PHILADELPHIA – Stradley Ronon Partners Christopher E. Cummings, Catherine M. Ward and Mark E. Chopko presented at the Resource Center for Religious Institutes’ 2018 National Conference on Oct. 31 in Orlando, FL. Cummings and Ward presented, “Real Estate 201: Planning for the Future,” which discussed strategies for religious organizations who need to dispose of or repurpose real estate assets that are no longer needed for the organization’s charitable or religious mission. Chopko’s panel, “#MeToo and #Insurance, Too,” explored the stream of new claims now facing educational, service and religious organizations based on adult harassment and exploitation, the legal basis for these claims and how insurance is dealing with coverage of those risks.
Cummings has been helping clients navigate complex commercial real estate transactions for more than 25 years. A past chair of Stradley Ronon’s real estate practice group, he represents clients with acquisitions, dispositions, sale/leasebacks, 1031 like-kind exchanges, commercial leasing and mortgaged-based financing, and also advises clients on construction and development projects. Cummings also serves on the board of directors of the Chester County Commercial Industrial Investment Council, the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, and Children’s Choice.
Ward is co-chair of Stradley Ronon’s environmental practice group and a member of the real estate practice group. Her practice involves strategizing and overseeing redevelopment projects and identifying grant funding. Her focus is on simplifying complex issues and multi-disciplinary projects into workable components, and then creating the necessary framework to accomplish her clients’ goals. With experience as a chemist and environmental consultant, she brings a unique perspective to assist companies – who are navigating often conflicting legal scenarios – in identifying both solutions and opportunities. She serves as president elect of the Women’s Energy Network of Greater Philadelphia and is board chair of the Wynnefield Overbrook Redevelopment Corporation which is affiliated with St. Joseph’s University.
Chopko chairs Stradley Ronon’s nonprofit and religious organizations practice group and advises clients, including colleges and universities, in matters involving structural, business, governance, regulatory and complex litigation. He specializes in defending religious organizations and also teaches a seminar on church-state law at Georgetown University Law Center. A former general counsel for the U.S. Conference on Catholic Bishops, he has participated in more than 30 Supreme Court cases as counsel for religious groups in friend-of-the-Court briefs.
About Stradley Ronon
Counseling clients since 1926, Stradley Ronon has helped private and public companies – from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations – achieve their goals by providing pragmatic, value-driven legal counsel. With offices in eight strategic locations, our responsive team of more than 200 attorneys seamlessly addresses the full spectrum of our clients’ needs, ranging from sophisticated corporate transactions to complex commercial litigation.