Jean L. Tom is an attorney in the Tax-Exempt Organizations Group at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP. Ms. Tom advises public charities and private foundations on tax compliance, organizational structuring (e.g., subsidiaries, affiliates, joint ventures, mergers), public/private partnerships, political intervention and lobbying, program-related investing, international activities, governance issues such as fiduciary responsibilities and management of endowment and restricted funds, and general corporate and employment matters. Ms. Tom has also represented organizations before the New York State Attorney General's Office and the IRS.
Ms. Tom regularly speaks at conferences for non-profit organizations. Recent papers presented include "Lobbying Basics," "Top 10 Funder Blunders," and "Corporate Sponsorship and Commercial Co-Ventures." She also serves as a member of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Before joining the firm, Ms. Tom served as Law Clerk to the Hon. Raymond J. Dearie, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. Ms. Tom received her J.D. from Yale Law School and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College. A former Coro Fellow in Public Affairs, Jean sits on the Board of Director of Neighbors Together, a soup kitchen in Brownsville, Brooklyn.