Shira M. Helstrom

Shira works regularly with all types of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, including private operating and non-operating foundations, corporate foundations, medical and scientific research organizations, healthcare organizations, museums and cultural organizations, colleges and universities, supporting organizations, and trade associations. She regularly advises on the unrelated business income tax, private benefit and inurement, excess benefit transactions and self-dealing, excess business holdings, jeopardizing investments and program-related investments, lobbying and political campaign activity, executive compensation matters and best practices for nonprofit boards. Shira also works with nonprofit organizations to navigate the state nonprofit corporate and charitable solicitation laws that apply to them.

Shira began her legal career advising for-profit clients on tax aspects of complex corporate transactions and representing for-profit clients during IRS audits and litigation before shifting her focus to counseling and representing tax-exempt organizations. In addition to representing tax-exempt organizations, she advises for-profit companies seeking to enter into transactions with, or form affiliated, nonprofit organizations.

Prior to earning her LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law, Shira served as a law clerk to Judge J. Curtis Joyner at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Shira is a member of the Advisory Board of the Children’s Law Center in Washington, DC.