BECE attorneys provide a variety of legal services to many Ohio agricultural trade associations, including agricultural commodity check-off programs. Some of the areas in which we provide legal assistance are: director training; counsel to boards for specific situations that arise, including executive searches and employment agreements; updates for Articles and Bylaws, counsel to executive directors regarding employment law issues and separation agreements; and review and drafting of vendor and check-off contracts. We work with livestock organizations’ youth show programs and rules compliance.
We have assisted boards with the legal requirements of merger and dissolution of trade associations. We also assist associations and their county affiliates with tax-exempt applications and compliance for their 501(c)(5) agricultural organizations, 501(c)(6) business associations, and 501(c)(3) charitable, educational and scientific foundations. We can help with legislative drafting and complement an association’s lobbying efforts in public affairs through our contacts and legal experience.
Our attorneys offer services including:
- U.S. and Ohio commodity checkoff programs
- Governance and planning
- Director training
- Employment issues
- Vendor contracts
- Tax-exempt compliance
- Mergers and dissolutions
- Government relations
- Office leases and purchases
