Gene Takagi

Gene Takagi

NEO Law Group
  • Business Law, Tax Law
  • California
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Biography

Gene Takagi is the managing attorney of NEO Law Group, contributing publisher of the Nonprofit Law Blog, and a part-time lecturer at Columbia University. At NEO, Gene has represented over 800 nonprofit organizations on corporate, tax, and charitable trust law matters. Gene is a popular writer on nonprofit legal topics and has been published by The New York Times, The Nonprofit Quarterly, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Nonprofit Times, Taxation of Exempts, EO Tax Journal, and ALI-ABA. He is also a popular speaker who has presented at conferences for Independent Sector, BoardSource, NAAG/National Association of State Charity Officials, CalNonprofits, the American Bar Association (ABA), the Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations, Georgetown Nonprofit Governance, the Northern California Planned Giving Council, and numerous bar and CPA associations. Gene has been a regular contributor to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio since 2010.

Gene's professional experiences are diverse: corporate attorney for Sheppard Mullin, professor of nonprofit law at USF and Saint Mary's University of MN, director of the medical and behavior divisions of the SF SPCA, & management consultant for Allders Int'l. This background helps him provide clear, understandable legal advice with an appreciation of the relevant business issues. Gene, a graduate of UCLA School of Law and of USF's Master of Nonprofit Administration program, is a recipient of multiple awards, including Outstanding Nonprofit Lawyer (ABA Nonprofit Committee, 2016), Outstanding Barrister (Bar Association of San Francisco), and Northern California Super Lawyer (2015-2022). He currently serves on the boards of BoardSource and The Nonprofit Quarterly; the planning committee of the WCTEO; and the board of advisors of the Center on Philanthropy and the Law at NYU School of Law. He previously served on the boards of CompassPoint, Community Initiatives, and Net Impact, and the public policy committee of Independent Sector.

Practice Areas
Business Law
Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
Tax Law
Business Taxes, Criminal Tax Litigation, Estate Tax Planning, Income Taxes, International Taxes, Payroll Taxes, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits, Tax Planning
Additional Practice Area
  • Nonprofit Law
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California
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Professional Experience
Part-Time Lecturer
Columbia University
- Current
Nonprofit Management, School of Professional Studies (graduate program)
Managing Attorney
NEO Law Group
- Current
Assistant Professor
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
-
Adjunct Professor
University of San Francisco
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Associate Attorney
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
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Director, Medical & Behavior Divisions
San Francisco SPCA
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Operations Manager ...
Allders International
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Education
UBC
BSc | Biology
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UCLA
JD | Law
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University of San Francisco
MNA | Nonprofit Administration
University of San Francisco Logo
Awards
Super Lawyer, Northern California
SuperLawyers
Super Lawyer, Northern California
Super Lawyers
Super Lawyer, Northern California
Super Lawyers
Northern California SuperLawyer
Super Lawyers
Northern California SuperLawyer
SuperLawyers
Northern California SuperLawyer
SuperLawyers
Northern California SuperLawyer
SuperLawyers
Northern California SuperLawyer
SuperLawyers
Outstanding Lawyer, ABA Nonprofit Organizations Committee
American Bar Association
Northern California SuperLawyer
SuperLawyers
Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service
Volunteer Legal Services Program
Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service
Volunteer Legal Services Program
Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service
Volunteer Legal Services Program
Barrister of the Year
Bar Association of San Francisco
Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service
Volunteer Legal Services Program
Professional Associations
BoardSource
Director
- Current
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California Lawyers Association
Member
- Current
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The Nonprofit Quarterly
Director
- Current
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Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations
Planning Committee Member
- Current
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California Association of Nonprofits
Member
- Current
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Independent Sector
Member
- Current
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American Bar Association
Member
- Current
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State Bar of California  # 215258
Member
- Current
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Bar Association of San Francisco
Member
- Current
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CompassPoint Nonprofit Services
Director
-
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Independent Sector
John W. Gardner Leadership Award Committee
-
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Independent Sector
Public Policy Committee Member
-
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Community Initiatives
Director, Secretary
-
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Northern California Planned Giving Council
Member
-
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JCYC
Director
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Social Enterprise Alliance
Member
-
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Bar Association of San Francisco Pro Bono Committee
Committee Member
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Asian American Bar Association
Member
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Net Impact
Director
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Barristers Club
Director
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Community Thrift Store
Director
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Publications
Articles & Publications
501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organizations
Nonprofit Law Blog
California: Nonprofit Directors’ Rights of Inspection
Nonprofit Law Blog
Entering into a Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement
Nonprofit Law Blog
Nonprofit Governance: Board Composition
Nonprofit Law Blog
Nonprofits: 10 Lessons from “Ted Lasso” and “Succession”
Nonprofit Law Blog
Alternatives to Starting a Nonprofit
Nonprofit Law Blog
California’s New Law for Charitable Fundraising Platforms
Nonprofit Law Blog
Compensating Nonprofit Board Members
Nonprofit Law Blog
Fiscal Sponsorship Exits: Not Always Easy
Nonprofit Law Blog
Fiscal Sponsorship: Fees (Model A)
Nonprofit Law Blog
Is a Compensated Nonprofit Officer an Employee?
Nonprofit Law Blog
Nonprofits: Engaging Millennials and Gen Z
Nonprofit Law Blog
Nonprofits: The Impact of Law on Trust
Nonprofit Law Blog
Some Thoughts for First-Year Nonprofits
Nonprofit Law Blog
What’s Your Nonprofit Doing to Fight Climate Change?
Nonprofit Law Blog
Bylaws: Indemnification
Nonprofit Law Blog
DAO: What is it? What does it mean for nonprofits?
Nonprofit Law Blog
Nonprofit Mergers: Integrated Governance Models
Nonprofit Law Blog
Purpose-Driven Board Leadership, Legally Speaking
Nonprofit Law Blog
Setting Up an Effective Nonprofit Board
Nonprofit Law Blog
Supreme Court Rules on Mandatory Donor Disclosures
Nonprofit Law Blog
How to Start a California Nonprofit
California Association of Nonprofits
Nonprofit mergers: motivations
Candid
Nonprofits in trouble: the fiscal sponsorship option
Candid
Shared Leadership: A Lawyer's Perspective
The Nonprofit Quarterly
Crowdfunding: Considerations and Issues for Nonprofits
EO Tax Journal
Think Tanks Need a Certification Program to Establish Transparency
The New York Times
Understanding Crowdfunding after a Tragedy
The Nonprofit Quarterly
Program-Related Investments: Will New Regulations Result In Greater And Better Use?
The Nonprofit Quarterly
Fiscal Sponsorship: A Balanced Overview
The Nonprofit Quarterly
Fair or Foul: A Review of Federal Tax Laws Governing Unfair Competition
The Nonprofit Quarterly
12 Reasons Why You Should Gracefully Resign from a Nonprofit Board
The Nonprofit Quarterly
10 Issues To Address In Your Nonprofit’s Social Media Policy
The Nonprofit Times
What Board Members Should Know About Reviewing a Form 990
BoardLink
Basic Board Governance Failures Stand at the Center of the Penn State Debacle
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Avoiding Trouble: What Nonprofits Can Learn From Sex-Abuse Scandal
Chronicle of Philanthropy
‘Three Cups of Tea' Scandal Offers Lessons for Charities and Trustees
Chronicle of Philanthropy
Can Nonprofit Boards Vote by Email?
Blue Avocado
Alternatives to Forming a Charitable Nonprofit
American Bar Association, Business Law Today
The Importance of Board Meeting Attendance
Nonprofit Conversation
Group Exemptions Demystified
Taxation of Exempts (Thomson Reuters)
Nonprofit Corporate Governance
The Practical Lawyer (ALI-ABA)
Governance and the Nonprofit Integrity Act
Lorman Education Services
Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations
Lorman Education Services
Nonprofit Joint Ventures
Law.com
Speaking Engagements
Lessons in Nonprofit Governance from the Big (and Small) Screen, 2023 NAAG/NASCO Annual Charities Conference
National Association of Attorneys General & National Association of State Charity Officials
What can we learn about good and not-so-good governance from popular shows and movies? With examples from Ted Lasso, Succession, and Star Wars, this session delves into governance topics including board composition, delegation and oversight, shared leadership models, the consideration of organizational values in meeting fiduciary duties, and conflicts of interest.
Nonprofits: Engaging Millennials and Gen Z, Nonprofit Organizations Committee Meeting
New York City Bar Association
https://nonprofitlawblog.com/nonprofits-engaging-millennials-and-gen-z/
Trust Me, I’m a Fiduciary - a Modern Perspective on Traditional Duties,, Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations, Los Angeles
Loyola Law, UCLA
Comments to "When Purpose Meets Donors", Symposium on The Restatement of The Law, Charitable Nonprofit Organizations, Los Angeles
UCLA Law
Becoming an Anti-racist Nonprofit: Legal Issues, Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations, Los Angeles
Nonprofit M&A: Potential Benefits and Risks, ClearLaw Institute CLE, Online
ClearLaw Institute
Responding to COVID-19 Legal Issues, BoardSource Facebook Live, Online
BoardSource
Dissolutions & Mergers, BoardSource Facebook Live, Online
BoardSource
Enhancing Governance, CalCPA 2020 Not-for-Profit Organizations Conference, Virtual
California Society of CPAs
Lawyers Serving on a Non-Profit Board: Issue Spotting and 2019 Ethics Update, Bar Association of San Francisco CLE, San Francisco
Bar Association of San Francisco
Predictapalooza: Civil society forecast 2019, Digital Civil Society Lab at the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, Online
Stanford University
DEI, Governance, and Grantmaking, Northern California Planned Giving Council Annual Conference, San Francisco
Northern California Planned Giving Council
Affiliations Between Nonprofits and For-profits: Possibilities and Problems, Social Enterprise Law Seminar, Oakland
Sustainable Economies Law Center
Nonprofit Law: Ch-ch-ch-changes!, CalNonprofits Annual Convention, Los Angeles
California Association of Nonprofits
Cryptocurrencies, Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Moderator
Representing Charitable Nonprofits: Formation and Exemption, Continuing Education of the Bar – California, Online
CEB of the State Bar of California
Risk Management, ABA Bar Leadership Institute, Chicago
American Bar Association
Strategic Advocacy Using Affiliated 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) Organizations, Georgetown Nonprofit Governance, Washington DC
Georgetown University
Philanthropic and Nonprofit Advocacy, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy Annual Convening, Oakland
Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy
Crowdfunding, National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) Annual Meeting, Washington DC
National Association of State Charity Officials
Earned Income Issues and Guidance for California Nonprofits, CLEarLaw Institute CLE, Online
Lawline
Legal Careers Outside the Box, Continuing Education of the Bar-California, Lake Tahoe
CEB of the State Bar of California
Hot Topics to Keep Nonprofits Out of Hot Water, CalNonprofits Annual Convention, Oakland
California Association of Nonprofits
Nonprofit Crowdfunding, Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations, Los Angeles
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Opening Discussion, National Network of Fiscal Sponsors Annual Gathering, New York City
National Network of Fiscal Sponsors
Social Media for Nonprofits, Webinar, Online
American Law Institute
Diverse Views on Social Impact Financing, National Summit on Quality in Home Visiting Programs, Washington DC
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Opening Plenary – Threads – Summary from Oakland Convening, Independent Sector Annual Meeting, Miami
Independent Sector
Fiscal Sponsorship: New Practices, New Solutions, Grantmakers in the Arts Annual Conference, Houston
Grantmakers in the Arts
“Small Charities – Problems and Solutions, American Bar Association, Tax Section Mid-Year Meeting, Phoenix
American Bar Association
Navigating Legal and Ethical Issues, New Grantmakers Institute, San Francisco
Northern California Grantmakers
UBIT Lessons from the College and University Report, Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations, Los Angeles
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Social Enterprises: Nonprofit vs. For-profit, BoardSource Leadership Forum, Los Angeles
BoardSource
Hybrid Models: What Does the Future Hold?, Net Impact Annual Conference, Stanford
Net Impact
“Social Enterprises: Tax Implications, Nonprofit Finance & Accounting Symposium, Washington DC
Greater Washington DC Society of CPAs
Nonprofit Organizations for Musicians, Nonprofit Organizations for Musicians, San Francisco
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Legal Risks for Nonprofit Boards, American Bar Association, Bar Leadership Institute, Chicago
American Bar Association
The Legal Foundation for Civil Society in American Law, Public Policy Class, Stanford
Stanford University
Social Enterprises, NCPGC Meeting, San Francisco
Northern California Planned Giving Council
Duties & Responsibilities of Serving on a Nonprofit Board, Bar Association of San Francisco CLE, San Francisco
Bar Association of San Francisco
Earned Income & Business Ventures: What Nonprofits Can and Cannot Do, CBO Center Seminar, Oakland
CBO Center
Serving on a Nonprofit Board, Bar Association of San Francisco CLE, San Francisco
Bar Association of San Francisco
Websites & Blogs
Website
NEO Law Group
Blog
Nonprofit Law Blog
Contact & Map
535 Mission St.
14th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: (415) 977-0558
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