When asked about his personal philosophy, Greg Larson said, “I approach my work as a lawyer in the same way I approached my former work as a book editor. I am fully invested as an advisor, but it’s the client’s project—my job is to help the client make that project more refined, effective, and ready to hold up under scrutiny.” Greg also noted, “I try never to forget that every legal issue or project or proposal is connected to and affects real people doing real things. Often, what’s most needed is a sense of calm, a sense of perspective and a sense of humor. I’m here to help declutter, identify the boundaries of the playing field and provide options for moving forward.”

Greg Larson is a partner at Lathrop GPM, guiding nonprofit organizations through every aspect of their operations. From formation and tax-exemption matters to corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, financing, regulatory concerns and general business issues, Greg provides comprehensive legal support tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Nonprofit organizations, including private foundations, benefit from Greg’s in-depth understanding of special tax regulations, particularly those related to grant-making program design and implementation. Higher education institutions and their related foundations also rely on Greg’s strategic guidance regarding scholarships, gift acceptance and endowment fund management, ensuring they navigate these complex areas with confidence and clarity.

Greg’s work with nonprofit organizations includes:

  • Arts organizations
  • Colleges and universities
  • Environmental initiatives
  • Family foundations
  • Grant-making foundations
  • Hospitals and health systems
  • Long-term care providers
  • Service provider charities

With extensive experience representing nonprofit clients, Greg has handled matters in the following areas:

  • Corporate governance
  • Formation and tax-exemption
  • Grant-making and fellowship program design
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Regulatory concerns
  • Scholarships and endowment fund management

Clients trust Greg to structure their programs for maximum effectiveness, ensuring compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and other regulatory requirements.

In addition, Greg offers valuable insight on M&A-related opportunities, governance matters, medical staff issues, contracting and overall compliance. Nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes benefit from Greg’s ability to simplify complex legal frameworks and provide clear, actionable guidance.

When asked…

What do you do outside of work?

I obsessively follow the English Premier League, especially my doomed but beloved Fulham Football Club. I read a lot, primarily novels and poetry, and I write some as well. I’m a movie enthusiast and I love live music. I also enjoy going to plays, traveling when I can, savoring good food, sampling local beers and napping with our two corgis. In the summer, I escape to the family cabin whenever I can.

Areas of Focus

Services

Sectors

Experience

Greg frequently assists nonprofits in the health care and higher education sectors, ensuring that organizations operate smoothly and effectively within complex environments. Greg has:

  • Advised long-term care providers on compliance and contracting matters.
  • Advised private foundations on governance, grant-making programs, avoidance of self-dealing and overall compliance.
  • Assisted with all facets of joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions for nonprofit, higher education and health care organizations.
  • Counseled colleges, universities and their related foundations on gift acceptance, endowment management and scholarship programs.
  • Facilitated program-related investments by private foundations, including an equity investment in a wind energy project on Native land, significantly advancing the Tribe's journey toward energy independence.
  • Guided the merger of tax-exempt, multi-entity long-term care organizations.
  • Offered guidance to hospitals on medical staff issues and peer review processes.
  • Provided continuous guidance on tax-exemption matters and regulatory compliance.
  • Served as borrower's counsel in tax-exempt bond financings.
  • Supported colleges, universities, and other nonprofits in risk assessments related to their race-conscious scholarships and grant-making programs while maintaining their equity and inclusion objectives.

Credentials

Education

  • William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2005)
    • William Mitchell Law Review, editor; President's Scholar
  • Iowa State University (M.A., with highest honors, 1995)
  • University of Minnesota (undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, 1992)
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota

Recognitions

  • Minnesota State Bar Association, "North Star Lawyers," 2019-2020
  • Thomson Reuters, "Minnesota Rising Star," 2013

Presentations

  • Presenter, "Legal 101 and Governance 101 for Grantmakers," Minnesota Council on Foundations Workshop, November 9, 2023
  • Co-presenter, "All Tied Up and Nowhere to Go? Managing Restricted Gifts to Your Benefit," Minnesota Gift Planning Association Annual Conference, October 4, 2023
  • Presenter, "Lightning Round: New Regulatory Updates - Telehealth & Cross-State Practice Issues: Lessons from the Pandemic," Lathrop GPM Health Law Seminar, September 13, 2023
  • Co-presenter, "Transitions, Terminations, and Relocations," LeadingAge Minnesota Assisted Living Conference, August 16, 2023
  • Co-presenter, "Grantmaking Best Practices," Minnesota CLE 2023 Nonprofit Law Conference, March 14, 2023
  • Presenter, "Assisted Living Law Version 2022: Recent Changes, Compliance Guidance and Pain Points," Lathrop GPM Health Law Seminar, September 22, 2022
  • Co-Presenter, "Playing Your Hand: Managing Restricted and Complex Gifts and Funds," Minnesota Council on Nonprofits Finance and Sustainability Conference, March 31, 2022
  • Host, 2022 Nonprofit Law Conference, Minnesota CLE, March 8, 2022
  • Co-Presenter, "First Steps Towards Assisted Living Licensure," LeadingAge Minnesota, April 7, 2021
  • Presenter, "Confronting Financial Challenges in Higher Ed," Employment Law Alliance, October 20, 2020
  • Moderator, "Give It Up but Don’t Tie It Up: Considerations for Restricted Gifts," Gray Plant Mooty Event & Webinar, April 17, 2019
  • Co-Presenter, "Navigating the New Tax Law Changes in the Nonprofit World," Gray Plant Mooty Event & Webinar, April 24, 2018
  • Co-Presenter, "Washington Update: The Debate over How to ‘Repeal and Replace’ the Affordable Care Act," Gray Plant Mooty Health Law Conference, July 20, 2017
  • Presenter, "Financial Relationships with Executives and Other Organizational Insiders: Avoiding Excess Benefit Transactions," Minnesota CLE Center, Nonprofit Law Conference, March 17, 2017
  • Presenter, "The Yin and Yang of Governance," Minnesota CLE Center, Nonprofit Law Conference, April 11, 2016
  • Presenter, "Fundraising Essentials for Minnesota Nonprofits," Hennepin County Bar Association LINC, March 24, 2016
  • Presenter, "To Be or Not to Be a Church: Tax Exemption Issues for Religious Colleges and Universities," Legal and Public Policy Conference, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities,  October 2, 2015
  • Presenter, "HIPAA / HITECH Act Compliance: Preparing for Phase 2 Audits," GPM Health Law Conference, July 14, 2015
  • Presenter, "Public Benefit Corporations: Est. 2015 2007? 1978?," Community Development Clinic, William Mitchell College of Law, April 24, 2015
  • Presenter, "Fold, Bet, or Raise Funds: A Primer on Charitable Gambling," Nonprofit Law Brownbag Series, Minnesota CLE Center, March 27, 2015
  • Panelist, "Two Sides of the Charitable Giving Coin: Comparing Donor Advised Funds and Private Foundations," Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, March 10, 2015
  • Presenter, "Charitable Gambling: This Ain’t Vegas," Nonprofit Law Conference, Minnesota CLE Center, March 12, 2014
  • Presenter, "How to Serve on a Nonprofit Board of Directors," Minnesota CLE Center Live Webcast, August 12, 2013
  • Presenter, "Unrelated Business Income Tax Issues," Nonprofit Organizations from Start to Finish, NBI Conference, June 2012
  • Presenter, "Duties and Liabilities of Nonprofit Officers and Directors," Nonprofit Organizations from Start to Finish, NBI Conference, June 2012
  • Presenter, "Collaborations & Affiliations: Joint Ventures, Subsidiary Relationships, and Mergers & Combinations," Minnesota Nonprofit Deskbook Seminars, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 5, 2011
  • Presenter, "Special Issues for Nonprofit Employers," GPM Employment Law Seminar, April 21, 2010
  • Presenter, "Intermediate Sanctions," How to Keep Tax-Exempt Organizations in Compliance, NBI Conference, December 2008
  • Presenter, "Did We Do That Right? Compliance Issues for Health Providers," GPM Health Law Conference, July 2007

Professional Activities

  • American Health Lawyers Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Nonprofit Corporation Committee
  • Hennepin County Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Minnesota Council on Foundations, Finance, Administration and Audit Committee
  • Cornerstone Advocacy Service, Board of Directors, Past Chair