Tax, Employee Benefits, Trusts and Estates

The Tax, Employee Benefits, and Trust & Estates practice group handles a wide variety of federal, state, and local tax matters.

The practice group’s work in the tax and employee benefits area includes planning tax strategies for businesses and individuals, applying for rulings and determination letters from the Internal Revenue Service, and representing clients in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. The group’s representation of business clients includes advice on choice of entity, including C corporation, S corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, and limited liability company. It also represents tax-exempt organizations and foundations addressing issues of formation and operation. In state and local tax matters, the practice group represents clients in disputes with various state and local revenue departments in cases involving income, franchise, property, and sales/use taxes. Members of the practice group also help clients to plan for state and local taxes and request rulings from state tax agencies that have private letter ruling programs.

The practice group’s work in the trusts and estates field covers a number of different areas. The group represents individuals in their estate planning, including advice on disposition of closely-held businesses and minimization of estate and gift taxes. Members assist the trustee and personal representative in the administration of a deceased client’s estate, including collection of assets and the preparation of estate tax returns. The practice group also represents families in connection with the establishment of guardianships and conservatorships for disabled individuals and for minors. Furthermore, practice group members advise beneficiaries and individual and corporate trustees as to the proper interpretation of trusts and their rights and obligations under trust instruments. Finally, the practice group assists clients that enter into transactions with trusts, and it helps clients collect amounts due from decedents’ estates.