Taxation

Bringing with them experience from a wide variety of numerous business transactions, Hinshaw Tax attorneys develop sophisticated and creative solutions designed to help clients meet their goals within the complex and ever-changing body of federal and state tax law. We provide this value-added advice to corporations, limited liability corporations, partnerships, tax-exempt organizations and individuals engaged in a wide range of industries.

Tax Controversies
Our Tax Group has extensive experience in representing clients on tax matters both in court and before the Internal Revenue Service and state revenue agencies. One of our lawyers was formerly a trial attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel to the Internal Revenue Service; another, an Assistant U.S. Attorney. The firm’s experience includes:

• Representing clients in litigation before the U.S. Tax Court, as well as U.S. district courts.
• Negotiating with the Internal Revenue Service and state revenue agencies in resolving tax controversies, both at the audit level and in subsequent appeals, often securing very substantial reductions in the taxes claimed, ranging from corporate income taxes to federal trust fund taxes to personal income taxes.

Tax Planning
We counsel businesses at every stage of their life cycle in effectively managing the tax consequences of various activities and taking advantage of available planning opportunities. Our tax planning practice includes:

• Advising on tax issues relating to corporate mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and divestitures, including in the context of private and public securities offerings.
• Assisting tax-exempt organizations and private foundations in navigating hot-button issues such as business income, executive compensation, joint ventures with for-profit partners, lobbying, and the prohibition against participating in political campaigns.
• Designing executive compensation arrangements, including restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, stock options, and other equity-based compensation techniques.
• Organization of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships for start-up businesses with proper consideration given to those choices which may maximize tax savings.
• Preparing requests for private letter rulings to the Internal Revenue Service and state revenue agencies.
• Providing federal tax opinions on a wide range of transactions in compliance with Internal Revenue Service Circular 230, which regulates the provision of federal tax advice.