Trade Association Law

Trade and Professional Associations face many of the same governance, transactional and operational legal questions as any business or corporation—along with the special legal issues common to non-profits that are an outgrowth of their unique status as membership organizations.

PilieroMazza is a Trade Association Law Firm, experienced with the unique legal challenges that face trade associations, ranging from privacy issues involving membership rolls, to intellectual property and other issues surrounding professional development courses and the conferring of professional designations, to ethical and fiduciary issues surrounding board governance.

We are knowledgeable about structuring internal and business transactions that not only address relevant legal issues, but also advance an association’s interests in maintaining harmonious relationships with its membership and (when relevant) local chapters. We also help our clients with antitrust concerns and tax-exempt status, and with general legal services regarding membership arrangements and both organizational and operational issues. And our government affairs group helps us monitor and seek changes to laws, regulations and policies that may impact the membership of our trade association clients.