Melissa A.Passman
Associate
Corporate
mpassman@seyfarth.com
Melissa helps clients navigate complex tax law matters, providing them with creative legal solutions and helping them find a path forward.
More About Melissa
Tax-exempt organizations require special attention, as almost every activity is potentially impacted by tax and other legal considerations. Melissa provides these organizations with legal advice on how to achieve maximum flexibility. She works with her clients to reach outcomes that best align with their goals.
Melissa draws on her experience as both outside and in-house counsel when helping clients with their legal matters. As a former in-house attorney for a family office, she understands the concerns of principals and focuses on a results-oriented approach. In this respect, she has worked with founders to help them launch a culturally immersive summer camp, form an exhibition space focused on international contemporary art, and structure a fundraising partnership involving the sale of artwork for COVID relief. Additionally, Melissa’s experience in estate planning informs her ability to provide holistic legal advice to clients.
When working with clients, Melissa maintains open lines of communication and understands that every detail is important to achieving their goals.
Melissa draws on her experience as both outside and in-house counsel when helping clients with their legal matters. As a former in-house attorney for a family office, she understands the concerns of principals and focuses on a results-oriented approach. In this respect, she has worked with founders to help them launch a culturally immersive summer camp, form an exhibition space focused on international contemporary art, and structure a fundraising partnership involving the sale of artwork for COVID relief. Additionally, Melissa’s experience in estate planning informs her ability to provide holistic legal advice to clients.
When working with clients, Melissa maintains open lines of communication and understands that every detail is important to achieving their goals.
- JD, University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
- BA, New York University, College of Arts and Science
magna cum laude - LLM, New York University School of Law
- California
- New York
Related Services
- New York City Bar Association – Art Law Committee (Secretary)
- Inner City Arts (Board Member)
- Greater New Yorkers, MoMA PS1 (Member)
- The Carolee Schneemann Foundation (Board Member)
- Co-Author, "Tax Court Denies Charitable Deduction for Donation of Sculpture," Wealthmanagement.com (November 9, 2022)
- Moderator, "Artist Residencies: Navigating Founder and Participant Issues," New York County Lawyers Association's 15th Art Law Institute: New Insights in Art Law (October 27, 2023)
- Co-Panelist, "Political Engagement and Institutional Best Practices," Legal Issues in Museum Administration (May 2023)
- Co-Panelist, "Art Estate Management for Individuals and Institutions," ArtTable (November 2022)
- Co-Panelist, "Don’t Fear the Tax Man: Tax Law Updates," New York County Lawyers Associations (October 2022)
- Moderator, "Models for Change: Legal Strategies for Sustainable Fundraising Art & Activism," New York County Lawyers Associations (October 2020)
- Co-Panelist, "Legal Strategies to Protect an Artist’s Market," Federal Bar Association Annual Art Law & Litigation Conference (February 2020)
Melissa helps clients navigate complex tax law matters, providing them with creative legal solutions and helping them find a path forward.
More About Melissa
Tax-exempt organizations require special attention, as almost every activity is potentially impacted by tax and other legal considerations. Melissa provides these organizations with legal advice on how to achieve maximum flexibility. She works with her clients to reach outcomes that best align with their goals.
Melissa draws on her experience as both outside and in-house counsel when helping clients with their legal matters. As a former in-house attorney for a family office, she understands the concerns of principals and focuses on a results-oriented approach. In this respect, she has worked with founders to help them launch a culturally immersive summer camp, form an exhibition space focused on international contemporary art, and structure a fundraising partnership involving the sale of artwork for COVID relief. Additionally, Melissa’s experience in estate planning informs her ability to provide holistic legal advice to clients.
When working with clients, Melissa maintains open lines of communication and understands that every detail is important to achieving their goals.
Melissa draws on her experience as both outside and in-house counsel when helping clients with their legal matters. As a former in-house attorney for a family office, she understands the concerns of principals and focuses on a results-oriented approach. In this respect, she has worked with founders to help them launch a culturally immersive summer camp, form an exhibition space focused on international contemporary art, and structure a fundraising partnership involving the sale of artwork for COVID relief. Additionally, Melissa’s experience in estate planning informs her ability to provide holistic legal advice to clients.
When working with clients, Melissa maintains open lines of communication and understands that every detail is important to achieving their goals.
- JD, University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
- BA, New York University, College of Arts and Science
magna cum laude - LLM, New York University School of Law
- California
- New York
Related Services
- New York City Bar Association – Art Law Committee (Secretary)
- Inner City Arts (Board Member)
- Greater New Yorkers, MoMA PS1 (Member)
- The Carolee Schneemann Foundation (Board Member)
- Co-Author, "Tax Court Denies Charitable Deduction for Donation of Sculpture," Wealthmanagement.com (November 9, 2022)
- Moderator, "Artist Residencies: Navigating Founder and Participant Issues," New York County Lawyers Association's 15th Art Law Institute: New Insights in Art Law (October 27, 2023)
- Co-Panelist, "Political Engagement and Institutional Best Practices," Legal Issues in Museum Administration (May 2023)
- Co-Panelist, "Art Estate Management for Individuals and Institutions," ArtTable (November 2022)
- Co-Panelist, "Don’t Fear the Tax Man: Tax Law Updates," New York County Lawyers Associations (October 2022)
- Moderator, "Models for Change: Legal Strategies for Sustainable Fundraising Art & Activism," New York County Lawyers Associations (October 2020)
- Co-Panelist, "Legal Strategies to Protect an Artist’s Market," Federal Bar Association Annual Art Law & Litigation Conference (February 2020)