Service Areas
- Business
- Economic Development Incentives
- Nonprofit + Charitable Organizations
- Entertainment, Sports + Multimedia
- Climate Law
- Real Estate
- Governments + Nonprofits
- Nonprofit + Charitable Organizations
- Climate Law
- Economic Development
- Real Estate
- Individuals + Families
- Nonprofit + Charitable Organizations
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D.
- Michigan State University, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court
- Western District of Michigan
U.S. Tax Court
Lisa M. Berden focuses on economic development initiatives, nonprofit and charitable organizations and federal tax issues. In the economic development arena, Lisa specializes in finding the incentives a particular client or industry needs, such as job retention, film production and alternative energy credits. She then makes sure her clients are in full compliance with all requirements in order to receive the maximum incentive award possible. In addition Lisa provides a number of services to nonprofit and charitable organizations including drafting and filing applications for tax-exempt status, and analyzing and advising on such matters as unrelated business income tax, lobbying issues, governance, private inurement, state law compliance, and sales, use and employment taxes. She also executes nonprofit mergers and dissolutions and is experienced in obtaining private letter rulings from the IRS.
“Being a lawyer is about finding information that will help a client when such information seems non-existent. Sometimes this information is in books, and very often it is knowledge possessed by others. As Woodrow Wilson said, ‘I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow.’"
Lisa M. Berden
Experience
Lisa clerked for Justice Marilyn Kelly of the Michigan Supreme Court for two years before joining Miller Canfield.
Lisa was part of a team that assisted a client in obtaining a multi-million dollar tax credit that enabled it to develop outmoded urban property that is now part of an economically and visually vibrant area of the community in which it is located.
“Seeing the tangible result of helping businesses obtain economic development incentives, an occupied building and new jobs for the community, makes me proud of the role I play on our economic development incentives team!”
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan, Taxation Section; Real Property Law Section
- Commercial Real Estate Women, Program Committee, 2010-present
Honors + Awards
- Wayne State University Law School, cum laude; Dean's Scholar, Silver Key Certificate Faculty Award; State Bar of Michigan Negligence Council Award; Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation Scholarship; Law Review, Assistant Editor; Student Board of Governors, Curriculum Committee, Auction Committee
- Central Michigan University, Provisional Teaching Certificate
Publications
"Charitable Organizations: A Primer," ABA Young Lawyers, Spring 2008
Speeches
"Investepreneur Roundtable: Economic Incentives," Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber, Birmingham, MI, May 24, 2011
"Investepreneur Roundtable: Real Estate Development and Investment," Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber, Birmingham, MI, September 29, 2009
"Tax-Exempt Organizations in Michigan," Lorman Seminar, February 15, 2007
"Maintaining Tax-Exempt Status: Filing Requirements For Nonprofit Organizations," Lorman Education Services, Tax-Exempt Organizations in Michigan Seminar, February, 2006
Seminars + Events
- Show Me The Money
- Corporate Real Estate Review Series: Corporate Site Selection Planning and Incentives
- Cappuccino with Counsel: The Dynamic World of Real Estate and Economic Development Incentives: Past, Present and Future
- Cappuccino with Counsel: Buried Treasure - Uncovered Opportunities in Commercial Real Estate
Articles
- Global Automotive Newsletter
- Economic Development Incentives: Automotive Industry Expansions/Consolidations
- New Law. New Opportunities. Changes to Michigan Economic Development Incentives
- Location, Location, Location
- Michigan is Making Movies
- "Take 2" Michigan Remakes its Film Financing Incentives
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