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Nonprofit organizations are becoming increasingly active in global activities, which are very complex because of cultural, linguistic, operational, and risk issues. Adding to the complexity are legal issues. When does United States law apply, and when does the law of the local country apply? And what exactly are local laws that nonprofits have to watch out for? It’s not possible to know the laws of all the countries around the world, so how does one manage some of the key legal risks?
Here is a list of some of the more important legal concerns, with some guiding principles that nonprofit leaders should be aware of before venturing overseas.
Jefferson Glassie is author of International Legal Issues for Nonprofit Organizations (2nd Ed. 2010) published by the American Society of Association Executives. Jeff welcomes your comments and questions about the topics covered in this article at jglassie@whitefordlaw.com or (202) 689-3156.
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