Bryan Cave LLP
Mr. Stuart Lark is a partner with Bryan Cave LLP. For more than 15 years, his practice has focused on advising nonprofit clients on corporate, tax, transactional, and other matters related to their unique missions. Mr. Lark helps clients navigate complex matters involving corporate structure (including formation and governance), operations (joint ventures, trademarks, commercial activities, international transactions), finance, mergers and acquisitions, and taxes (IRS rulings, unrelated trade or business income tax, private foundation rules, property and sales tax).
In addition, Mr. Lark counsels many clients with respect to religious accommodations in the law, including tax exemptions, faith-based employment rights, government benefits, immigration, church property disputes, and other matters. He previously served as legal counsel for the Christian Legal Society’s Center for Law and Religious Freedom in Washington, DC. He has also written many papers and amicus briefs on critical religious liberty issues, including two briefs recently filed on behalf of 32 national religious organizations in U.S. Supreme Court cases impacting religious hiring rights.
Mr. John Wylie is a partner in the Bryan Cave LLP Colorado Springs office. For nearly 30 years, Mr. Wylie has focused on advising nonprofit organizations, including religious, charitable, sports, health care, and educational institutions, as well as private foundations. He led the firm’s nonprofits team for 10 years, and currently co-leads with Mr. Lark the firm’s practice with religious organizations. Mr. Wylie not only brings technical experience to his practice, but he also has a deep understanding of nonprofit organizations and a unique sensitivity to their priorities and legal needs. Mr. Wylie served on the national board of directors of Christian Legal Society for 10 years, including two years as president and chairman of the board.
Mr. Wylie’s experience includes such activities as obtaining private letter rulings from the IRS, structuring mergers, joint ventures and “strategic alliances” between nonprofit organizations, as well as between nonprofits and for-profits, providing counsel regarding the international activities of such organizations and negotiating and closing mergers and major asset transactions.
Holland & Knight
Dr. Nathan A. Adams, IV, is a partner with Holland & Knight practicing in appellate and complex commercial litigation and assisting or serving as general counsel for a number of institutions with special emphasis on educational, healthcare, hospitality, nonprofit, and religious institutions. Dr. Adams has briefed and argued dozens of appeals in courts nationwide and extensively litigated and advised regarding diverse subject matter, such as Federal and state constitutional provisions; church autonomy doctrine, contractual requirements; intellectual property, unrelated business income, statutory and common law discrimination laws; false claims and deceptive trade practices; public records, ethics and elections laws; restrictive covenants; and fraudulent conveyance claims. Dr. Adams received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida and J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and is a Board Certified Specialist in Education Law.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Dr. Adams served as counsel for the Executive Office of the Governor, Department of Education, Division of Community Colleges, State Board of Education, Board of Governors, and Center for Law and Religious Freedom. He serves on the Board of the Florida Education Foundation, Florida Tax Watch Center for Smart Justice; as president-elect, Echo Ministries, as chairman of the Education Law Committee of The Florida Bar; and head of the Holland & Knight Religious Institutions Team.
Mr. Stuart Mendelsohn practices in the areas of real estate, land use, litigation, government affairs, and corporate law. His clients include a broad range of corporations, nonprofit organizations, builders, and developers. He serves as outside general counsel to a large religious nonprofit. Mr. Mendelsohn serves as executive partner for Holland & Knight’s Northern Virginia office.
Mr. Mendelsohn served eight years on the Fairfax County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors and two years as vice chairman of the Fairfax County School Board. He has also served on a number of regional transportation commissions, land use committees, and councils.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Mendelsohn was a senior manager of a defense contractor.
In the community, he has committed an extensive amount of time to community service in Fairfax County, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and nationally.