Washington, DC (November 29, 2017) – Venable LLP is pleased to announce that Cynthia (Cindy) M. Lewin has joined the firm's growing Nonprofit Organizations Practice as a partner in the Washington, DC office. Ms. Lewin, who formerly served as AARP's executive vice president and general counsel, will draw on her 20 years of experience handling complex legal issues in the nonprofit sector to serve the firm's national base of nonprofit clients.
Ms. Lewin is known for her use of risk assessment and analysis, negotiation skills, and practical problem-solving to move mission-driven nonprofit organizations toward their goals. While at AARP, she led the organization's legal, ethics and compliance, and risk management teams. She placed great priority on reducing outside legal spend, represented AARP in connection with a number of congressional investigations, streamlined governance functions, introduced a new code of conduct, and managed a variety of litigation matters, including class actions. Prior to this position, Ms. Lewin served as senior vice president and general counsel of the National Wildlife Federation and as executive vice president and general counsel of Volunteers of America.
"Cindy's comprehensive and first-hand knowledge of a nonprofit's inner workings will directly benefit our clients as we help to address their most pressing legal concerns," said Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, chair of Venable's Nonprofit Organizations Practice. "Her vast experience and proven capabilities will be an exceptional addition to our practice, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our group."
"I am honored to join Venable's renowned nonprofit team," said Ms. Lewin. "They have a first-rate, long-standing reputation within the industry, are at the top of their game, and I have always admired the way they give back to the nonprofit sector so generously in terms of training and resources."
At Venable, Ms. Lewin joins a Nonprofit Organizations Practice that serves more than 700 nonprofit clients nationwide. It has the country's largest concentration of attorneys providing counsel and advocacy for charities, foundations, international NGOs, trade and professional associations, think tanks, arts and cultural institutions, schools, advocacy groups, and other nonprofit organizations. Her addition comes directly on the heels of the hiring of Counsel Anne K. Gerson, who joined the practice in September from Carter, Ledyard & Milburn LLP in New York City.
Ms. Lewin holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. from Wellesley College.
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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, and high-net-worth entrepreneurs and individuals. With approximately 700 attorneys across the country, including California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients' objectives in the U.S. and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit www.Venable.com.