Lawyer Profile

Stephen L. "Steve" Phillips

Phillips Golden LLP

Recognized Since:

2013
Recognized in:

Tax Law
Law School:

The University of Texas at Austin
Lawyer Page:

http://www.phillipsgolden.com
Website:

http://www.phillipsgolden.com
Phone Number:

(512) 717.5498
E-mail:

sphillips@phillipsgolden.com
Languages:

English
Gender:

Male
Location:

Building Three, Suite 400

1250 South Capital of Texas Highway

Austin, TX 78746

REAL | RELIABLE | CREATIVE | PRACTICAL

Steve is a tax and business attorney in Austin, Texas, USA, and a founding member of Phillips Golden LLP. He has been continuously Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994.

He collaborates with domestic and international entrepreneurs and investors to help them identify, grow, enjoy, and monetize their real and intangible assets, ideas, and resources, both here and abroad.

Past and current clients include cutting-edge high technology leaders, ranching and oil and gas magnates, inventors and purveyors of "low-tech" consumer products and services, prominent investors, celebrities, thought-leaders, and philanthropists.

His ideal client understands the need for a seasoned tax and business legal counsel with experience in sophisticated investment and entrepreneurial matters, a worldwide perspective, and a keen eye for the ever-present business and personal tax implications of an investment or business endeavor.

His firm's legal services are delivered in a comfortable and creative setting, without pretense, and free of artificial (and expensive) delivery methods, and with the most advanced technological tools available.

Typical representations include: Private investment and closely-held business analysis and structure; family holding company organization and reorganization; real estate investment and development; cross-border transactions (inbound and outbound) involving real estate, services, and goods; angel and other private equity and debt funding; business operations, dissolution, M&A, and other exits; individual and partnership taxation; executive and equity compensation issues, including deferred; liquidity event pre- and post-planning; repatriation of foreign assets from entities and trusts; worker classification planning and controversy; business & individual migration relocation to and from the U.S., and interstate; complex estate and asset planning.

Lawyer Bio

REAL | RELIABLE | CREATIVE | PRACTICAL

Education:

The University of Texas at Austin , J.D., graduated 1985
The University of Texas at Austin, BBA, graduated 1982

Bar Admissions:

Texas, State Bar of Texas

Court Admissions:

Western District of Texas Federal District Court
United States Tax Court
Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Affiliations:

United State Fifth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals - Member
American Bar Association - Member (Taxation and Business Law Sections)
Austin Bar Association - Member
State Bar of Texas - Member (Taxation Section)
Texas Board of Legal Specialization - Board Certified (Tax Law)
United States District Court, Western District of Texas - Member
United States Tax Court - Member

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

Tax Law

Awards:

Named Best Austin Tax Lawyer in the Austin Business Journal (2005)
Recognized as “Outstanding Rotary Member” - North Austin Rotary Club (1995)

Q&A

Tell us a little bit about your practice and what makes it unique.

For over 30 years I have wound my way through the Internal Revenue Code, and the tax laws of many domestic jurisdictions and foreign countries, in search of solutions to my clients' planning, structuring, operational, funding, and exit goals. With my accounting and law background and experience, I bring a holistic and multi-faceted lens to the table.

What common questions are you asked by clients, and what are your answers?

Common inquiries proposed to me are: What type of business entity should I use (or convert to) from a tax and legal perspective ? How can my labor and money partners properly structure our equity ownership agreements ? What are the implications of establishing a business outpost in another state, or in another country ? How can I compensate my key executives and other employees with equity or equity-like interests ?

What is most challenging about your area(s) of expertise?

The tax law is unquestionably one of the most rapidly changing and complex area of law. Many, many hours are devoted daily, weekly, and monthly to simple reading and studying new pronouncements from the IRS and other tax administrators, and the courts. New and signficant tax laws, such as the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, put an even more complex and challenging veneer over and already nearly overwhelming body of law.
Studying and digesting the tax law, gleaning the important and key features of that law, and then clearly communicating its application to my client and their investment or business transactions makes for long hours.

Lawyer Client Comments

Lawyer Practice Areas

Key:

Firm Details