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    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Molly S. Unterseher

      People
    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Molly S. Unterseher

      People

    Molly S. Unterseher

    Partner


    • New York City
    • Office+1 212.940.3041
    • munterseher@nixonpeabody.com
    • Download vCard

    Introduction

    Molly Unterseher serves as a partner in Nixon Peabody's Nonprofit practice. She represents a variety of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations in organizational, compliance, and operational matters, including corporate, independent, and family private foundations; public charities; and donor-advised funds in multiple sectors, as well as philanthropic high-net worth individuals and charitable affiliates of for-profit companies.

    Practice Areas

    Corporate & Finance

    Industries

    Nonprofit Organizations

    /My focus

    I assist nonprofit clients with a wide range of matters, including the establishment of charitable organizations, maintenance of tax-exempt status, and compliance with ongoing governance and tax requirements and best practices. 

    I frequently serve in an outside general counsel role and develop relationships with my clients as a trusted advisor, providing practical advice on governance structures and board composition, federal and state tax filings and registrations, domestic and foreign grant making, charitable activities and investments, charitable donations, and philanthropic giving vehicles.

    I assist clients in protecting their tax-exempt and nonprofit status while maintaining their organizational objectives and lead them through strategic implementation and expansion of their charitable activities, programming, and operations. This includes guidance on nonprofit mergers and acquisitions, affiliations with nonprofit and for-profit entities, formation of taxable subsidiaries, private benefit concerns, relationships and intercompany services with related taxable entities, grants to nonprofit and for-profit entities and programs, establishing endowment funds and restricted gifts, and family dynamics in next generation board governance and succession planning. 

    I have a particular focus on assisting clients with the restrictions applicable to private foundations, including analysis of potential self-dealing transactions, conflicts of interest, termination taxes, excess business holdings, and program-related and mission-related investments. I also have unique experience working with nonprofit and for-profit sports teams and organizations in affiliations and re-organizations, as well as with professional and amateur athletes seeking to establish charitable entities or scholarship programs and conduct educational activities.

    I am dedicated to pro bono as part of my practice and represent charitable and educational clients in the areas of entrepreneurship, research, and clinical care to better serve female athletes and their coaches and physicians, and mentorship opportunities for women.

    /Looking ahead

    The Trump administration’s executive orders and stated priorities have the potential to significantly impact how nonprofit organizations operate and their sources of funding. I continue to track how proposed changes to tax code guidance related to donor-advised funds and the estate tax may impact private foundations and high-net worth individuals, and their charitable planning strategies.

    /In the news

    • New York Law Journal

      Attorneys ‘on the move’

      This roundup article of recent promotions and moves across the state highlights the NP arrivals of New York City Corporate partner Molly Unterseher, a member of NP’s Nonprofit Organizations team, and New York City and Chicago Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Ted Wolff, a member of NP’s Environmental team.

      March 12, 2025
    • Crain’s New York Business

      People on the move NY

      The following articles highlight the NP arrivals of Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Ted Wolff, a member of NP’s Environmental team, and Patrick Tierney, and Corporate partner Molly Unterseher, a member of NP’s Nonprofit Organizations team. All are based in the New York City office.

      March 10, 2025
    • Reuters

      The Daily Docket

      This roundup of recent hirings and promotions across the legal industry highlights the arrival of New York City Corporate partner Molly Unterseher, a member of NP’s Nonprofit Organizations team, as well as Zach Cunha’s arrival to NP.

      March 6, 2025
    • Bloomberg Law

      Nixon Peabody hires Molly Unterseher as nonprofits partner

      The following article covers the NP arrival of New York City Corporate partner Molly Unterseher, a member of NP’s Nonprofit Organizations team.

      March 6, 2025
    • EO Tax Journal

      Comings & goings

      The following article covers the NP arrival of New York City Corporate partner Molly Unterseher, a member of NP’s Nonprofit Organizations team.

      March 6, 2025
    • Law360

      Nixon Peabody hires partner Molly Unterseher in New York

      This article highlights the NP arrival of New York City Corporate partner Molly Unterseher, a member of NP’s Nonprofit Organizations team who also works with philanthropic high-net-worth individuals. Molly is quoted in the coverage, discussing what drew her to the firm, including NP’s commitment to the Nonprofit practice and the firm’s strong Private Wealth & Advisory practice foundations and private clients. Albany partner and Corporate practice leader Todd Tidgewell is also quoted from the firm’s press release.

      March 5, 2025

    /Admitted to practice

    New York
    Pennsylvania

    /Education

    Georgetown University, J.D.
    Georgetown University, B.A.

    /Professional activities

    • American Bar Association—Member, Exempt Organizations Committee
    • Pennsylvania Bar Association—Member, Charitable Organizations Committee
    • Allegheny County Bar Association—Founding Member and Past Chair, Exempt Organizations Committee
    • American Health Lawyers Association—Member

    /Recognition

    • Recognized as a Rising Star for Super Lawyers, 2017–2022
    • Recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2023 for Tax: Not-for-profit

    Insights And Happenings

    View All
    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody adds partner with focus on nonprofits and philanthropic high-net-worth individuals

      March 5, 2025
    View All

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Christopher P. Keefe

      Partner / Chair, Business & Finance Department
      • Boston
      • Office:+1 617.345.1350
      • ckeefe@nixonpeabody.com
      Christopher P. Keefe
    • Todd Tidgewell

      Partner / Leader, Corporate Practice Group
      • Albany
      • Office:+1 518.427.2705
      • ttidgewell@nixonpeabody.com
      Todd Tidgewell
    • Philip B. Taub

      Partner / Head of Private Equity
      • Boston
      • Office:+1 617.345.1165
      • ptaub@nixonpeabody.com
      Philip B. Taub
    • Lori B. Green

      Partner / Co-Leader, M&A & Corporate Transactions Team / Co-Leader, Cannabis Practice
      • Rochester
      • Office:+1 585.263.1236
        Mobile:+1 585.281.3076
      • lgreen@nixonpeabody.com
      Lori B. Green
    • Robert A. Drobnak

      Partner / Practice Group Co-leader, Global Finance
      • Chicago
      • Office:+1 312.977.4348
      • radrobnak@nixonpeabody.com
      Robert A. Drobnak
    View All

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