Issues Notes
Emerson, Former NASCO Official,
Joins Montgomery, McCracken

Karl E. Emerson, former Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations and a former President of the National Association of State Charity Officials, has joined Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP as an attorney in the nonprofit group of the firm's Business Department.

Emerson brings to the firm more than twenty-five years of administrative, investigative and enforcement experience, as well as national recognition in the nonprofit world.  Emerson will provide legal counsel and advice to nonprofit organizations, including helping charitable organizations and their fundraisers to comply with state charitable solicitation statutes, conducting internal investigations for charitable and other tax-exempt organizations, and helping with compliance assessments.

Nonprofit Issues® Editor Don Kramer and Tax Editor Virginia Sikes are also attorneys with Montgomery, McCracken.

As Director of the Bureau of Charitable Organizations, Emerson increased the number of registered charitable organizations from approximately 3,700 to over 9,800.  He also set up a Special Investigation and Audit Unit that aggressively pursued fraud and other abuses in the nonprofit sector and worked closely with state and federal law enforcement agencies as well as foreign law enforcement agencies on several terrorist financing cases.

Previously, Emerson held executive level management positions in the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General where he supervised and directed complex fraud, waste and abuse investigations. He also worked closely with state and federal law enforcement agencies during his ten years at the Office of Inspector General.

As Director of the Bureau of Charitable Organizations, Emerson gave more than 120 educational speeches and presentations at major nonprofit, fundraising, legal and accounting conferences nationwide.  He has given presentations in Beijing, China and recently helped train over 80 law enforcement officials from 12 countries at U.S. Justice Department training sessions held in Colombo, Sri Lanka and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Emerson has authored more than 44 articles in state and national publications and has three times been named by The Nonprofit Times as one of the 50 most influential members of the nonprofit community.

Emerson received a J. D. degree from Temple University Law School in 1981.  He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1978 where he earned dual degrees, each magna cum laude, in Economics and Business Administration.

Thursday with the Editor, August 9

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