Partner, Schaner & Lubitz, PLLC
In his more than 40 years of private practice, Ken Schaner has represented many for-profit and nonprofit entities in the corporate and tax aspects of a wide variety of agreements, transactions, financings, licenses, mergers and acquisitions.
Schaner began his career at the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) legislative and regulations division. During his time with the IRS, Schaner worked on the 1969 Tax Reform Act and was one of the principal drafters of the new private foundation provisions.
In 1982, Schaner co-founded Swidler Berlin, LLP. While a partner in that firm, he also served as managing member and chair of the corporate group. After Swidler Berlin’s merger with Bingham McCutchen, LLP in 2006, Schaner remained a partner until 2008, when he formed a new firm to focus on representing tax-exempt organizations.
Since 1983, Schaner has served as general counsel to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). In that capacity, Schaner represented CFF in its first venture philanthropy transaction with Aurora Biosciences Corporation (now Vertex). Since then, Schaner has represented numerous clients in venture philanthropy transactions and related legal matters. Schaner also serves as general and outside counsel to many nonprofits. He advises on the full range of issues faced by Section 501(c)(3), (c)(4) and (c)(6) organizations, including board governance, business and tax-exempt compliance issues.
He holds a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois.
