SIEGEL TO SPEAK IN BOSTON AT MCLE ON INTERNAL CONTROLS

Charitygovernance's own Jack Siegel will speak on March 3, 2005 in Boston at the Sixth Annual  Nonprofit Law Conference (sponsored by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education).  Jack will be on a two-person panel with Elizabeth J. Story of the Public Charities Division, Attorney General’s Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Their topic:

How Internal Controls Can Prevent the “Diversion” of Charitable Assets: The Board’s Role in Protecting Assets and Mission

Everyone in the nonprofit community is talking about internal controls in the light of a number of highly-publicized frauds, thefts and embezzlements. This session addresses fraud prevention through financial controls, and also focuses on broader controls and the board’s role in implementing those controls. Audit and management letters, whistle-blower policies, document retention programs, conflicts policies, and a number of other control devices are also discussed, with an emphasis on how the board should use these controls to better monitor and govern the organization.

This presentation is part of an all-day seminar, giving you the opportunity to learn about the latest developments affecting non-profits and their boards, with a special focus on Massachusetts law.  The full schedule includes....

C O N F E R E N C E   S C H E D U L E

9 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

■ A. L. Spitzer, Esq., Chair
   Ropes & Gray, Boston

9:15 – 9:45 a.m. Current Developments in the Law
  This has been an active year at both the state and federal level for nonprofit   organizations, especially with respect to charitable giving legislation, compensation planning and corporate governance issues.

■ A. L. Spitzer, Esq., Chair
   Ropes & Gray, Boston

9:45 – 10:30 a.m. The View from the Regulators
  The Massachusetts Division of Charities has been a national leader for   many years; will it now follow New York in seeking to apply Sarbanes-   Oxley standards to nonprofits or will it strike out on a different path? Is the new California legislation a harbinger of things to come?

■ Jamie W. Katz, Esq.
Public Charities Division, Attorney General's Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

■ Sandra L. Carbone, Esq.
  Public Charities Division, Attorney General's Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

10:30 –10:45 a.m. Question and Answer Period

10:45 – 11 a.m. Networking Break

11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Executive Compensation and Intermediate Sanctions Update
  The IRS has announced that several thousand nonprofits will be in the   cross-hairs for compensation inquiries, possibly leading to audits. Learn   how to structure and approve compensations arrangements to avoid later trouble.

■ Richard C. Allen, Esq.
    Casner & Edwards LLP, Boston
 
  ■ Sandy M. Tarrant, Esq.
    Casner & Edwards LLP, Boston

11:45 a.m.– 12:15 p.m. Charitable Giving at the Intersection of Philanthropy and Tax Shelters
New charitable giving devices seem to spring up daily, some legitimate and some…less so. Learn the latest on donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, insurance schemes and the rest.

■ Kendi E. Ozmon, Esq.
    Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston

12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Box Lunch with the Experts

1:15 – 1:45 p.m. Keynote Address—Sunshine and Shadow: Governing Nonprofits in an Age of Disclosure

■ Professor Evelyn Brody
  Chicago-Kent College of Law

1:45 – 2 p.m. Networking Break

2 – 2:45 p.m. Joint Ventures—Are Charitable Assets Slipping through the Cracks?
  Learn about the current IRS perspective on joint ventures, including ancillary joint ventures and unrelated business taxable income issues.

■ Christopher M. Jedrey, Esq.
  McDermott, Will & Emery, Boston

2:45 – 3:30 p.m. The Risk of Personal Liability for Nonprofit Managers
  Learn what directors and officers should know about personal liability,   what recent court decisions have to say about liability and how to minimize risks.

■ Robert E. Cowden III, Esq.
   Casner & Edwards, Boston

  ■ Richard C. Allen, Esq.
   Casner & Edwards, Boston

  ■ Leslie E. Bennett, Esq.
   Public Charities Division, Attorney General’s Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

3:30 – 4:15 p.m. How Internal Controls Can Prevent the “Diversion” of Charitable Assets: The Board’s Role in Protecting Assets and Mission
Assets: The Board’s Role in Protecting Assets and Mission.  Everyone in the nonprofit community is talking about internal controls in the light of a number of highly-publicized frauds, thefts and embezzlements. This session addresses fraud prevention through financial controls, and also focuses on broader controls and the board’s role in implementing those controls. Audit and management letters, whistle-blower policies, document retention programs, conflicts policies, and a number of other control devices are also discussed, with an emphasis on how the board should use these controls to better monitor and govern the organization.

■ Jack B. Siegal, Esq.
     Auto Didactix LLC, Chicago
 
  ■ Elizabeth J. Story
   Public Charities Division, Attorney General’s Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

4:15 – 4:30 p.m. Reception for Faculty and Registrants

The Conference fee ranges from $195 to $265, depending on your status with MCLE (sponsor, member, other).  Lunch and materials are included.

If you attend, be sure to stop by and say hi to Jack.  Hope to see you there.