Gesmer Updegrove LLP provides clients with sophisticated federal, state, and international tax support. Our Tax Practice collaborates with other Practice groups to ensure careful tax consideration for each transaction and to optimize our clients' financial and tax structures in industry-specific areas.

Our Tax attorneys have substantial expertise in advising start-up businesses in the areas of formation, financing, and compensation. We ensure the formation of each entity as a tax-efficient vehicle from the start, analyzing federal, state, and local taxes. In structuring efficient new businesses, we help clients design and implement beneficial compensation plans involving stock options, restricted stock, phantom stock, employee share purchase plans, and deferred compensation, among others. We also offer tax advice for financing arrangements and help design productive debt and equity instruments.

For clients considering a merger, acquisition, or partnership arrangement, our Tax attorneys assist the transactional team in choosing the most advantageous deal structure and analyzing and negotiating tax representations and indemnities. We help plan and guide the integration of compensation plans. We also structure severance arrangements and engage in sophisticated transition and estate planning for entrepreneurs and executives.

If necessary, our Tax Practice is experienced in tax litigation issues and collaborates with our Litigation attorneys to represent clients before state tax authorities and the IRS.

Our creative and collaborative Tax Practice also includes specialty services, covering the spectrum of tax considerations for businesses. We advise and provide for sales, use, and multi-state income tax issues, including implications for the Internet and e-Commerce.

We draw from our firm-wide expertise in technology to cover many tax issues of great importance to technology businesses. For example, we help clients answer the key tax questions governing international licensing, such who bears European Value Added taxes, who indemnifies products and services, and who is responsible for local tax obligations.

While the firm has particularly strong expertise in the areas of corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, our Tax Practice is experienced in setting up and maintaining tax-exempt and non-profit entities. Working closely with our Trade Association and Consortium and Standard Setting Practice Areas, we evaluate and ensure initial qualifications for tax-exempt status, set up the appropriate infrastructure, and help implement processes for monitoring activities to ensure continued exempt status.

For more information on our Tax Practice, please contact J. David Moran (profile, email).