Rachel Harris

Rachel is a passionate representative of clients in a variety of business disputes, tax controversies and general governance matters.

Rachel represents clients in municipal, state and federal courts and before administrative and regulatory agencies. She has experience managing complex electronic discovery, having worked integrally on E-Discovery committees for several multidistrict litigations involving Fortune 500 pharmaceutical, environmental, cosmetic and biotechnology companies. Rachel has argued an employment dispute before the Missouri Court of Appeals and briefed a real estate dispute before the Missouri Supreme Court. Rachel is also experienced with navigating arbitration and mediation.

Rachel also helps clients form nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations under state corporate law, qualify for tax exempt status under 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, and apply for sales, use and property tax exemptions under local code. She helps clients preserve tax-exempt status by drafting governing documents, reviewing employment agreements, representing clients in tax controversies, and counseling clients on various board governance and compliance matters. Rachel represents client interests in resolving disputes with local taxing authorities and the Missouri Department of Revenue. She has also worked on cases navigating the complexities of the Internal Revenue Code as it relates to the federal gift tax and limited liability companies, S corporations and intra-family transactions.

Rachel's studies focus on the cross-section of law and social goals, and she maintains an active pro bono practice. She has presented to entrepreneurs on the availability of social enterprise options like benefit corporation status and B Corp certification and how these decisions might impact the bottom line. Rachel volunteers with Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, as well as Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's Community Economic Development program. Through these organizations, Rachel provides free legal services to a variety of nonprofit organizations, helping them gain and keep tax-exempt status and resolve board governance issues. She is a member of Great Rivers Environmental Law Center's Young Professionals Board and has received a U.S. Presidential Service Award for her community service involvement.