Elizabeth is a consultant who specializes in land conservation acquisitions and stewardship, nonprofit organizations, conservation tax, and estate planning. She works with land trusts, government agencies, landowners, foundations, and coalitions on a wide array of land conservation issues. She has served as a consultant on national conservation easement defense issues, teaches extensively on conservation issues around the country, and chaired the Massachusetts Easement Defense Subcommittee. She currently sits on the board of the Bay Area Open Space District and is President and founding member of the Napa Community Garden Association. Past board service includes: The Putnam Conservation Institute, The Trustees of Reservations, the Vineyard Conservation Society, and the Northampton Zoning Board of Appeals. She worked for The Land Trust of Napa County as Director of Land Protection, for The Land Trust Alliance, and for Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. Elizabeth is a licensed attorney in California and Massachusetts.

services

land and conservation easement acquisition

• Project management (coordinate and oversee appraisal, site visit, survey, environmental assessment, risk management, baseline reports, and real estate closing; resolve any land use, funding, or title issues)
• Work with landowners on estate planning, conservation planning, tax benefits, multiple ownership, and conservation of working lands
• Draft documents (purchase and sale agreements, conservation easements, subordination agreements, deeds, and other real estate transaction documents)
• Structure land conservation transactions and negotiate financing (fair market value purchases, bargain sales, charitable donations, public agency partnership and co-holding arrangements)
• Research grant funding and write grants; grant administration

stewardship

• Establish protocols for monitoring, baseline documentation, and records management
• Conservation easement monitoring
• Conservation easement enforcement
• Fee property management (trespass, encroachments, boundary disputes)

organizational development and nonprofit management

• Board member training (legal responsibilities and liabilities)
• Maintaining tax exempt status
• Assist in applying for land trust accreditation, including Assessing Your Organization and Comprehensive Easement Program Assessments