Nisha Thakker

Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC has once again been “ranked” by the prestigious U.S. Legal 500 for 2023 in the national Not-for-Profit category. One of only 19 law firms ranked nationwide and the only boutique firm, this is a highly coveted, distinguished honor. TLG Managing Partner Jeff Tenenbaum is also one of only five members of the U.S. Legal 500 Not-for-Profit Hall of Fame. Details can be found here and here.

Here are some excerpts from the published client testimonials:

“Experienced managing partner and co-founder Jeffrey Tenenbaum is the ‘highly skillful, caring, and practical’ practice head leading the group at Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC in Washington DC. Tenenbaum, who is active in the nonprofit bar, is emblematic of the group’s ‘rich and deep understanding of the nonprofit and trade association ecosystem’, leveraged to act as outside general counsel for different types of clients such as charities, trade and professional associations, international NGOs, conservation groups, and educational and health care institutions, with Nisha Thakker, who co-founded the group, a key name for healthcare work.”

“Jeffrey has years of experience in the non-profit space. Since starting his own practice, we have found him to be extremely responsive, as well as realistic.”

“The group has a rich and deep understanding of the non-profit and trade association ecosystem and therefore has experience and understanding of any situation and issue that may arise for any particular organization. They are very responsive, respectful, genuine in their desire to do good for their clients. They have also responded very well to adapting to the changing office environments resulting from the pandemic.”

“Jeffrey Tenenbaum is very knowledgeable, fastidious, and personable. He is able to drill down to the very heart of the issue and articulate it so that my board and other stakeholders understand any issue from all angles and the options before us. He has been a great resource for a number of items, whether it’s launching a new foundation, templates for bylaws, employment contracts, or affiliate partnerships, Jeff is a great resource to go to.”

“Jeffrey Tenenbaum is exceptional. Highly skillful, caring, and practical.”

In addition to other honors and recognitions, in its first year of existence, TLG was awarded the (top) Tier 1 designation in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for Nonprofit/Charities Law for 2021 by Best Law Firms/U.S. News & World Report®, and then again for 2022 and 2023. The firm is one of only six law firms in the region to have been granted this distinguished Tier 1 honor (and one of only four “client-confirmed” firms) and the only boutique firm among them.

TLG Partner Nisha Thakker is quoted extensively in the May 2023 issue of The Management Membership Report in an article entitled, "Avoid Bylaws Pitfalls." "The two most common bylaws pitfalls are 1. being overly detailed and prescriptive and 2. not being consistent with state statutes," says Nisha Thakker, a partner with the Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC (Washington, DC). "Bylaws are intended to be flexible and fluid so that the governing body of the organization can act effectively and efficiently,” she says. “Bylaws don’t need to lay out every possible scenario and address every possible issue in order to be legally compliant. It’s actually the direct opposite.” Thakker goes on to give further advice about how to avoid pitfalls with association bylaws.

Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC has been “ranked” by the prestigious U.S. Legal 500 for 2022 in the national Not-for-Profit category. One of only 19 law firms ranked nationwide and the only boutique firm, this is a highly coveted, distinguished honor. TLG Managing Partner Jeff Tenenbaum is also one of only five members of the U.S. Legal 500 Not-for-Profit Hall of Fame. Details can be found here and here.

Here are excerpts from the published client testimonials:

“This is the most responsive legal firm that I have worked with in my career. They are quick to respond and quick to provide work product. Some firms tend to ramble, but not the Tenenbaum Law Group. They listen to our concerns and provide clear, concise responses.”

“Jeff and Nisha are an incredible team – they get how their work impacts their clients – not just legally, but operationally and financially as well.”

“Jeff Tenenbaum is a leading expert in non-profit law. He is extremely knowledgeable and responsive to client questions and concerns.”

“Jeff Tenenbaum and his team are exceptional partners for associations in their legal and governance needs. Tenenbaum is smart, practical, and easy to work with.”

“TLG is extremely responsive and gets work done quickly. Jeff Tenenbaum has a very practical, real-world approach to solving problems, which makes him a pleasure to work with.”

“Tenenbaum Law Group didn’t miss a beat during COVID-19, despite an increased workload with event cancellation negotiations, PPP loan questions, and Employee Retention Tax credit questions. They provide expertise in the not-for-profit industry and during the last year have provided informed advice regarding a range of issues including COVID-19 specific issues, bylaws, and board governance, filing an Amicus Curiae Brief, and hotel negotiations.”

In addition to other honors and recognitions, in its first year of existence, TLG was awarded the (top) Tier 1 designation in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for Nonprofit/Charities Law for 2021 by Best Law Firms/U.S. News & World Report®, and then again for 2022. The firm is one of only six law firms in the region to have been granted this distinguished Tier 1 honor in 2021 and 2022, and the only boutique firm among them. The unsolicited testimonials received by Best Law Firms/U.S. News & World Report® from the firm’s clients can be read here.

The Tenenbaum Law Group (TLG) is pleased to announce the promotion of Nisha Thakker to Partner, effective January 1, 2022. A co-founder of the firm two years ago with Managing Partner Jeff Tenenbaum, Nisha has been an integral part of TLG since its inception and is an extremely accomplished nonprofit attorney on whom so many of the firm’s clients rely for regular legal advice and counsel. Founded on January 1, 2020 by Jeff and Nisha, TLG is a nationally recognized, Washington, DC-based, three-attorney boutique law firm focused exclusively on the nonprofit sector, with approximately 500 clients across the United States. The firm’s client base is composed principally of nonprofit organizations – such as trade and professional associations, charities, international NGOs, arts and cultural institutions, think tanks, health care entities, foundations, and the like – as well as select companies and executives that work with or provide services to nonprofits.

Tenenbaum Law Group’s Managing Partner Jeff Tenenbaum and Counsel Nisha Thakker are quoted extensively in this article in ASAE’s Associations Now about the fact that after trade and professional associations experienced costly event-cancellation penalties due to the pandemic, many are looking at their meeting contracts differently and incorporating new provisions when possible. Tenenbaum and Thakker offer numerous practical tips to associations in connection with the negotiation of their meeting contracts.

Associations Now

Following TLG Counsel Nisha Thakker’s October 26, 2021 presentation at the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives’ 2021 Annual Summit, Impact Association Management CEO and Founder Jodi Fisher published a blog entry about her takeaways from Nisha’s discussion of meeting contract considerations during and beyond COVID-19. “Though it’s not always the most thrilling topic, she did a great job keeping us engaged, throwing in some good humor, and giving us some really solid material,” said Fisher. “Contract clauses, supply and demand, and meeting planning have changed fairly significantly since the pandemic hit us, and as meeting professionals, we have to stay on top of these trends in order to protect our clients’ events. There were many, many takeaways, but here were a few that really stuck out to me,” said Fisher, as she went on to describe her four key takeaways.

Tenenbaum Law Group is very proud to have once again been awarded – in its second year of existence – the (top) Tier 1 designation in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for Nonprofit/Charities Law for 2022 by Best Law Firms/U.S. News & World Report. The firm is one of only six law firms in the region to have been granted this distinguished 2022 honor in Tier 1 (there were 11 total firms in the three tiers combined) – and the only boutique firm among the six. In addition, TLG’s Managing Partner Jeff Tenenbaum was, once again, awarded the Best Lawyers designation for 2022 for Nonprofit/Charities Law nationally by Best Law Firms/U.S. News & World Report, an honor he has received every year since 2012. Comments from a number of the firm’s clients can be found here.

Tenenbaum Law Group’s Managing Partner Jeff Tenenbaum and Counsel Nisha Thakker are quoted in this article in CEO Update about how hotels, convention centers, and other meeting venues are growing less lenient with cancellation and refund policies at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that associations and other event organizers need to pay particular attention when negotiating force majeure and other contract language. Tenenbaum and Thakker offer up specific advice and recommendations for meeting contract clauses.

CEO Update

The Tenenbaum Law Group (TLG) is pleased to announce the addition of Counsel Julie Kulovits to the firm. Based in the Chicagoland area and most recently the general counsel of the North American Spine Society for the last six years – an internationally recognized association for medical professionals in the spine care field – Julie has broad-based experience with association and nonprofit legal issues. Prior to her in-house role, Julie spent a decade in private practice as a civil litigator in Illinois. Julie brings 15 years of law practice to TLG, where she will help to service the firm’s client base of over 350 associations and nonprofit organizations, as well as companies and executives that work with or provide services to nonprofits. Founded on January 1, 2020 by Managing Partner Jeff Tenenbaum and Counsel Nisha Thakker, TLG is nationally recognized, Washington, DC-based boutique law firm focused exclusively on the nonprofit sector, with clients across the United States.