Employee Ownership Training for Attorneys

FACULTY: Brett Heeger, Alexandra Devendra, Chris Wingard

$59

1.5 hours CPE

4.7/5 average rating

Flexible schedule

Any time, self-paced

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Advising clients through ownership transitions

Employee ownership transitions require careful legal planning to protect client interests, preserve assets, and ensure compliance. For attorneys—particularly those advising on business succession and estate planning—understanding the legal, financial, and structural dimensions of employee ownership is essential to providing comprehensive counsel. Attorneys with this expertise can help clients navigate complex transitions with confidence and clarity.

This Certified Employee Ownership Advisor gateway course equips attorneys to support employee ownership transitions effectively. You’ll explore key ownership structures, assess the strengths and challenges of different models, and examine legal considerations that shape successful, compliant transitions from planning through execution.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

Understand the background and key considerations for facilitating employee ownership transitions
Identify and explain the key forms of broad-based employee ownership
Evaluate the strengths, challenges, and transition considerations of various employee ownership models

Faculty

Our faculty aren’t just educators—they’re leaders in the field, bringing decades of hands-on experience to help advisors translate knowledge into impact.

Brett Heeger

Founding Partner, Gundzik Gundzik Heeger

Corporate and securities attorney focused on community wealth building and social-impact minded businesses, and leader of a law firm operating as a worker-owned cooperative. Strong experience leveraging legal tools to support client goals: from profit and growth to impact and inclusion. Regular presenter and writer on employee ownership matters for both legal and lay audiences.

Alexandra Devendra

Owner, Attorney, Aligned Law

Alix is the founder of Aligned Law, a Portland, Oregon-based law firm serving purpose-driven businesses. She was inspired to start the firm when she realized that innovative and heart-centered entrepreneurs need lawyers who understand the new ways of doing business. Alix has served clients in many different capacities including advising start-ups on business formation, negotiating purchases and sales, and counseling clients in conflict.

Alix’s many volunteer activities include serving on the steering circles of the Cooperative Professionals Guild and the Oregon New Economy Project, as well as the Public Service Committee of the Multnomah Bar Association. Prior to starting Aligned Law, Alix practiced corporate employment law and complex commercial litigation at Nixon Peabody, a Global 100 law firm. She graduated first in her class from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and holds a degree in French from Pomona College.

Chris Wingard

Attorney, Kleinbard

Chris is an associate in Kleinbard’s Business & Finance Practice. He advises corporations, shareholders, directors and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) trustees on a wide variety of ESOP-related issues. He provides guidance regarding ESOP transactions, corporate governance, business succession planning, ESOP plan design and ongoing ESOP compliance.

Continuing education

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive 1.5 hours CPE.

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Project Equity is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Employee Ownership for Attorneys has been approved for 1.5 hour(s) of continuing education (CE) credits by the Exit Planning Institute (EPI).

Employee Ownership for Attorneys has been accepted by the Certified Financial Planner Board for continuing education credit. Upon successful completion of the program, 1.5 CE credit(s) will be granted by CFP Board.

Employee Ownership for Attorneys

$59

1.5 hours CPE

Flexible schedule

Get certified