the IRS unrelated business income matters

Legislation and Policy

• Represented nonprofit organizations in crafting a policy statement and proposed legislation for state certain regulatory and tax exemptions, and coordinated with the organizations' lobbyists to assist in achieving passage of the desired exemptions
• Worked with nonprofit organizations in crafting a policy statement and an amendment to proposed federal legislation impacting qualifications for tax-exempt supporting organizations, and coordinated with organizations' lobbyists to assist in achieving the desired amendment to the proposed legislation
• Assisted nonprofit organizations with drafting proposed legislation for amending licensing requirements for the provision of certain services to consumers

Fundraising and Charitable Solicitation Registration

• Assist nonprofit organization with state charitable solicitation registration filings
• Counseled numerous nonprofit clients regarding analysis of fundraising and charitable solicitations plans and implementation of related registration and compliance programs

Business and Corporate Law

Entity Formations, Governance and Contracts

• Advise clients on entity formation choices for new investments and business ventures, and assist clients with the creation of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies
• Advise companies and boards of directors on corporate governance and policy matters
• Represent businesses in the negotiation and drafting of contracts with third-parties for purchases and sales of good and services, licensing of intellectual property, publishing, etc
• Represent clients in the negotiation and drafting of buy-sell, right of first refusal and covenant not-to-compete agreements
• Assist closely-held and family-owned businesses with succession planning.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Advise and assist businesses in negotiating mergers, acquisitions, asset purchases and divestitures, strategic alliances and joint ventures
• Represented client in successful $30,000,000 sale of subsidiary business in connection with "roll-up" transaction with an enterprise value of $100,000,000+ involving private equity buyer and multiple seller parties
• Represented nonprofit hospital system in successful negotiation and documentation of a $20,000,000+ joint venture transaction with another hospital system and obtained ruling from IRS recognizing no adverse impact on tax-exempt status from implementation of transaction
• Represented owner in the sale of a company engaged in the manufacture and distribution of medical devices

Taxation

• Former Chair, Section of Taxation, MSBA

Audits, Controversy and Administrative

• Represented the parent company filing a consolidated group return obtain a favorable private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service allowing the company an extension of time to file a consolidated loss carryback claim
• Represent nonprofit businesses and nonprofit organizations in audits and appeals before the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities
• Successfully represented several nonprofit organizations in examinations by the IRS relating to Form 990 and tax-exempt status issues, ultimately avoiding assessment of taxes or penalties, and maintaining continued recognition of exempt status
• Successfully represented a nonprofit supporting organization and its affiliated supported organization in obtaining favorable rulings from the IRS regarding recognition of exempt status and public charity classification
• Represented nonprofit hospital system in obtained a ruling from IRS recognizing no adverse impact on tax-exempt status from implementation of a joint venture transaction
• Represent individual taxpayers in submissions to and negotiations with taxing authorities regarding the proposed assessment and collection of taxes, installment agreements and offers in compromise

Federal and State Tax Planning / Corporate and Partnership Taxation

• Advise and assist clients on options and implementation of tax efficient structures for new business formations, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, liquidations, asset purchases and sales, and joint ventures
• Assist closely-held and family-owned businesses with tax matters relating to succession planning
• Counseled client in connection with a multi-million dollar sale an subchapter S corporation involving a section 338(h)(10) election
• Represented numerous corporations in structuring the tax-free spin-offs of operating divisions under section 355
• Advise businesses on the tax consequences of and structuring options for converting from subchapter C corporation, subchapter S corporation, limited liability company or partnership status to another type of entity

Continuing Care Retirement Communities / Assisted Living Communities / Skilled Nursing Facilities / Home Care Providers

• Represent continuing care retirement communities, health care, assisted living and long-term care providers in corporate, tax planning, tax-exemption and transactional matters
• Assisted a system of continuing care retirement communities in obtaining a private letter ruling from the IRS confirming that the structure of the system and transactions between the members of the system did not result in taxable income or loss of tax-exempt status
• Worked with client to obtain tax-exempt status recognition for a unique program to provide a broad range of medical and non-medical services to seniors to help them to stay in their own homes and communities
• Represented a nonprofit supporting organization and its affiliated nonprofit retirement community in obtaining favorable rulings from the IRS regarding recognition of exempt status, public charity classification, and unrelated business income matters
• M.A., Management of Aging Services, the Erickson School of Aging Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County

General Information

Rankings & Recognitions

• Martindale-Hubbell - AV Peer Review Rated
• Best Lawyers in America - Nonprofit/Charities Law, Tax Law, and Litigation & Controversy-Tax
• Named Best Lawyers' 2013 Baltimore Non-Profit / Charities Law "Lawyer of the Year"
• Maryland Super Lawyers - Nonprofit Law

Bar Associations

• American Bar Association (Taxation Committee and Subcommittee on Exempt Organizations)
• Maryland State and District of Columbia Bar Associations
• MSBA Tax Section (Past Section Chair; Chair of Tax-Exempt Organizations Subcommittee; Chair of Transactional Tax Study Group)

Boards & Community Service (Past and Present)

• ASAE Ethics Committee
• Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, Howard County Advisory Board
• Howard County Fire & Rescue Services Board
• Leadership Howard County
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service 
• UMBC Alumni Council
• Earned Income Tax Credit Clinic Volunteer

Teaching and Select Presentation Experience

• UMBC (The Erickson School - Adjunct Faculty)
• University of Baltimore (Graduate Tax Program - former Adjunct Lecturer)
• ASAE (Annual Meeting; Great Ideas Conference; Association Law Symposium)
• Institute on Nonprofit Organizations (Program committee; Presenter on multiple tax exempt organization topics)
• Tax Exempt Organizations (Lorman Education Services)

Education

• University of Maryland, Baltimore County (M.A., Management of Aging Services, 2008)
• Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M, Taxation, 1993)
• University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D. 1988) magna cum laude
  Heuisler Honor Society
• University of Maryland (B.S. 1985)