Lawyers

Experience

Mr. Benson has over 25 years of experience advising nonprofit organizations and associations on a wide variety of legal issues. His experience includes:
Nonprofit, Corporate & Board Issues:

• Corporate governance issues applicable to nonprofits, including governance policies requested by the Internal Revenue Service, amendments to articles and bylaws, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, watchdog compliance, restructuring, and best practices
• Board issues, such as board size, committee structure, recruitment, orientation, elections, self-evaluations and credentialing

Tax Advice

• Federal and state tax laws applicable to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) organizations and their affiliates, including for profit subsidiaries and joint ventures
• Unrelated business income tax issues
• Applications for federal and state tax exemption
• Charitable solicitation and other fundraising activities
• Tax consequences of employee compensation and fringe benefits

Employment advice - All aspects of employment law including:

• Employment agreements, Executive compensation arrangements, Executive and staff evaluations, Compensation plans, Employment policies and handbooks, Noncompete agreements, Confidentiality agreements, Personnel files, Employee terminations and severance agreements
• Working with management and boards to develop succession planning programs for management level staff, Interviewing prospective, current and former employees, Job descriptions, Leased employees and
• Outsourced HR services

Other

• Intellectual property, copyright and trademark licensing
• Contracts such as independent contractors, hotel and convention services, licenses, and grant agreements

General Information

• Member: District of Columbia Bar Association
• Member: American Bar Association
• Member: Board of Directors of the Northern Virginia Christian Academy
• Member: Board of Directors of the National Maritime Heritage Foundation
• Member: Board of Directors of the Everyman Society
• Member: Board of Directors of the Potomac Heritage Partnership

*Not admitted in Virginia

Education

• University of Massachusetts (B.A. 1978)
• George Washington University School of Law (J.D. 1981)