The law firm of Gallagher & Kennedy has announced that shareholder Robert (Bob) Erven Brown and associate Matthew (Matt) H. Mason have joined the firm. In addition to their work in the newly formed Church and Ministry Law practice, both attorneys bring substantial experience in real estate and business law and transactions.
“The array of legal issues confronting churches is expanding at a furious pace. Bob and Matt are the premier church and ministry lawyers in the Southwest and a timely addition to our non-profit organization practice,” said Mike Kennedy, co-founder of the law firm.
Throughout his 40-year career, Mr. Brown has worked with numerous nonprofits and represented a wide range of clients in real estate and commercial transactions. For the past 15 years, he has focused his practice in providing legal counsel to secular and faith-based nonprofit entities, including churches, para-ministries, human services organizations, faith-based schools and other faith-based entities.
As an advisor to pastors, business administrators, board members and committees, he counsels boards and leadership teams on campus development and construction, church planting, entity planning services, risk management, real estate and asset protection, insurance coverage, mandatory abuse reporting, media response, protecting religious liberties, board and staff training, and acts as general counsel to help resolve ongoing operational concerns.
Mr. Brown is the founder of the Campus Preservation Planning© program, which protects critical assets of faith-based ministries and secular charities against uninsurable, under-insured, and uninsured unjust claims. He was a certified specialist in real estate law in Arizona for more than 20 years and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Martindale Hubble. In the community, he serves on numerous nonprofit boards as a legal advisor and trustee. Mr. Brown completed his B.S. from Yale University before receiving his J.D. from the University of Wyoming Law School.
Mr. Mason is an experienced transactional attorney with an emphasis in nonprofit, real estate, and corporate representation. In advising his clients, who include real estate investment companies, charter schools, churches and other nonprofits, he provides outside general counsel to help efficiently resolve legal and regulatory issues, along with routine and complex operational matters.
He is a member of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, the City of Scottsdale Development Review Board, and has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Arizona Christian University. Mr. Mason completed his B.S. from Arizona State in 2002, and received his J.D. and M.D.R. from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2007.
