Cathy Livingston named as a general counsel by Open Society Foundations

Cathy Livingston named as a general counsel by Open Society Foundations

She replaces Gail Scovell, who departed earlier this year after more than eight years at the grant-making network

Cathy Livingston, a leader in the field of tax policy and non-profit law, will become the new general counsel of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) from 6 September 2022.

Mark Malloch-Brown, the president of OSF said, "I am grateful that Livingston has decided to join OSF. Her keen advice and ability to solve complex problems will add significant value to our leadership team and help employees and the grantees to do their best to achieve the change we seek in the world."

Livingston stated, "I am honored to join OSF at a pivotal moment, particularly as the challenges to democracy and human rights around the globe become more sinister. OSF specifically, and philanthropy, generally, are central to building a healthy civil society where everyone can participate free of fear and with dignity. I look forward to helping advance the priorities of the Foundations and build more tolerant and inclusive societies."

Livingston will be based in Washington, D.C., and has over three decades of experience in both government and private practice. Previously, she served as a partner at the law firm Jones Day. Having joined the firm in 2013, she advised non-profit and tax-exempt organizations, as well as their boards, on navigating the complexities of the tax code and corporate governance.

A graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School, she earlier led all legal work on tax-exempt organizations in the Internal Revenue Service office of the chief counsel. She was also the IRS's first health care counsel and the principal legal advisor to the leadership on all aspects of the enactment and implementation of the Affordable Care Act.