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© 2012 Dorsey & Whitney LLP

  • Rated "One of the Top 100 Women Lawyers in Minnesota" by Minnesota Law and Politics, 2007
  • Leading Health Care Attorney in the August 2005 edition of Minnesota Physician
  • Named a Minnesota Super Lawyer, 2003-2011
  • Recognized as “Rising Star” by Minnesota Law and Politics
  • Listed as "Who's Who in Health Care Law" by Minnesota Law and Politics, January 2004

  • University of Minnesota Law School (J.D., 1992), magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
    Note and Comment Editor and Research Editor,
    1992-1993, Staff, 1991-1992, Minnesota Law Review
  • University of Minnesota (B.S., English Education, 1988)
  • Carleton College (B.A., English, 1986), cum laude

  • Minnesota

Claire H. Topp

Partner
Minneapolis
P: (612) 343-8278
F: (952) 516-5135
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Claire H. Topp is a partner in Dorsey’s Health Group and Chair of Dorsey’s Non-Profit and Tax Exempt Organizations practice group.  She counsels numerous public charities, private foundations and trade associations on issues relating to formation, governance, fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, excise taxes, excess benefit transactions and unrelated business income and related to obtaining Internal Revenue Service rulings and determination letters. She also has significant experience representing standards development organizations. 

Counsels multi-hospital systems, medical clinics, medical education and research organizations, and many individual physicians on issues relating to employment, Medicare/Medicaid laws and regulation (including Stark II, fraud and abuse issues and reimbursement), clinical trials, and tax-exemption.

Presentations

  • Legal Basics for Private Foundations”, Council on Michigan Foundations, November 16, 2011
  • "Legal Basics for Private Foundations", Minnesota Council on Foundations, August 25, 2011
    and "Health Care Reform: The Sequel", Dorsey LLP, June 13, 2011
  • "Good Governance: Implementing Recommended Practices and Principles", LarsonAllen Annual Nonprofit and Foundation Conference, May 12, 2011
  • “Joint Ventures Between For Profits and Nonprofits”, MSBA Nonprofit Law Conference, March 9, 2011
  • Negotiating a Contract for Employment," University of Minnesota-Advanced Practice Nursing Student Conference, February 25, 2011
  • “Mergers, Consolidations, Hospital Alliances, Joint Ventures and Other Group Activities,” Medical Group Management Association 2010 Annual Conference, October 24, 2010
  • “Legal Basics for Grantmakers,” Minnesota Council on Foundations Conference, October 6, 2010
  • “Dissolving Family Foundations: Breaking Up Is???”, St. Paul Foundation, September 8, 2010
  • “Health Care Reform and Its Impact on Providers, Dorsey U, June 23, 2010
  • “The 2010 Charities Review Council Standards,” MSBA Nonprofit Law Conference, March 9, 2010
  • "Negotiating a Contract for Employment,” U of Minnesota-Advanced Practice Nursing Student Conference, February 26, 2010
  • “Accountability Standards – Panel Presentation,” Joint Conference Minnesota Council on Nonprofits, Minnesota Council on Foundations, November 6, 2009
  • “Legal Basics for Grant Makers,” Minnesota Council on Foundations, September 29, 2009
  • “Physician Employment Contracting Issues,” Regions Hospital Emergency Medicine Residents, June 25, 2009
  • “Negotiating an Employment Contract,” Minnesota Young Ophthalmologist Society’s meeting, May 14, 2009
  • “Citizen Lawyer CLE Panel,” Hennepin County Bar Association, May 13, 2009
  • “Negotiating a Contract for Employment,” University of Minnesota-Advanced Practice Nursing Student Conference, March 14, 2009
  • "Contracting Issues," Regions Hospital Emergency Medicine Residents, July 10, 2008
  • "Prepare for the New 990," Nonprofit clients, co-presenter Karen Gries of Larson Allen, June 9, 2008
  • "Good Governance: Implementing Recommended Practices & Principles," LarsonAllen's Nonprofit & Foundation Conference, co-presenter Sara Peterson of Larson Allen, May 13, 2008
  • “Legal Basics for Grantmakers,” MN Council on Foundations, March 20, 2008
  • “Negotiating a Contract for Employment,” University of Minnesota-Advanced Practice Nursing Student Conference, February 29, 2008
  • “Good Governance: Implementing Recommended Practices & Principles,” National Television Academy, February 7, 2008
  • "Physician Employment Issues," Regions Hospital Emergency Room Physicians, August 29, 2007
  • "Street Smarts – Legal Issues for Trustees," Minnesota Council on Foundation, May 16, 2007
  • "Healthcare Professional Employment Issues," Advanced Practice Nursing Student Conference, February 23, 2007
  • "Topp 10 Best Practices in Governance and Management of Nonprofits," Nonprofit Management Class at Humphrey Institute, February 21, 2007
  • "Revisions to Pension Protection Act," Minnesota Council on Foundations Grantmakers Networking Forum, January 31, 2007
  • "Nonprofit Governance in the Post-Enron Environment," presented as a workshop to delegates from Education Minnesota, July 6, 2006
  • "Physician Employment Issues," Regions Hospital Emergency Room Physicians, July 5, 2006
  • "Doing Business Overseas: Issues and Guidance on Legal Structures, Tax Implications, and Compliance with U.S. Laws," National Association for College and University Attorneys, June 25, 2006
  • "Overview of Charitable Giving," Meristem Family Office, June 13, 2006
  • "Physician Employment Agreement Issues," Minnesota Medical Association, May 6, 2006
  • "Donor Advised Funds," Society for Financial Professionals, May 4, 2006
  • "Nonprofit Governance in the Post-Enron Environment," Board of Trustees of Johnson C. Smith University, April 22, 2006
  • "Donor Advised Funds," Swenson/Anderson Financial Group Advanced Planning Study Group, April 20, 2006
  • "Making the Most of Your 990-PF," national teleconference sponsored by the Regional Conference of Grantmakers, March 7, 2006
  • "Legal Issues in Philanthropy," Minnesota Council on Foundations, March 9, 2006
  • "Healthcare Professional Employment Issues," Advanced Practice Nursing Student Conference, February 24, 2006
  • Panel presentation on changes in philanthropy, Financial and Estate Planning Council of St. Paul, January 17, 2006
  • Minnesota Council on Nonprofits-- Nonprofit Legal and Accountability Conference, November 4, 2005
  • "Physician Employment Issues," Regions Hospital Emergency Medicine Residents, July 6, 2005
  • "Foundations 101," Association of Small Foundations, May 18, 2005
  • "Hot Issues Update for Exempt Organizations," Larson Allen’s Annual Nonprofit and Foundation Conference, May 11, 2005
  • "Physician Contracting," Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology, March 12, 2005
  • "Topp 10 Best Practices and Governance and Management of Nonprofits in Post-Enron Environment – An Executive Directors’ View," presented to 20 Executive Directors of health charity members of Community Health Charities (January 12, 2005)

Professional Activities

  • Adjunct Professor, Nonprofit Law, University of Minnesota Law School, 2011-12 Fall Semester
  • Member, Informal Tax and Legal Advisory Committee for the Association for Small Foundations
  • Chair, Nonprofit Corporations Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association, 1997 to 2003
  • Member of 2005 Public Trust Task Force of Minnesota Council on Foundations
  • Director, Charities Review Council, 2004 to 2010
  • Chair, Community Health Charities, 2010 to present; Director, 2004 to 2009
  • Director, Friends of the Orphans, 2004 to 2010
  • Director, Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, 2011
  • Frequent lecturer on governance best practices, nonprofit reform, Stark II and Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse
  • Member, American Health Lawyers Association and Minnesota State Bar Association, Health Law Section

Attorney Articles

October 23, 2008
IRS Clarifies Policies On Nonprofit Compliance
June 21, 2004
Lawsuits Against Tax-Exempt Hospital Systems Expected Across the Nation
May/June 2004
The Real Deals in Healthcare

News & Press Mentions

March 11, 2008
IRS Issues New Form 990 for Nonprofits