William M. Klimon is a Member in Caplin & Drysdale's Washington, D.C., office. Mr. Klimon joined the firm in 2001 after he had previously practiced in the corporate law departments of two other national law firms. Since 2012, The Legal 500 has listed Mr. Klimon as a leader in his field for Not-for-Profit and Domestic Tax: East Coast.
Services
Mr. Klimon's practice focuses on corporate governance and transactions, particularly for nonprofit organizations. Over the last decade, he has advised over 500 nonprofit organizations on a complete range of issues from formation to dissolution, including over a dozen nonprofit mergers. He has worked with many of the nation's largest private foundations, public charities, political campaigns, environmental organizations, healthcare institutions, universities, libraries, museums, and churches.
Mr. Klimon also practices in the areas of mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, intercompany lending, and choice of business entities and alternative organizational structures. He has advised a variety of small- and medium-sized partnerships, LLCs, and close corporations, as well as large enterprises including multinational banks, manufacturers, and publishers.
Professional Activities
Mr. Klimon is chairman of the Nonprofit Organizations Committee of the ABA's Section of Business Law, for which he previously served as co-chair of the Joint Subcommittee on Nonprofit Corporate Governance. He also serves on the Library Committee of the National Sporting Library & Museum, Middleburg, Virginia, and was the co-founder of the University of Maryland Chapter of the St. Thomas More Society. In 2017, he was elected to membership in the American Antiquarian Society.
Mr. Klimon served in the U.S. Army from 1987 to 1990, during which time he was assigned to the U.S. Army Field Station in Berlin. Later, he was a Lambe Fellow and a Merrill Fellow in the history department of the graduate school at Cornell University and worked on the staff of The Johns Hopkins University.
Recent News
- Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Listed as "Best Lawyers In America", August 19, 2021
- Caplin & Drysdale Earns Top Ranking in 2021 "Best Lawyers in America", U.S. News & World Report, August 20, 2020
- Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Listed as "Best Lawyers In America", August 15, 2019
- William Klimon Elected to American Antiquarian Society, Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered, December 11, 2017
- ABA Names William Klimon Chair of Nonprofit Organizations Committee, Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered, October 5, 2017
- 18 Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers Recognized in 2017 Legal 500 Ranking, The Legal 500, June 2, 2017
- Caplin & Drysdale Honors All Who Served in Our Nation's Military, Caplin & Drysdale, November 11, 2016
- Caplin & Drysdale Recognized for Cutting Edge Advice, The Legal 500, June 16, 2016
- Caplin & Drysdale Named Top Tier Firm for Tax Controversy, June 8, 2015
- Caplin & Drysdale Salutes Our Veterans, Caplin & Drysdale, November 11, 2014
- Exempt Organizations Group Hosts Nonprofit Leaders, Caplin & Drysdale, October 6, 2014
- Clients and Peers Recommend Caplin & Drysdale in 2014 Legal 500 Ranking, The Legal 500, July 1, 2014
- Tax Directors Handbook Recommends Caplin & Drysdale As A Leading Tax Law Firm, Tax Directors Handbook, December 19, 2013
- Caplin & Drysdale Hosts National ACC Webcast on the Impact Economy, Caplin & Drysdale, October 9, 2013
- The Legal 500 Recommends Caplin & Drysdale As a Leading Firm For 2013, The Legal 500, June 3, 2013
- Chambers and Legal 500 Recognize Caplin & Drysdale in 2012 Top Rankings, Chambers USA / The Legal 500, June 12, 2012
- Caplin & Drysdale Promotes Four Attorneys to Membership in the Firm, Caplin & Drysdale, February 1, 2011
Click here for a full list of media coverage.
Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, Intro to Nonprofit Formation for Paralegals: Articles and Bylaws, Institute for Paralegal Education And National Business Institute, July 22, 2021
- Speaker, Serving on Nonprofit Boards: A Guide for Attorneys, National Business Institute, March 30, 2020
- Speaker, Nonprofit M&A: Analyzing Tax, Accounting, and Business Aspects of Partnerships With Other NPOs, Strafford Publications, December 12, 2019
- Speaker, William Klimon Speaks at Tax Exempt Organizations Boot Camp, Tax Exempt Organizations Boot Camp, October 11, 2019
- Speaker, Managing Difficult, Disruptive and Risky Board Behaviors, Taylor Strategic Partnerships, May 8, 2019
- Panelist, Succession and Transition Planning, New York Nonprofit Media's 3rd Annual Nonprofit BoardCon, February 5, 2019
- Panelist, Privacy & Cybersecurity, Ethics & Accountability Summit, New York Nonprofit Media, December 13, 2018
- Speaker, Beyond the Board: Alternatives in Association Governance, ASAE 2018 Associations @ Work Conference, October 30, 2018
- Speaker, Nonprofit Ethical Dilemmas, National Business Institute, Top Mistakes Nonprofits Make Seminar, October 29, 2018
- Speaker, Drafting and Revising Nonprofit Bylaws: Common Mistakes and Best Practices, National Business Institute, Top Mistakes Nonprofits Make Seminar, October 29, 2018
- Panelist, Maximizing Oversight Capacities of Your Board and Managing Governance Functions at Your Nonprofit, New York Nonprofit Media, Nonprofit Check Up, September 13, 2018
- Speaker, Alternatives in Nonprofit Board Governance, Qm2 Executive Roundtable, July 17, 2018
- Speaker, Beyond the Board: Alternatives in Nonprofit Governance, 2018 IPGA Annual Conference, June 23, 2018
- Panelist, Tips for Supporting Good Governance, 4th Annual Nonprofit BoardCon, New York Nonprofit Media, June 13, 2018
- Speaker, M&A Issues for Nonprofit Organizations, 501 Forum, May 15, 2018
- Chair, Nonprofit M&A: Advanced Issues, ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting, April 13, 2018
- Moderator, Nonprofit M&A: Introduction and Basic Issues, ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting, April 13, 2018
- Chair, Governance of Nonprofit Organizations Joint Subcommittee Meeting, ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting, April 13, 2018
- Speaker, Board Responsibilities 101, New York Nonprofit Media's 2nd Annual Nonprofit BoardCon, January 24, 2018
- Speaker, Beyond the Board: Alternatives in Nonprofit Governance, 501 Forum: A Nonprofit Learning Series, November 2, 2017
- Presenter, Beyond the Board: Alternatives in Nonprofit Governance, 2017 BoardSource Leadership Forum, October 20, 2017
- Panelist, Best Practices for the Recruitment and Retention of Board Leaders, New York Nonprofit Media Nonprofit HRCon, August 3, 2017
- Speaker, Drafting and Revising Nonprofit Bylaws: Common Pitfalls and Best Practices, National Business Institute, June 29, 2017
- Panelist, Self-Regulation And Transparency Of Nonprofits, 3rd Annual Nonprofit BoardCon, New York Nonprofit Media, June 15, 2017
- Speaker, Disaster and Emergency Planning for the Nonprofit Organization, 501 Forum - A Nonprofit Learning Series, May 4, 2017
- Speaker, Beyond the Board of Directors: Community Involvement in Nonprofit Governance, Nonprofit BoardCon, January 18, 2017
- Speaker, M&A Issues for Nonprofit Organizations, Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered, October 19, 2016
- Speaker, Tax Exempt Organizations Boot Camp, National Business Institute, August 5, 2016
- Speaker, Beyond the Board of Directors: Community Involvement in Nonprofit Governance, Council on Foundations, April 10, 2016
- Speaker, Nonprofit Governance Lunchtime Q&A, 2015 BoardSource Leadership Forum, November 11, 2015
- Chair, Disaster and Emergency Planning for the Nonprofit Organization: Preparing for and Responding to the Zombie Apocalypse, 2015 ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting, September 18, 2015
- Speaker, Nonprofit Board Governance and Liability, National Business Institute, Advanced Tax Exempt Organization Strategies Seminar, June 5, 2015
- Speaker, Ethical Traps for EOs, National Business Institute, Advanced Tax Exempt Organization Strategies Seminar, June 5, 2015
- Speaker, Documenting Resource-Sharing Arrangements & Other Transactions Between Related Organizations, Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA), Nonprofits and Associations Forum: Wearing Multiple Hats - Common Challenges for GCs Advising Related Organizations, October 1, 2014
- Speaker, Governance Structures for Religious Orders: Legal and Practical Strategies to Address Changing Demographics and Institutional Priorities, The Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI), September 19, 2014
- Speaker, Program 1: Incorporation Process; Program 2: Restructuring and Terminating Exempt Organizations: Procedures and Pitfalls, National Business Institute, July 28, 2014
- Panelist, An Intellectual Property Primer for Religious Institutes: Trademarks, Internet Domain Names and Social Media IDs, and Copyright, The Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI), February 21, 2014
- Speaker, Using Good Governance to Engage Risk: Legal Perspectives, BoardSource Leadership Forum, November 7, 2013
- Panelist, Impact: Legal Structures, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) & Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA), October 16, 2013
- Speaker, Tax Exempt Organizations From Start to Finish, National Business Institute, July 29, 2013
- Speaker, Restructuring and Terminating Exempt Organizations: Considerations and Procedures, National Business Institute, July 3, 2013
- Speaker, Incorporation Process: Choosing the Form, Organizing the Governance, National Business Institute, July 3, 2013
- Speaker, Practicalities of Starting Up Business in the United States: Legal Aspects, UK Trade & Investment/Achieve Good's Social Investment Trade Mission, October 21, 2012
- Speaker, Legal Developments in Nonprofit Corporate Governance: The Year in Review, 2011-2012, BoardSource Leadership Forum, September 21, 2012
- Speaker, Franchise and Fair-Dealing Laws: Legal Risks and Governance Considerations for Multi-Level Nonprofit Organizations, BoardSource Leadership Forum, September 2, 2012
- Speaker, Working With Related Organizations, WMACCA Nonprofits & Associations Forum, September 1, 2012
- Speaker, Re-Membering the Nonprofit Corporation: Uses of Members in Corporate Governance—and Beyond, American Bar Association, March 1, 2012
- Speaker, Multi-Level (International, National, Regional & Local) Nonprofit Organizations: How to Structure Them—Plus Tax and Regulatory Issues, American Bar Association, August 1, 2011
- Speaker, How to Keep Tax-Exempt Organizations in Compliance: The Impact of Sarbanes-Oxley and the Era of Corporate Governance on Nonprofit Organizations, National Business Institute, July 8, 2011
- Speaker, Introduction to Nonprofit Governance, Board Diversity Apprenticeship Project, July 1, 2011
- Speaker, The Nonprofit Corporate Secretary -- Responsibilities and Risks, WMACCA Nonprofits & Associations Forum, April 28, 2010
- Presenter, Protecting the Nonprofit Corporate Director: Immunity, Indemnification, and Insurance, National Business Officers Association, Second Annual NBOA Tax Institute for Private Schools, April 28, 2006
- Speaker, How Do I Benefit Thee? Let Me Count the Ways: Practical Strategies for Providing and Communicating Community Benefit, American Health Lawyers Association's Hospitals and Health Systems Law Institute, February 1, 2006
- Speaker, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do—When Partnerships Don't Work, 7th Annual Public Private Partnership Conference, Center for Nonprofit Advancement, The George Washington University, November 1, 2005
Click here for a full list of speaking engagements.
Recent Publications
- "IRS Proposes Regulations on UBTI Siloing; Comments Due Soon,"
with Meghan R. Biss, William D. Fournier, Douglas N. Varley, and Sharon P. Want, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 28, 2020
- "UPDATE: CARES Act Assistance for Nonprofit Employers: Retention Credits and Tax Deferral,"
with Meghan R. Biss, William D. Fournier, Douglas N. Varley, and Sharon P. Want, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 13, 2020
- "IRS Extends the Deadline for Exempt Organizations to File Federal Tax Returns,"
with Meghan R. Biss, William D. Fournier, Douglas N. Varley, and Sharon P. Want, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 10, 2020
- "CARES Act Assistance for Nonprofit Employers: Update on Loans to Larger Nonprofits,"
with Meghan R. Biss, William D. Fournier, Douglas N. Varley, and Sharon P. Want, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 10, 2020
- "CARES Act Assistance for Nonprofit Employers: Loans, Emergency Grants and Other Assistance,"
with Meghan R. Biss, William D. Fournier, Douglas N. Varley, and Sharon P. Want, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 3, 2020
- "UPDATE: CARES Act Assistance for Nonprofit Employers: Paycheck Protection Loans and Loan Forgiveness,"
with Meghan R. Biss, William D. Fournier, Douglas N. Varley, and Sharon P. Want, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 3, 2020
- "Update on Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Requirements: IRS Tries Again,"
with William D. Fournier, Sharon P. Want, Meghan R. Biss, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, September 10, 2019
- "Update on Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Requirements,"
with William D. Fournier, Sharon P. Want, Meghan R. Biss, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, August 1, 2019
- "Beyond the Board: Alternatives in Nonprofit Corporate Governance,"
Harvard Business Law Review Online Volume 9, May 14, 2019
- "IRS Donor Disclosure Requirements Eliminated for Most Nonprofit Organizations,"
with William D. Fournier, Sharon P. Want, Meghan R. Biss, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, July 17, 2018
- "IRS Guidance Removes Obstacle to Restructuring Tax-Exempt Organizations,"
with Meghan R. Biss, Sharon P. Want, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, March 8, 2018
- "Attributes of Excellence: Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance of Health Care Organizations,"
with Ellen L. Barton, Enterprise Risk Management for Healthcare Entities, January 25, 2017
- "Letter to DOJ Confirms IRS Intent to Resume Church Tax Inquiries,"
with Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, August 7, 2014
- "New York Adopts Substantial Changes to Laws Regulating Nonprofits,"
with Douglas N. Varley and William D. Fournier, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, December 20, 2013
- "Wisconsin Court Holds Parsonage Allowance Unconstitutional,"
with Douglas N. Varley and William D. Fournier, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, November 27, 2013
- "Washington Post Releases Database of Reported Nonprofit Asset Diversions,"
with Douglas N. Varley and William D. Fournier, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, October 30, 2013
- "Stalled Applications for Section 501(c)(3) Status: Is it Time to Sue the IRS?,"
with Douglas N. Varley and William D. Fournier, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, August 16, 2013
- "Summary of New York's New Political Disclosure Rules for Nonprofits,"
with Matthew T. Sanderson, Trevor Potter, Bryson B. Morgan, and Douglas N. Varley, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, June 21, 2013
- "Re-Membering The Nonprofit -- Uses of Members in Corporate Governance,"
Taxation of Exempts, December 1, 2012
- "IRS Confirms Deductibility of Contributions to Domestic Disregarded Entities,"
with Douglas N. Varley and William D. Fournier, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, August 3, 2012
- "How to Prevent Your Trademark From Becoming a .XXX Domain,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, October 14, 2011
- "Advertising Liability: A Growing Risk Management Concern,"
Risk Management Handbook for Health Care Organizations, January 1, 2011
- "Revisiting the Hospital Admissions Agreement in Light of the State Charity-Care Litigation,"
Health Lawyers Weekly, August 26, 2005
- "The Delegation of Investment Authority by Nonprofit Corporate Boards Under UMIFA,"
Taxation of Exempts, January 1, 2005
Click here for a full list of publications.