Cooperative Law

Conference on Co-op Law and Development Offers Unique Learning Experience

On September 17 and 18, 2024, attorneys, accountants, business developers, entrepreneurs, and students from eight states and the District of Columbia, gathered in Columbus, Ohio, to explore the intersection of law and cooperative business development. The 2024 Cooperative Law Conference, organized around the theme “Building a Cooperative Economy Together,” explored legal considerations when raising capital, key responsibilities for co-op directors, selling a business to workers using a cooperative structure, and more.

Attendees of the 2024 Cooperative Law Conference pose for a group photo.

From keynote presentations by Cooperative Hall of Fame members Terry Lewis, Esq., and Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard, to skill-building sessions on drafting co-op bylaws and understanding cooperative taxation, to a panel conversation about ‘growing and supporting new cooperators,’ the agenda included 13 learning sessions for both beginners and experts.

Two women standing talking to each other in front of a table in the foreground with conference attendees talking in the background.

Creating a Space for Co-op Legal Education

“Our goal was to create a space for entrepreneurs, developers, professionals, and future cooperators, to learn about the unique legal, tax, and financial characteristics of cooperatives, especially since learning opportunities about these concepts can be limited in our experience. I was energized by the engaging sessions, the opportunities to connect with knowledgeable experts, and the stories of people working to grow cooperatives,” shared Hannah Scott, program director of the CFAES Center for Cooperatives. “We want to thank Jason Wiener p.c., Dorsey, Ralph K. Morris Foundation, USDA Rural Development, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, and National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, for their support of the conference,” Scott noted.

Attendees of the 2024 Cooperative Law Conference listen to a presentation on the conversion of existing businesses to worker cooperatives in an auditorium-style classroom.

Organized by Collaborative Partners

The conference, first held in 2018, was hosted this year by The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Center for Cooperatives, and organized by a collaborative group of developers and practitioners, including Jacqueline Radebaugh, Partner and Shareholder with Jason Weiner p.c.; Michael Russell and Catherine Donnelly, attorneys with Legal Aid Society of Cleveland; Meegan Moriarty, Legal and Policy Analyst with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service; Bill Scott, accountant and Principal with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP; Dave Swanson, Partner with Dorsey & Whitney LLP; and Melissa Will, Training Coordinator with Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio.

A photograph of a woman sitting at a table speaking into a microphone in the foreground with three people sitting at tables in the background.

Connect with the CFAES Center for Cooperatives

The CFAES Center for Cooperatives at Ohio State assists entrepreneurs, educates the community, and generates knowledge about the cooperative business model with a special focus on food, agriculture, and rural communities. Learn more at go.osu.edu/cooperatives.

3rd Biennial Ohio Co-op Law Conference a Success

During the month of January, attorneys, co-op developers and co-op minded individuals gathered in Columbus for the 3rd Biennial Ohio Co-op Law Conference. This two day event held a wide variety of co-op law related sessions with topics ranging from employment law and worker co-ops to experts speaking on housing cooperatives with nearly 40 in attendance.

Keynote speaker, Doug O’Brien, President and CEO of NCBA CLUSA, spoke to attendees on ‘Cooperatives for the Modern Era’. Doug touched on the current role that cooperatives have in todays society and how cooperatives could be more relevant in the future with the economy. All which addressing how getting involved can help bring more awareness to cooperatives, whether it be at a state, local or federal level working on policy or working one on one with cooperative groups to bring awareness and education.

On day two, Nathan Schneider, Professor of Media, Communication and Information at University of Colorado Boulder spoke on the future of cooperatives and the 21st century. Nathan discussed how individuals need to be an advocate for cooperatives and to be aware of the gaps that we see in society.

Professor Ariana Levinson, University of Louisville,  spoke on the topic of worker co-ops and employment law discussing the legal structure that can distinguish the worker owners from the employees and breaking down some of the legal structure that is in place for classification. While panelists’ spoke on how the legal community has helped navigate and support the development of cooperatives around the area.

Those in attendance were able to engage with one another throughout the event networking and bringing relative issues to the forefront to be discussed. Coming from across the country, representatives from Texas, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Tennessee gathered together to learn more on defining the cooperative legal structure and how to guide cooperatives with resources.

With plans to meet again in 2025, organizers are already meeting to create another engaging conference. Stay tuned and hope to see you at the next conference!

3rd Biennial Cooperative Law Conference

Have you heard about the 3rd Biennial Cooperative Law Conference? With the last conference being held in 2020 in virtual format, we are happy to come back together and hold this event as an in-person conference packed with great speakers and informative sessions. This two day event will be held on January 24-25, 2023 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center located on The Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio. The conference focus being “Cooperative for the Modern Era”, participants will hear from leading experts in the cooperative field by attending workshops, panel discussions and keynote sessions discussing the tools that cooperatives need to help in the growth of a resilient, and just of a local economy. Networking time is scheduled throughout the day for individuals to connect with others to create and foster cooperative relationships.

For more information and details and how to register for this event, click here.

Who should attend?

Whether you are based in the legal sector, cooperative sector, or interested in the cooperative business model, this conference will offer informative education for all. Encouraging not only those within the state of Ohio, but those in the region to participate! This experience will show how professionals can spark the movement to empower community based initiatives to be the power to change through cooperatives and social enterprise while building relationships through our network.

Keynote Speaker

Keynote speaker Nathan Schneider will be featured on day two, presenting on the topic “21 century cooperatives: multistakeholder, platform, and DAO cooperatives – what’s new? (future of coops)”. Nathan is an associate professor with the University of Colorado Boulder with his studies in religion, technology and democracy has recently focused on democracy ownership and technology. In 2020, Nathan published, “Exit to Community: A Community Primer“, which focuses on how companies can readjust their business model to offer ownership to those within the company to create a community of stakeholders.

Nathan Schneider

This conference is being organized by attorney Jacqueline Radebaugh and several cooperators. Thank you to the following sponsors and all those involved for making this event happen!

 

 

Hope to see you all in Columbus!