Find Lawyers in Georgia, United States for Tax Law
Practice Area Overview
The structure of a transaction can significantly affect its tax consequences, and very small changes in structure or in the underlying facts can have enormous tax significance. Tax lawyers design structures with those consequences in mind, while also taking into account the parties’ commercial goals, timing issues, and any other legal or accounting considerations. The tax treatment of some transactions — such as a “spin-off,” where a company distributes subsidiary stock to its shareholders — is highly complex, and tax lawyers may assist clients in obtaining confirmation of their transactions’ tax consequences from the IRS in the form of a private letter ruling.
Tax lawyers also review and negotiate the terms of the transaction, ensuring that the legal agreements implement the deal in a manner consistent with its intended structure. The agreements also govern the relationship between the parties. They may help the parties understand the intended tax treatment, identify certain tax exposures, and allocate responsibility between the parties for any taxes that may apply.
Tax lawyers also work with clients to determine the most tax efficient manner of carrying on ongoing business operations, taking into account federal, state, local, and international tax considerations.
On occasion, tax-related disputes arise between the parties to a transaction or with the IRS or another taxing authority. Tax lawyers may represent clients in administrative proceedings, private settlement negotiations, or litigation related to these controversies.
Tax lawyers are responsible for providing technical advice and analysis, but must fully understand the overall business transaction in order to do so. The best lawyers give advice in a way that is clear, thoughtful, and business-minded. Tax lawyers need to be closely involved in a transaction from the very beginning and throughout the transaction, in order to be able to give the best advice on an ongoing basis and to be able to modify the structure, if necessary, in response to any changes to the business terms of the transaction.
Stephen L. Gordon, Partner
Andrew W. Needham, Partner
Lauren Angelilli, Partner
Cravath, Swaine & MooreCorporate Law & Commercial Litigation Legal Guide 2023
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George Abney offers his clients confident guidance through civil and criminal tax controversy matters. He honed his skills as a federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice, where he was recognized by former Attorney General John Ashcroft as a Tax Division Outstanding Attorney. George is a partner on the firm’s Tax Controversy Team, whose practice focuses on civil and criminal tax controversy matters. George has significant trial and appellate experience gained from years as a feder...
Anson H. Asbury is the founder and managing shareholder of the Asbury Law Firm. Anson represents clients in federal and state tax controversies, complex tax litigation, criminal tax investigations and criminal tax litigation. Anson is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and the American Bar Foundation. He is recognized by Chambers USA for his expertise in Tax Litigation. He is rated among the Best Lawyers in America for tax law and has been selected annually as a Georgia Super Law...
David Aughtry's practice focuses on civil and criminal tax litigation. He graduated from The Citadel in 1975 with a B.A. in English, from the University of South Carolina in 1978 with a Master's in Accounting and a law degree, and from Emory University in 1982 with a Masters in Taxation (LL.M.). Upon graduation from the University of South Carolina Law School, Mr. Aughtry joined the Internal Revenue Service as a Trial Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel, where he also served as a Tax Shelte...
Anthony Boggs has over thirty years of experience involving transaction-based income tax advice and tax planning with respect to complex corporate and business transactions. He assists clients in developing tax efficient strategies and structures with respect to US and cross-border merger and acquisition transactions, spin-offs, joint ventures, equity investments, equity-based incentive compensation and various other matters. He is the lead tax advisor in the firm with respect to taxable and ...
Clark Calhoun represents clients in state tax controversy and litigation matters in Georgia, California, and other states before state taxing authorities, city and county boards, state trial and appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has secured a multimillion-dollar income tax refund in a Georgia Tax Tribunal action, received a refund of overpaid 911 taxes, defended companies against unjustified state transfer-pricing assessments, and earned property tax refunds for nonprofit entit...
Jennifer Cote advises private and public companies, financial institutions, and non-profit organizations on a wide range of employee benefit and executive compensation matters. Clients look to Jennifer for practical, “real-world” advice on the design, implementation, administration, and on-going maintenance of their pension and 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), and health and welfare plans. She regularly counsels clients on compliance with the Employee Retireme...
John Hackney represents clients in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service and other taxing authorities. He has advised clients on a range of tax issues, including Section 469 passive activity losses, gift tax valuation issues, captive insurance, accounting method issues, Section 1031 “like-kind exchanges”, and Section 183 hobby losses. He counsels individuals and businesses with their tax matters before the IRS, representing taxpayers before all levels of the review process, i...
Companies rely on Scott Harty to guide them through the tax implications of domestic and cross-border commercial transactions. An experienced negotiator and technician, Scott provides clients the counsel they need to navigate complex transactions. Scott is co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Federal & International Tax Group and focuses his practice on complex domestic and cross-border commercial transactions, including taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and ...
Brian Harvel has the experience to assist with planning and executing complex international transactions. His clients see him as a trusted advisor and leader in efficiently managing a team of lawyers around the globe to establish a tax-efficient structure that fits seamlessly with their business needs. Brian is a partner in the Federal & International Tax Group whose practice focuses on complex tax structuring and planning for a wide range of domestic and international business entities. ...
Sam Kaywood is a co-chair of the Federal Income & International Tax Group. Sam concentrates his practice on federal income tax and international tax, including cross-border M&A and joint ventures, as well as in-bound investments into the United States. Sam has worked on virtually all forms of cross-border investments, with substantial experience in Canada, Europe, China and Latin America. He is particularly active in structuring investments and acquisitions in Latin America, including...
J. Scot Kirkpatrick possesses substantial experience in estate and tax law and heads the Trust and Estates Practice Group of the firm’s Atlanta office. He primarily represents high net worth individuals and their families. Mr. Kirkpatrick handles matters such as wills; planning for incapacity, including powers of attorney and health care declarations; gifting techniques and strategies; life insurance planning; trust planning; generation-skipping planning; charitable giving and charitabl...
Frank Macgill is the managing partner of HunterMaclean and practices in the areas of trusts and estates , taxation , and corporate law . He has experience in estate planning; trust and estate administration; federal, state, and local tax issues; and tax matters affecting nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. Frank is admitted to practice in the Superior Court of Chatham County and U.S. Tax Court. He is a member of the Savannah Bar Association and previously served on the executive board of ...
Richard M. Morgan has been practicing law in Georgia since 1987. Richard founded the award-winning Alpharetta law firm of Morgan & DiSalvo, P.C. in 1995 to help individuals and families plan and prepare for the many changes that life brings. Morgan & DiSalvo is recognized as a U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers.com “Best Law Firm” since 2013. Morgan & DiSalvo received the highest “Tier 1” rating in Trusts and Estates Law, a distinction held by on...
Hale is a partner in the Tax Controversy and Litigation Section and Chair of the International Tax Group. He defends clients and tax audits, tax appeals, and litigation before the Tax Court. For more information about Hale Sheppard, here is the link - https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/attorneys-Hale_Sheppard.html
Entertainment lawyer Steve Weizenecker serves as counsel on tax incentives and financing for film, television and videogame clients. He has also worked with numerous jurisdictions on developing or improving their economic incentives for the entertainment industry. Personable and patient, Steve takes the time to listen to what each client needs, understand their concerns and incorporate their goals into each step he takes. Clients and colleagues alike know that they can rely on Steve to serve ...
Mark Williamson is a partner and chair of Alston & Bird's Wealth Planning and Exempt Organizations Group. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and practices in the areas of estate planning and federal taxation. Mr. Williamson practiced with the Milwaukee law firm of Foley & Lardner before joining Alston & Bird and has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and Georgia State University in Atlanta. He was on the facul...
Rebecca Arrington focuses her practice on tax issues associated with real estate. Rebecca graduated from Emory University School of Law. During law school, she was a member of the Emory Moot Court Society, a research assistant for the publication of the Georgia Real Estate Finance and Foreclosure Law Treatise, and Vice President of the Real Estate Law Society. Prior to law school, Rebecca obtained degrees in Public Relations and Political Science from the University of Alabama, where she grad...
Brent Bartlett is a senior associate attorney in the Tax Controversy and Litigation group in the Atlanta office. His practice focuses on representing clients in all levels of their matters with the IRS, from examination and appeals to litigation in the U.S. Tax Court and Federal District Court. Prior to joining Chamberlain Hrdlicka, Mr. Bartlett served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Cary Douglas Pugh of the United States Tax Court and an extern for Senior Judge Mary Ellen Coster Williams of...
Ryan Bullard is an associate in the firm’s Tax and Corporate practices, where he provides tax advisory across a broad range of transactional matters. Ryan’s practice focuses on the tax aspects of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other corporate transactions. A portion of his practice is also devoted to advising on tax issues associated with real estate transactions, including qualified opportunity fund investments. Ryan’s previous exper...
Clients rely on Kathleen’s counsel in federal, state, and local tax controversy issues. She focuses her practice on federal, state, and local tax controversy matters, as well as unclaimed property issues. Kathleen assists clients on income, franchise, property, and sales/use tax matters throughout the country, including guidance on the taxation of remote sellers, marketplaces, and cloud transactions. She also assists clients in tax controversy matters, including before state agencies, c...
Chelsea Deppert provides practical guidance to employers on the technical aspects of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and other state and federal laws impacting the design, implementation and ongoing compliance of employee benefit plans and programs, executive compensation arrangements, severance programs, and health and welfare arrangements. In addition, Chelsea represents clients in the employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of mergers, acquisitions, financi...
Brian Gardner is a shareholder at Asbury Law Firm, Tax Counsel. Mr. Gardner concentrates his practice on civil and criminal tax controversy and tax litigation, serving clients in Georgia and nationwide. Mr. Gardner has experience with a wide variety of complex issues in tax issues, including, among other things, defense of conservation easements, estate taxes, international tax issues, promoter penalties, net operating losses, passive activity losses, employment taxes, and captive insurance. ...
Stephen Heymann is Senior Counsel with the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group in the Atlanta office. Stephen focuses on helping business owners and high net worth families preserve their hard earned wealth through sophisticated income and wealth transfer tax planning strategies. While tax efficiency is crucial, Stephen understands that clients additionally desire pragmatic planning which will encourage productivity for future generations and minimize the potential for familial d...
Abraham Llama focuses primarily on debt finance transactions, including representing both private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies and non-sponsored borrowers in connection with negotiating, structuring and documenting secured and unsecured financing transactions for acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, refinancings, dividend recapitalizations, and working capital facilities. Prior to joining MMM, Abraham worked at an Am Law 100 firm representing tax credit syndicators in all aspects...
Pat McCann is a Shareholder in the Tax Controversy and Litigation Group in the Atlanta office of Chamberlain Hrdlicka. He focuses his practice on representing taxpayers at all stages of tax controversy including, examination, appeals, and litigation. Pat has been counsel of record for more than 225 cases filed in the United States Tax Court. He also advises clients on various tax planning and restructuring matters designed to withstand any future scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service. Pa...
Ashley Swan McClure is an associate at Asbury Law Firm, Tax Counsel. Ashley focuses her practice on state and federal tax controversies and tax litigation. Prior to joining Asbury Law Firm, Ashley was a member of the tax litigation practice at an AmLaw 100 firm. In law school, Ashley was a graduate research assistant in the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. Ashley is a magna cum laude graduate of Kennesaw State University.
William Stone is an associate attorney in the Tax Controversy and Litigation group in the Atlanta office. His practice focuses on representing clients in all levels of their matters with the IRS, from examination and appeals to litigation in the U.S. Tax Court and Federal District Court. Prior to joining Chamberlain, William served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Joseph W. Nega of the United States Tax Court. During law school, William worked as a student attorney and graduate research assist...
Barclay Taylor is a member of the Tax Controversy & Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Taylor represents individual and corporate taxpayers in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Taylor previously worked for a “Big Four” accounting firm in the International Tax Group. He has extensive experience in corporate structuring, international transactional matters, and different methods of tax minimization.
Ethan J. Vernon is an associate at Asbury Law Firm, Tax Counsel. Ethan focuses his practice on federal and state tax controversies, tax litigation, business tax planning, and corporate organization. Ethan has been selected to the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list for Tax Law and Litigation and Controversy - Tax. He was also named a 2021 and 2022 Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Ethan represents individuals, estates, partnerships, and corporations in all stages of tax controver...
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