West Foster

Meet West

West works with nonprofits and community enterprises of all kinds, with a focus on cooperatives. He entered the legal field to support the growing solidarity economy through work with democratic workplaces, land stewardship projects, and shared-equity housing.

West is from southern California and received his B.A. in Philosophy and Environmental Science from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. He holds a JD from the University of Wisconsin.

Experience:

Assisting cooperatives, small businesses, and nonprofits with entity selection, incorporation, business structuring, financing, contract drafting, employment and tax issues, and real-estate transactions through the University of Wisconsin Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic
Judicial Intern for Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson at the Western District of Wisconsin

Talks:

“Co-op Legal 101,” Gener8tor’s gBETA Accelerator
“Cooperative Solutions for Rural Broadband,” Municipality of Liberty Grove, WI

Publications:

“501(c)(3) Status for Housing Cooperatives,” published by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives

Community Involvement:

Volunteer, Madison Unemployment Appeals Clinic
Board Member, Cooperative Professionals Guild