Western Conference on Tax-Exempt Organizations

DUE TO HIGH INTEREST, THE CONFERENCE HAS HIT MAXIMUM CAPACITY AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CONTACT US DIRECTLY AT NONPROFITS@LAW.UCLA.EDU TO JOIN THE WAITLIST.

The UCLA School of Law Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits and Loyola Law School are pleased to announce that they will host the 28th Western Conference on Tax-Exempt Organizations on February 27 and February 28, 2025, at The California Endowment's Center for Healthy Communities in Downtown Los Angeles. Last year's two-day conference was sold out, with nearly 150 lawyers, accountants and in-house professionals representing a broad range of nonprofit organizations. Government officials will give federal and state updates, and prominent nonprofit practitioners, academics, and other experts from the sector will speak on current topics in nonprofit tax, state law, accounting and other compliance matters. The tax press covers this event extensively, and material from the conference continues to be cited as authority in articles and books.

Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 7:30 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.
Friday, February 28, 2025 | 7:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Event Venue and Host:
The California Endowment
1000 Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Pricing:

  • Early Bird Rate: $850 (until January 31, 2025)
  • Normal Rate: $1050
  • Day 1 Access - $650
  • Day 2 Access - $350

*Parking at the California Endowment is free

Sponsors
28th Western Conference on Tax-Exempt Organizations

*Logos are clickable links to sponsor websites

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

Join our conference sponsors, click HERE to learn more.

Where to Stay

The UCLA School of Law Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits has negotiated special conference rates at The Omni Hotel Downtown Los Angeles.

Omni Hotel Downtown Los Angeles
$232 per night ($25 Uber Credit per stay)—subject to change
$65 parking per night—subject to change

CLICK LOGO BELOW FOR CONFERENCE ACCOMODATIONS

*1 mile from The California Endowment

*Parking at the California Endowment is free

*Transportation to/from the California Endowment will be available at the beginning and end of each day for participants staying at the Omni Hotel

Planning Committee
Co-Chairs

Ellen Aprill, Senior Scholar in Residence, UCLA School of Law, Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits

Jill Horwitz, Faculty Director, UCLA School of Law, Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits

Rose Chan Loui, Executive Director, UCLA School of Law, Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits

Members

Michael Berry, Owner, Michael Berry, CPA

Terri Wagner Cammarano, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Cedar-Sinai

Helen Cheng, Partner, Withersworldwide

Debra Heiskala,  Partner - EY Americas Exempt Organization Tax Sevices Leader, Ernst & Young

Ofer Lion, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Douglas Mancino, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Karl Mill, Founding Attorney, Mill Law Center

Ingrid Mittermaeir, Principal, Adler & Colvin

Gene Takagi, Principal, NEO Law Group

LaVerne Woods, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP

Schedule

DAY 1: Thursday, February 27, 2025

7:30-8:30am: Breakfast and Check-In

8:30-8:40am: Day 1 Welcome

8:40-10:00am: Power Hour Plus

Ofer Lion, Seyfarth Shaw LLp

Jean Tom, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Moderator: Karl Mill, Mill Law Center

10:00-11:30am: The Challenges of For-Profit/Nonprofit Structures

Rob Wexler, Adler & Colvin

Mary Beckman, Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (*former)

David Shevlin, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Moderator: Rose Chan Loui, UCLA School of Law

11:30-11:45am: BREAK

11:45am-1:00pm: Data Protection and Privacy Law

Tenaya Rodewald, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Lynn Sessions, BakerHostetler

Arun Baheti, The California Wellness Foundation

Moderator: Terri Wagner Cammarano, Cedars-Sinai

1:00-2:30pm Lunch and Keynote—When Should Universities Speak Out?

Steve Poskanzer, Carleton College

Moderator: Jill Horwitz, UCLA School of Law

2:30-4:00pm: Loper Bright—The End of Chevron Deference for Treasury Regulations?

Michael Desmond, Miller & Chevalier Chartered

Steve Toscher, Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C.

Moderator: Ellen Aprill, UCLA School of Law

4:00-5:30pm: International Hot Topics: What in the World is Going On?

Ruth Madrigal, KPMG US

Atiqua Hashem, Conrad M. Hilton Foundation

Jennifer Becker Harris, Clark Nuber PS

Moderator: Ingrid Mittermaier, Adler & Colvin

5:30-6:30pm: Reception

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DAY 2: Friday, February 28, 2025

7:30-8:30am: Breakfast and Check-In

8:30-8:35am: Day 2 Welcome

8:35-9:45am: Accounting Updates: What All EO Practitioners Need to Know

Tonetta Conner, Harrington Group CPA, LLP

Nanaz Benyamini, SingerLewak LLP

Yulia Murzaeva, GHJ Advisors

Moderator: Debi Heiskala, Ernst & Young LLP

9:45-10:00am: BREAK

10:00-11:00am: One-Hour Breakout Sessions

· Private Foundation Hot Topics

Emily Fan, The David and Lucille Packard Foundation

Rosemary Fei, Adler & Colvin

Lizbeth Nevarez, GHJ Advisors

 Moderator: Michael Berry, Michael Berry CPA

· Advocacy in a Post-Election Year

Nona Randois, Alliance for Justice

Eric Gorovitz, Adler & Colvin

 Moderator: Gene Takagi, NEO Law Group

· Executive Compensation Hot Topics

Nanci Hibschman, SullivanCotter

Erin Bradrick, NEO Law Group

 Moderator: Helen Cheng, Withersworldwide

11:00-11:15am: BREAK

11:15am-12:30pm: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Gerry Griffith, Jones Day

Bob Homchick, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Moderator: LaVerne Woods, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

12:30pm: Closing

* UCLA School of Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This session is approved for  ​10.5  hours of MCLE credit.