Departments

Practice Areas

Phone: 816.360.4371
Fax: 816.753.1536

Bruce R. Hopkins

Senior Partner

Specializing in the areas of corporate law and taxation, Bruce R. Hopkins’ emphasis is on nonprofit organizations.  His clients include charitable and educational organizations, associations, colleges, universities, hospitals, other health care providers, religious organizations, business and professional associations, and private foundations.  Many nonprofit organizations retain Mr. Hopkins as general counsel; others use his services as special tax and/or fundraising counsel.

 

Nonprofit organizations work with Mr. Hopkins to establish and qualify for tax exemption and to establish and operate charitable and fundraising programs.  Mr. Hopkins advises on matters such as public charity/private foundation qualification, intermediate sanctions, lobbying, political activities, the unrelated business income rules, and nonprofit involvement in partnerships and other joint ventures.  Collateral areas of law, such as postal laws and charitable fundraising regulation, also come under Mr. Hopkins’ watchful eye.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
    • Section on Taxation
      • Committee on Exempt Organizations, Past Chair
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
    • Section of Taxation, Past Chair
  • University of Kansas School of Law
    • Adjunct faculty member, 2008-present

Distinctions

  • Published books on nonprofit and tax issues and is recognized as a national expert on the subject
  • 2007 Recipient of the Outstanding Nonprofit Lawyer – Vanguard/Lifetime Achievement Award, American Bar Association, Nonprofit Corporations Committee
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2007-2012
    • Nonprofit Organizations/Charities Law
  • Named as the "Kansas City, Missouri Best Lawyers Non-Profit/Charities Lawyer of the Year" for 2011
  • AV Rated Martindale Hubbell

Publications & Presentations

August 25, 2011
Polsinelli Shughart lawyers Bruce R. Hopkins, Virginia C. Gross and Thomas J. Schenkelberg have authored a book on the nonprofit law issues facing the nation's higher learning institutions.  Click on the link for more information and instructions on how to order your copy.
May 19, 2011
"The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations" has just been published in its tenth edition.  The easy-to-use reference -- written in plain English -- is a guide to helping nonprofit executives understand the law issues at hand and make informed decisions. 
May 2011
Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (May 3, 2011)
Polsinelli Shughart attorneys Virginia Gross and Bruce Hopkins authored the chapter on non-profit law
2010
April 2010
Presented at Georgetown University Law Center Annual Conference
February 15-16, 2010
February 2010
2010
October 1-2, 2009
Presented to PESI 11th Annual National Seminar
On October 1-2, 2009, the Polsinelli Shughart PC nonprofit organizations group addressed Form 990 and other recent developments as they presented the 11th Annual National Seminar titled “The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations.”  The seminar is a comprehensive review of a wide variety of issues facing tax-exempt organizations and provided value to everyone in attendance.
2009
(co-author)
Click the title to read a review of this book published in July 2010 edition of The Federal Lawyer.
2009
2009
2009
2009
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2007
2007
2006
2005
2005
2005
2004
2003
2003
1983 to present