Maura Whelan is a member of the Firm’s Exempt Organizations Practice. She advises private foundations, public charities and social welfare organizations on structural and operating issues, including formation and governance, as well as domestic and international grantmaking. Maura also counsels donors on charitable gift planning and structuring. In addition, she advises institutions on investments in a wide variety of vehicles, including mission- and program-related investments and other private and public market investments.
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Education
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Harvard Law School, 2010 J.D.
cum laude
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Georgetown University, 2005 A.B.
magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
Maura Whelan is Counsel at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP where she practices in the Exempt Organizations Department. Maura advises public charities and private foundations on structural and operating issues, including formation, governance and domestic and international grantmaking and operations. Maura counsels donors in charitable gift planning and structuring. Maura represents a number of endowed universities, foundations, hospitals and cultural institutions in the review and negotiation of documentation relating to investments in private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds, natural resources funds, hedge funds, managed accounts, and other investment vehicles, as well as secondary market purchases and sales of interests in various investment vehicles. In addition, Maura represents a variety of charitable organizations in connection with social impact and program-related investments.
Maura is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation’s Exempt Organizations Committee and previously served as Secretary of that committee. Maura also is a member of the New York City Bar Association Non-Profit Organizations Committee and the Non-Profit Coordinating Committee of New York’s Government Relations Committee. Maura regularly speaks and writes on topics of relevance to exempt organizations.
Maura earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she graduated cum laude. She earned her A.B. from Georgetown University, where she graduated magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.