Nonprofit and charity law in Canada is an increasingly complicated area. At Sweatman Law Firm, we are pleased to help nonprofits and charities with their legal issues.
Toronto Setup, Restructuring and Governance Lawyers
Our law firm helps nonprofits and charities with issues relating to appropriate objects, trust agreements, creating and changing bylaws, planned giving and fundraising, managing volunteers, bequest and legacy provisions, setting up donor-advised funds, board governance issues and operational issues. We also assist with arranging operating members' and directors' meetings.
In addition, we advise nonprofits and charities with respect to everyday business issues such as employment agreements, leases, insurance, risk management and avoidance of litigation. We can educate and train your board and staff to help them understand the complexities in fundraising and planned giving regimes.
Oakville Lawyers Specializing in Nonprofit Work
The Oakville lawyers at our law firm provide advice, services and representation to charities regarding specific legal issues and also on a general counsel basis. As a law firm that specializes in serving nonprofits, we have the vision and experience that charities need in order to deal effectively with the challenges before them.
Our law firm provides advice and services in matters involving:
- Incorporation and obtaining registered charitable status
- Maintaining charitable status and dealing with CRA requirements
- Assisting clients with CRA audits
- Facilitating foreign charitable activities
- Staffing issues involving employees and independent contractors
- Major agreements with donors and funders
- Legal and ethical issues with fundraising, fundraising contracts, major gifts and planned giving
- Bequest management
- Defending and administering charitable bequests
- Governance and bylaws
- Crisis management
- Partnerships, affiliations and mergers
- Intellectual property — trademarks, copyright and their protection
- Risk management and informal legal audits
- Educational programs for boards, staff and volunteers on legal and ethical issues
Jasmine Sweatman is also a principal of Sweatman Windeyer Consultants, a firm that provides training and consulting services for Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations.
Proactive Advice and Services to Help You Fulfil Your Mission
The charitable sector has become highly competitive. Donors, regulators, the media and other parties have set increasingly high standards for charities and their operations. We assist charities of all sizes with informal legal audits to identify potential legal and governance concerns for a charity and its board of directors.
We understand that legal issues are only one of many matters a charity has to deal with, and we work with charities to prioritize action items and deal with concerns in a way that provides the least disruption to the charity's operations and its mission. In this way, a charity can proactively resolve issues so that donor, regulator and media attention will remain focused on the good work of the charity.
Contact Our Lawyers Serving Oakville and Surrounding Areas
For a consultation with Sweatman Law Firm in Oakville, Ontario, contact our firm. We are committed to representing clients in Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington, Milton and throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
