Benefic Lawyers is committed to advancing knowledge and cultivating curiosity about the benevolent sector. Benefic's principals write and lecture widely on legal and tax issues as well as contemporary issues impacting the sector, including anti-terrorism and human rights laws. Much of the research undertaken by Benefic Lawyers is targeted at changing and improving the law of gift and charity as well as the regulatory environment in which charities operate.
Benefic Lawyers pursues research and contributes to the intellectual infrastructure of the benevolent sector in both national and international forums.
Examples of involvement in the development of draft legislation and policy statements affecting the benevolent sector:
- Chief foreign advisor to the Ministry of Civil Affairs on the drafting on the Law on Social Organizations in
China (2006) - Active involvement in the debate in
England on the Charity Bill which expands the categories of charitable objects from four to thirteen (2005) - Participant in drafting Statement of Foundation Principles in
Moscow (1989) - Foreign Legal Expert advising on the drafting of the Russian Law on Social Organizations
- Consultant to the Ministry of Civil Affairs on the drafting of the Law on Social Organizations in
China (1989) - Consultant to the Vietnamese Government on Law on Social Organizations
- Industry Commission,
Australia at the Crossroads (1994) - Consultant on changes in charitable giving laws in
South Africa - Consultant on changes in law in
Dublin
Participation in conferences and consultations both in Canadian and international venues. Some of these include:
- Terrorism meetings in
Sri Lanka, Botswana and Ottawa (Canadian Senate Committee) - Seminars and guest lecturer at universities including Yale,
Oxford, UCLA, University of Toronto - Foundations consultation in
Hungary and Slovakia - International Academy of Estate and Trust Lawyers conferences
- Philanthropy Roundtable conferences
- John Hopkins University Fellows conferences
- Canadian and International Bar Associations
- Canadian Association of Gift Planners conferences
