Carolyn Osteen

Carolyn is a retired partner with the Boston office of Ropes & Gray LLP and was a member of its tax department. She joined the firm in 1970 and her practice has focused on exempt organizations, including representation of a number of colleges, universities, museums, and hospitals. She speaks regularly on issues of charitable giving and tax and corporate problems of tax exempt organizations.

Carolyn is the co author of the “Harvard Manual Tax Aspects of Charitable Giving” last published in its 8th Edition as well as co author of the BNA portfolio, “Charitable Contributions for Corporations.” She has served as a member of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Public Charities Advisory Committee. She is a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has served as a Regent of the American College of Tax Counsel and on the Governing Council of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association. She has also served as a Chairman of the Exempt Organizations Committee of the Tax Section.

Carolyn is an alumna of Wellesley College and holds LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from Duke University School of Law, where she serves as a member of the Board of Visitors. Carolyn is a trustee of the Boston Athenaeum and Boston Preparatory Charter School’s support foundation. She serves in a volunteer capacity with various nonprofit organizations including The Trustees of Reservations, Historic Boston, Incorporated, and Native Plant Trust.

Outside of Ropes & Gray, Carolyn is married to Robert T. Osteen, M.D. (B.A., Dartmouth College), and has two daughters.

As an Access to Justice Fellow, Carolyn assists Project Citizenship enabling permanent residents to achieve U.S. citizenship. Carolyn focuses on the 15% of Project Citizenship’s caseload serving clients who are unable to learn English due to a physical or cognitive disability. Carolyn reviews and revises requests for disability waivers in an effort to achieve citizenship for this most vulnerable population.