Perkins Coie Adds Tax-Exempt Organizations Partner David Lawson to Seattle Office

SEATTLE (MAY 9, 2022)—Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that David Lawson has joined the firm's Trust & Estate Planning practice as a partner in the Seattle office.

David focuses his practice on advising tax-exempt organizations, philanthropists, and companies engaged in philanthropy and social-impact efforts. He provides tax advice to tax-exempt organizations, and counsels clients on matters related to nonprofit governance, philanthropic structuring, and charitable trust and solicitation compliance. His clients include foundations, nonprofit healthcare organizations, trade associations, universities, social service providers, and socially minded businesses.

"David has a highly successful track record and over a decade of experience assisting clients with complex transactions and tax planning matters," said Scott Wallace, chair of Perkins Coie's Trust & Estate Planning practice. "Attorneys with David's level of experience in the exempt organization space are scarce, and his practice and deep knowledge in this area will support the group not only in Seattle and Bellevue, but across the entire firm."

David also has experience handling investigations and examinations by the IRS and state attorneys general, and he frequently works closely with federal and state agencies that oversee tax-exempt organizations and nonprofits. He also assists clients in navigating transactions such as spinoffs and joint ventures, and in resolving complex, high-stakes corporate governance and management issues.

"David has an exemplary reputation throughout the Pacific Northwest as a high-caliber tax-exempt organizations attorney who helps his clients succeed," said Perkins Coie's Seattle office managing partner James Williams. "The charitable space is a growing and evolving industry for personal planning and David is well qualified to counsel our many charitable clients in the region and beyond."

David received his J.D. from Harvard University and his M.Mus. and B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Washington. He serves as the chair of the Washington State Bar Association Nonprofit Corporations Committee. David joins Perkins Coie from Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.

Perkins Coie's Trust & Estate Planning team works with families and high-net-worth individuals, helping them define and meet their estate planning needs. Members of the Trust & Estate Planning practice provide tailored planning for owners of closely held businesses, senior officers of public companies, and entrepreneurs. The planning may involve managing financial resources through the strategic use of trusts, gifts, sales, and other income- and wealth-transfer devices. The team implements family and philanthropic goals while minimizing income, gift, and estate taxes.