Professional Advisors 

Join us for breakfast and CLE event

Charitable Giving Techniques  

October 15, 2025 
Torrington Country Club, Goshen 

8:00a.m. breakfast and networking
8:30a.m.-10:30a.m. presentation 

Who should attend: Attorneys, CPAs, Wealth Managers, Financial Advisors

1.5 CLE Credits (for attorneys only) non-credit seeking professional advisors are welcome to attend

Presenters

Presenters

Melissa Mack 

As chair of Shipman's Tax Exempt Organizations Practice Group, Melissa Mack represents large and small tax-exempt organizations on tax-exemption, corporate and governance issues, providing practical and well-rounded counsel to our nonprofit clients. 

She represents public charities, private foundations, educational institutions, community foundations, hospitals and healthcare organizations, social service agencies, religious, cultural and performing arts organizations, supporting organizations, quasi-governmental entities and trade associations across multiple industries.

Melissa counsels clients on forming nonstock corporations, obtaining, maintaining and operating in furtherance of tax-exempt status, strategic planning and corporate transactions. She provides guidance to organizations and boards of directors on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, contracting, affiliations, mergers, dissolution, fiduciary duties, board disputes, policy and procedure development, unrelated business income taxes, executive compensation, intermediate sanctions matters, private foundation excise taxes, conflicts of interest, endowments, advocacy, lobbying limitations, fiscal sponsorships, charitable giving, grantmaking, fundraising, gift acceptance, corporate sponsorships, charitable solicitations and donor relations.

Melissa previously practiced for eleven years at Robinson & Cole before launching her own law practice, Mack Law LLC in 2014. In addition to her legal practice, Melissa also served as First Selectman of the Town of Suffield from 2015 through 2021.   

Cheryl A. Clemens

Cheryl A. Clemens is an associate in Shipman’s Trusts, Estates, and Fiduciary Management practice group. Cheryl assists individuals with a wide range of estate planning needs, including planning to transfer property to loved ones and charities in a tax-effective manner. She also assists clients with the estate settlement process and other probate court proceedings. 

Prior to joining Shipman, Cheryl was an associate in the Trusts and Estates Department at a small Connecticut-based law firm. During law school, she also worked as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Judge Davison of the Southern District of New York.