Sam Coppersmith Educates Social Venture Partners Arizona About Advocacy for Foundations, Public Charities

Social Venture Partners Arizona (SVPAZ), a network of local philanthropists who take a venture capital approach to funding nonprofits, recently hosted Sam Coppersmith to share his expertise on philanthropy and public policy. He explained why it’s critical for charitable organizations to educate lawmakers and the public about policies that impact their missions and the communities they serve – and what they need to keep in mind from a legal standpoint. With more than three decades’ experience working with nonprofit organizations, Sam’s presentation demystified the legal framework governing permissible advocacy activities for foundations and public charities, and helped SVPAZ members understand how to advocate for critical issues and become champions in their communities....

Read MoreRead More

Arizona Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Names Andy Gordon as Board of Directors Chairman

The Arizona Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, one of the most prominent nonprofit organizations in the Valley, has named Andy Gordon, partner at Coppersmith Brockelman, as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for 2016-17. A board member since 2011, Andy is a myeloma survivor and two-time stem cell transplant recipient. His first-hand knowledge and experience will allow him to lead the Board from a unique perspective. At age 60, Andy was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer, just twelve years after he lost his first wife to the very same cancer. The odds of developing this same cancer was a one in 14 million possibility. But thanks in part to his treatment involving stem cell transplantation, he is living a richer, fuller...

Read MoreRead More

Karen Owens, Sam Coppersmith, Deliver “The Trustee Toolkit” Seminar at 20th Annual Western Regional Trustee Symposium for Hospital, Healthcare Trustees

June 11, 2016 – Karen Owens and Sam Coppersmith presented a workshop at the 20th Annual Western Regional Trustee Symposium to help new hospital trustees navigate their often challenging roles. The seminar entitled “The Trustee Toolkit Mini-Workshop” was tailored specifically for new hospital trustees and examined key legal issues likely to face them as they serve their hospitals. These include fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, nonprofit and public hospital standards (community need, tax-exemption, open meeting laws, public finance), and defenses for board members who act in good faith. Karen and Sam, who both serve as counsel to the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, also tackled medical staff relations matters, such as credentialing and corrective action; licensure and accreditation; and key healthcare laws affecting hospitals, including Stark, AntiKickback,...

Read MoreRead More

Kathy Steadman Educates Employers about Shared Responsibilities of ACA via In Business Magazine

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has caused a lot of confusion and anxiety among employers nationwide, but especially in Arizona where the employment landscape is so diverse. Coppersmith Brockelman partner Kathy Steadman helped demystify the employer responsibility provisions of the ACA in the April edition of In Business Magazine, a publication of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. After many false starts, the employer responsibility provisions are now in full effect, impacting employers that generally employ 50 full-time employees or a combination of full-time and part-time employees that is equivalent to 50 full-time employees. Implementing these new regulations and related notices can be complex for many businesses. As such, Steadman uses her deep insights in practice areas of employee benefits, public pension, insurance and other regulatory matters to...

Read MoreRead More

Phoenix Media Outlets Turn to Andy Gordon to Explain Implications, Viewpoints of Guantanamo Bay Closing

February 25, 2016 – When President Obama announced his plan to close Guantanamo Bay, media across greater Phoenix turned to Andy Gordon to comment on the issue – and it’s no surprise: Andy is among the state’s foremost experts on the subject. In 2009, he worked for Homeland Security under Janet Napolitano and was part of the original Presidential Commission for closing and reviewing all detainees. Now, he lends his expertise as an instructor for Arizona State University in National Security Law and Foreign Relations Law courses. He shared his deep knowledge of the topic with reporters from the Phoenix Business Journal, 12 News, KTAR and KFYI. He also expressed his viewpoint – and why he fully supports the closure of Guantanamo Bay – in a contributed piece...

Read MoreRead More

Roopali Desai Provides Phoenix Business Journal with Insights Regarding Municipal Actions Impacting Businesses

February 12, 2016 – Roopali Desai, a partner in the firm’s litigation group, recently shared her expertise with the Phoenix Business Journal regarding government process and actions that may occur at the request of private businesses and that, in any event, effect the private business sector. In this article about the suspension of city executives, Roopali explains why it’s important for private companies to track the government agency’s process and review all submissions and actions to ensure compliance with all laws and policies. Roopali focuses her practice in the areas of civil litigation, political law, and civil appeals. Her civil litigation practice involves representing clients at all stages of litigation in state and federal court, in front of administrative agencies, and in arbitration proceedings. She has substantial...

Read MoreRead More