The UCLA School of Law Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits and Loyola Law School are pleased to announce that they will host the 29th Western Conference on Tax-Exempt Organizations on March 12 and March 13, 2026 at The California Endowment's Center for Healthy Communities in Downtown Los Angeles. Last year's two-day conference was sold out, with nearly 150 lawyers, accountants and in-house professionals representing a broad range of nonprofit organizations.

Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 7:30 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.

Friday, March 13, 2026 | 7:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

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Event Venue and Host

The California Endowment
1000 Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Register for WCTEO 2026 here!

 

2026 Sponsors

Platinum
Adler & Colvin
Davis Wright Tremaine
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Simpson Thacher & Barlett

Gold
BDO
Loeb & Loeb LLP
Mill Law Center
NEO Law Group
Rodriguez, Horii, Choi & Cafferata LLP
RSM US
Whittier Trust

Silver
Clark Nuber PS
Ernst & Young
The Law Firm for Non-Profits
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
SingerLewak
Withersworldwide

 

Where to Stay

The UCLA School of Law Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits has negotiated special conference rates at The Omni Hotel Downtown Los Angeles.

Omni Hotel Downtown Los Angeles
- $232 per night ($25 Uber Credit per stay)—subject to change
- $65 parking per night—subject to change

Click here to visit the OMNI event booking page!

Last day to book at special rate: February 18, 2026

• 1 mile from The California Endowment
• Parking at the California Endowment is free
• Transportation to/from the California Endowment will be available at the beginning and end of each day for participants staying at the Omni Hotel

 

Event Schedule

*Subject to change

Thursday, March 12

7:30-8:30 AM: Breakfast and Check-In
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8:30-8:35 AM: Day 1 Welcome
Ellen Aprill, UCLA Law
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8:35-8:50 AM: Tribute to Doug Mancino
Terri Cammarano, Cedars Sinai
Jill Horwitz, Northwestern School of Law
Ofer Lion, Seyfarth Shaw
LaVerne Woods, Retired
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8:50-10:00 AM: Power Hour Plus
Ofer Lion, Seyfarth Shaw 
Jean Tom, Davis Wright Tremaine 

10:00-11:30 AM Reconsidering Bob Jones: Public Policy, Illegality and DEI 
Roger Colinvaux, Columbus School of Law
James Joseph, Arnold & Porter
Josh Mintz, MacArthur Foundation 
Moderator: LaVerne Woods, Retired 

11:30-11:45 AM: BREAK
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11:45 AM-12:45 PM: Navigating the New World of College Sports
Bob Lammey, EY 
Rich Schmalbeck, Duke University 
Tammi Wong, University of California, Office of the President 
Moderator: Debi Heiskala, EY 

12:45-1:45 PM: LUNCH
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1:45-2:30 PM: Keynote - “You’ll Get Through This”: Navigating Reputational Threats During a Crisis
Eric Herman, Teneo 
Moderator: Jill Horwitz, Northwestern School of Law 
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2:30-3:45 PM: Creative Structures for the Common Good
Erin Bradrick, NEO Law Group  
Dave Shevlin, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett  
Moderator: Karl Mill, Mill Law Center 
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3:45-4:00 PM: BREAK

4:00-5:15 PM: International Issues Land Ashore
Rose Chan Loui, UCLA Law
Nishka Chandrasoma, Ford Foundation 
Atiqua Hashem, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation   
Ruth Madrigal, KPMG  
Moderator: Ingrid Mittermaier, Adler & Colvin 

5:15-6:15 PM: RECEPTION‍

 

Friday, March 13

7:30-8:30 AM: Breakfast and Check-In
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8:30-8:35 AM: Day 2 Welcome
Jill Horwitz, Northwestern School of Law

8:35-9:45 AM: Developing a Response Plan
Monique Abrishami, Levy Firestone Muse 
Andrew Schultz, Adler & Colvin 
Moderator: Helen Cheng, Withersworldwide 
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9:45-10:00 AM: BREAK
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10:00-11:00 AM: State Actions
Mary Beckman,  Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, Retired 
Rob Wexler, Adler & Colvin  
Casey Williams, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 
Joseph N. Zimring, Office of the Attorney General, Charitable Trusts Section 
Moderator: Gene Takagi NEO Law Group  

11:00-11:15 AM: BREAK

11:15 AM-12:30 PM: Does Loper Bright Illuminate Freedom Path?
Ellen Aprill, UCLA Law  
Amber Mackenzie, US Treasury—Invited* 
Moderator: Terri Cammarano, Cedars Sinai 

12:30 PM: Closing
Rose Chan Loui, UCLA Law