Trade Associations, Business Leagues and Task Forces
MLA is a leader in the representation of trade associations (nonprofit corporations and unincorporated nonprofit associations recognized as exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(6 of the Internal Revenue Code as amended), industry trade groups and business associations. In fact, MLA’s oldest client is Chemical Specialties Products Association, a 501(c)(6) association of companies that manufacture, formulate, distribute and sell specialty consumer products that MLA began to represent in 1938. MLA represents numerous such groups in many industries including agricultural chemicals, high end consumer products, pet products, military housing, infrastructure, education, real estate, health care and government contracts.
MLA provides comprehensive guidance and legal advice to these organizations in all areas of need:
- organization;
- association management;
- establishment of governance principles that are unique to membership organizations;
- application for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and states;
- tax audits and preparation of tax and information returns (Form 990s) and unrelated business income tax analysis and planning;
- employment issues;
- board ethical and fiduciary issues;
- intellectual property matters;
- meetings/convention/trade shows/hotel events;
- antitrust guidance;
- employee benefit plans;
- real estate leasing;
- standard setting;
- insurance; and
- contract negotiation and drafting.
Trade associations, industry trade groups and business associations generally advance their business interests in front of federal and state government agencies and attempt to influence legislation on a federal and state level. MLA’s Federal, State and Local Government Affairs teams bring decades of experience in Federal and state government and represent trade associations in such areas.
MLA’s experienced chemicals group represents task forces of companies manufacturing, formulating, distributing and selling FIFRA regulated products to develop, protect and assert rights in data required by U.S. EPA.
Finally, MLA has a sophisticated team of litigators who represent trade associations in drafting and submitting comments in Federal and state rule making proceedings and who represent trade association clients in federal court litigation challenging federal agency policies, rules and regulations. MLA attorneys frequently prepare amicus curiae briefs on behalf of trade association clients so that they can express their views on important legal issues affecting their members directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals, and state appellate courts. Our appellate attorneys have the skills and experience required to author influential amicus briefs that are written in the concise, restrained, and elevated tone that appellate courts expect and admire.