Who Are We

Anita Lichtblau, Esq.
Executive Director and General Counsel

Anita Lichtblau is Executive Director and General Counsel of CAPLAW and General Counsel to Action for Boston Community Development, Inc., Boston’s community action agency. Ms. Lichtblau advises CAAs on issues such as tax-exempt organization requirements, lobbying and political activity rules, non-profit board responsibilities, contracts, Head Start and other government program requirements. She has presented numerous workshops on these topics across the country. Prior to holding these positions, she was a senior trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice prosecuting bank fraud in federal courts in New England. Ms. Lichtblau also previously practiced law with the Boston firm Hill & Barlow, specializing in civil litigation, and the Washington, D.C. firm of Steptoe & Johnson, specializing in civil litigation and government contracts. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School.

Eleanor A. Evans, Esq.
Deputy Director and Senior Counsel

Eleanor Evans, Esq. is Deputy Director and Senior Counsel at CAPLAW, where she advises community action agencies on a wide range of legal matters. Ms. Evans presents workshops throughout the country and writes publications on legal issues of importance to CAAs. Prior to joining CAPLAW, Ms. Evans practiced with the Boston law firm of Hill & Barlow, where she represented nonprofit and for-profit organizations in corporate, tax and employee benefits matters. Ms. Evans is co-author of “Being A Player: A Guide to the IRS Lobbying Regulations for Advocacy Charities,” published by the Alliance for Justice. She is a graduate of Smith College and Georgetown University Law Center.

Allison Ma'luf, Esq.
Associate Counsel

Allison Ma’luf, Esq. is Associate General Counsel at CAPLAW. She advises community action agencies on a wide range of legal issues, including board responsibilities, Head Start, employment law, and tax-exempt organization law requirements. Prior to joining CAPLAW, Ms. Ma’luf practiced law as a corporate associate at Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston, Massachusetts and Troutman Sanders LLP in Atlanta, Georgia where she represented public and private companies and nonprofit organizations in general corporate matters. She also completed a two-year appointment to the Staff Attorney’s Office at the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Ms. Ma’luf received her undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University.

Michael Shepsis, Esq.
Staff Attorney

Michael Shepsis, Esq. is Staff Attorney at CAPLAW, where he conducts research and advises community action agencies on a wide range of legal matters, including tax-exempt organization law requirements, nonprofit corporate governance, and employment law. Prior to joining CAPLAW, he practiced law at a foreclosure defense firm that represented indigent clients facing foreclosure. Mr. Shepsis also completed several years at a large regional CPA firm, where he audited the financial statements of private companies and nonprofit organizations, and prepared federal and state tax returns. Mr. Shepsis is a graduate of Boston University and Northeastern University School of Law.

Cara Loffredo

Communications Manager

Cara Loffredo is the Communications Manager at CAPLAW. As Communications Manager, Ms. Loffredo translates various educational initiatives and communications strategies into tangible projects, from live and virtual educational events, to large print and web-accessible publications and training resources. Prior to joining CAPLAW, Ms. Loffredo worked in development and fundraising for the nonprofit educational travel organization, Elderhostel, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Loffredo received her bachelors degree in public relations at Suffolk University and is currently attending Emerson College for Marketing and Branding.

Ashley Billingsley
Administrative Coordinator and Executive Assistant

Ashley Billingsley brings a background in nonprofit and business administration, with experience ranging from public relations and marketing to grant writing and records management. Between 2006-2010, she served as Administrative Manager with A/E/C Strategy, a Boston-based architecture, engineering and construction consulting firm. She subsequently launched Aesthetic Logic, an exhibit design and construction consulting firm, where she managed business development and operations in partnership with the co-founder and principal designer. A freelance writer and exhibiting artist, she studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago before completing a BFA at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis, and an MFA through the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University joint degree program.