Amy B. Paterson, Executive Director
CT Land Conservation Council
860-614-8537
abpaterson@ctconservation.org
CLCC Model Conservation Easement Seminar
Nuts & Bolts, Doing Deals & Hot Topics!
Join us at the beautiful Great Hollow Nature Preserve for a comprehensive seminar on conservation easement transactions, with the morning focused on the basics; the afternoon on more advanced “hot” topics; and, in between over lunch, an opportunity to network, exchange news, and run your questions by our experts and your peers about conservation deals in your next of the woods. Join us for all or any part of the day.
Schedule
10am - 12pm (Basic Level/Refresher)
Nuts & Bolts of the CLCC Model Conservation Easement
Led by principal drafter of the CLCC Model Conservation Easement (CE), Attorney Linda Francois, we’ll provide an overview of conservation easements in Connecticut, add more detailed information about the conservation easement process using the Model CE and associated commentary as a guide, and allow plenty of opportunity for questions and answers.
12pm – 1pm (All Levels)
"Doing Deals" Networking Lunch (lunch provided)
An opportunity for informal conversation with peers about conservation transactions in your neck of the woods -- or stretch your legs and take hike at Great Hollow -- or do both!
1pm –2:30pm – Hot Topics! (Intermediate/Advanced - but all are welcome!)
The afternoon session will give you a chance to address some of your land trust’s more nuanced and thorny issues with our conservation practitioners. Hot topics include: (1) Now that it is permanent (hooray!), what should we be telling landowners about the Enhanced Conservation Easement Tax Incentive, and other tax issues (like 8283, appraisals, etc.); (2) In light of the IRS’s recent statements, should we include an amendment clause in our conservation easements?; (4) We need advice on real property tax assessments, enforcement and violations; and (5) Your pressing questions!
Bring your questions and war stories!
And bring your land trust's attorney too!
Presenters
Linda Francois is a partner in the New Haven general practice law firm of Cooper, Whitney & Francois, where she has represented landowners, land trusts and municipalities in land protection transactions, conservation restriction (easement) donations, bargain sales and purchases, and open space initiatives throughout Connecticut for 20 years. Attorney Francois is also a director and president of the Bethany Land Trust.
Keith Ainsworth has been practicing commercial and environmental law, primarily litigation, for over 25 years and built environmental/land use practice from start-up into an established practice with clients in the non-profit, municipal and business communities. Attorney Ainsworth currently operates a boutique law practice embedded within Cooper, Whitney & Francois offering general and local counsel services to non-governmental organizations, municipalities and businesses.
Other presenters (all attorneys)
Connie Manes is a CLCC Steering Committee member and Training & Education Subcommittee Chair, Manager, Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative, Accreditation Circuit Rider for the Land Trust Alliance, and Executive Director, Kent Land Trust.
Catherine Rawson is the Executive Director of Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust, Vice-Chair of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council Steering Committee, Commissioner-designate of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, council member of the Land Trust Alliance Conservation Defense Advisory Council, and a Greenprint Steering Committee member. .
About the CLCC Model Conservation Easement Project
Launched in 2014, the goal of the CLCC Model Conservation Easement (CE ) Project is to strengthen the quality and viability of conserved lands in Connecticut by: (1) creating a statewide model conservation easement template for use by the land conservation community; and (2) improving the knowledge, skills and abilities of the drafters and users of conservation easements through a comprehensive training program.The 2014 Model is meant to be a starting point from which to build future model documents, it has already been revised and updated.
CLCC's Model CE Working Group is comprised of attorneys and other conservation practitioners from around the state who got together to research and draft a conservation easement template, with a goal of simplifying language as much as reasonably possible and permitting adaptation to a broad array of situations.
Cost:
CLCC Members: Free
Non-CLCC Members: $25
