Shira M. Helstrom

Associate

Shira M. Helstrom helps tax-exempt organizations navigate the complex state and federal tax rules and regulations applicable to them. She advises nonprofit organizations on tax compliance, corporate governance and regulatory matters. Clients include both large and small public charities and private foundations, trade associations and social welfare organizations, including corporate foundations, supporting organizations, scientific and medical research organizations, educational organizations, humanitarian organizations, religious and other nonprofit organizations.

Extended Profile

Shira counsels clients from inception through the life of the organization. Clients rely on her for advice on formation, applying for and maintaining tax-exempt status, corporate governance, charitable solicitations and fundraising, lobbying and political activity, intermediate sanctions, related party transactions and compensation related issues, and an array of other legal issues affecting nonprofits. She also assists clients with major corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, substantial asset sales and dissolution.

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 Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She subsequently joined a large international law firm in New York where she represented for-profit clients during disputes with the IRS. She continues this work with her nonprofit clients, representing them in front of the IRS and during attorney general investigations.

Shira is a member of the Young Lawyers Network Leadership Council of the DC Bar Foundation and a former member of the Advisory Board of the Children’s Law Center in Washington, DC.

Education

New York University School of Law, 2010, LL.M., Taxation
Temple University, Beasley School of Law, 2008, J.D., Summa Cum Laude
Muhlenberg College, 2000, B.A., Cum Laude

Admissions

District of Columbia
New York
US Tax Court

Clerkships

Clerkship to Judge J. Curtis Joyner of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Awards and Affiliations

Member, Practice Group of the Year, Tax, Law360 (2017)

Member, Exempt Organizations Committee, Section of Taxation, American Bar Association

Member, Exempt Organizations Committee, Taxation Section, District of Columbia Bar

Publications

3/16/2018 - Tax-Exempt Organization Restructurings Made Easier, Law360

3/9/2018 - Tax-Exempt Organization Restructurings Made Easier

2/8/2016 - New Legislation Makes Important Changes to Social Welfare Organizations

10/5/2015 - IRS Publishes Final Regulations for Equivalency Determinations

9/29/2015 - IRS Provides Guidance on Mission-Related Investments by Private Foundations