Religious Institution Services
Greene & Roberts LLP offers a complete range of legal services tailored to meet the needs of churches and religious organizations. We understand that religious organizations have special legal needs that differ from other non-profit organizations because they are called by faith to advance a religious mission. Religious institutions often have distinct internal policies and governance and often advance values and practices that may be contrary to the dominant secular culture and prevalent public policy. Moreover, religious organizations enjoy constitutional rights and protections that are unique to churches and religious institutions. Services offered by the Firm include:
- The defense of constitutionally protected religious freedom rights against government intrusion and abrogation.
- The review, investigation, and defense of misconduct claims vicariously leveled against religious institutions, based upon allegations made against employees, volunteers and clergy.
- The defense of injury, property damage, employment and other civil claims brought against religious institutions and employers.
- Counseling, negotiation and litigation of land use problems involving church or religious property.
- Local, state, and federal government relations, legislative counseling, and governmental negotiation.
- The review and negotiation of government contracts and program grants with a view toward autonomy and free exercise rights.
- Transactional legal advice regarding the formation and maintenance of nonprofit public benefit and religious corporations.
- Insurance advice, including legal analysis of insurance coverage issues, tendering of claims to insurance carriers and representing clients as conflict counsel.
- The confidential investigation of lay employee and clergy misconduct cases, including the investigation of embezzlement and other financial improprieties.
- The preparation of risk management and charitable asset protection plans for religious institutions, including restructuring proposals, the establishment of charitably-restricted trusts, and the like.
