Nonprofit Associations
Danner & Associates has represented nonprofit associations in a wide range of issues since its formation in 1992. Pamela Beck Danner, the firm's founder, has represented associations in private practice for more than nineteen years. The firm currently serves as General Counsel for several associations. Pamela Beck Danner has been a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) since 1992, and served on the ASAE Legal Section Council from 1998 to 2001. Her involvement with ASAE includes presenting educational seminars and writing for the ASAE magazine, Association Management.
The firm's representation of nonprofit associations includes advising the associations on all aspects of the law, including, but not limited to, the areas of antitrust, product liability, and employment law, as well as providing legal review of contracts, documents and association activities to ensure compliance with the association's own governing documents in addition to applicable laws and regulations. Other typical association matters which the firm handles on a frequent basis include drafting and reviewing vendor and hotel contracts and proposed office leases; assisting with comments and interpretations regarding regulations and standards before federal agencies; obtaining registration of trademarks; and advising on potential liability issues arising from the maintenance and operation of Web sites. In addition, we have assisted in the development of certification programs, codes of ethics and employee handbooks, and have represented association clients in litigation and arbitration. We also typically represent our association clients by serving as counsel at Board of Director meetings, Executive Committee meetings and other key meetings where we provide, among other things, antitrust compliance guidance. We often draft or review the agendas and minutes of such meetings before distribution.
Our representation of one association clients has included, among other matters, drafting federal legislation which proposed the establishment of a national consensus committee charged with the development of all proposed revisions to the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. In December of 2000, Congress passed the National Manufactured Housing Improvement Act, which contained these provisions. Earlier in her career, Ms. Danner has served as both an attorney with the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and as the Director of the Office of Manufactured Housing and Regulatory Functions. In both positions, she was involved in drafting and interpreting technical standards and regulations as well as enforcing the federal manufactured housing standards. Later, while in private practice, Ms. Danner was appointed by the Secretary of HUD to the National Manufactured Home Advisory Council, which was charged with reviewing all proposed revisions to the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.
Danner & Associates understands the potential liability risks associated with associations who are standards developers and have manufacturing companies as members. The firm served as counsel to one association client in successfully obtaining its dismissal as a co-defendant from products liability lawsuits based upon claims in connection with member products. In these cases, the firm successfully obtained coverage of the legal fees associated with defending the association from the association's insurance carrier. We have also assisted with the conduct of industry surveys conducted to obtain information for standards setting purposes or rebuttal while at the same time maintaining the confidentiality of the individual member data.
In her representation since 1989 of another association client, Ms. Danner has handled a wide variety of issues including the drafting and negotiation of the association's joint venture agreement, and subsequent amendments, to put on an annual industry trade show. For other association clients, Danner & Associates has also reviewed and negotiated hotel contracts for their meetings and conferences. In addition, the firm has experienced in reviewing association insurance policies to ensure that its clients are adequately protected.
Danner & Associates also has significant experience in setting up and representing foundations. Our legal services in this respect have included, inter alia, drafting corporate documents, filing appropriate incorporation documents, applying for and obtaining 501(c)(3) tax exempt status as a publicly supported organization, handling intellectual property rights and developing several certification programs.
In its representation of an association client, the firm set up its affiliated foundation. Our legal services in this respect included drafting all applicable corporate documents, including articles of incorporation and bylaws; filing all appropriated documents with the Secretary of State to incorporate the foundation; applying for and obtaining 501(c)(3) tax exempt status; and applying for registration of the foundation's service mark. In addition to handling another foundation client's intellectual property rights, the firm set up several certification programs, including a program to certify manufactured home communities. One aspect of this representation included ensuring that the foundation would afford appropriate due process in its various certification program procedures.
Danner & Associates is uniquely qualified to provide quality legal services to nonprofit associations. Pamela Danner's nineteen year history of representing associations in private legal practice has provided her with a broad-based wealth of knowledge and experience with which to effectively service the firm's association clients.