FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION
The Firm has an extensive tax practice which is recognized regionally. Members of the Firm's Tax Practice Group concentrate on federal, state and local tax matters of all types, including income and estate tax planning, administrative controversies and appeals (including employment and excise tax matters), litigation of tax cases in federal and state courts, and legislative counseling and representation on industry and client-specific issues. Forums include the Internal Revenue Service, the Mississippi State Tax Commission, local governing authorities, and state and federal courts.
Our tax planning practice includes mergers and acquisitions, where in recent years we have handled more bank combinations than any other law firm in the State of Mississippi and ranked among the highest in the country overall; corporate restructuring transactions, including divisive reorganizations and recapitalizations; and tax planning for closely held corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. Another area of expertise we offer is assistance to clients who wish to dispose of appreciated business or investment property by structuring like-kind exchanges, enabling them to defer income taxes on the gain.
We also routinely represent taxpayers in the preparation and submission of requests for tax rulings from both the Internal Revenue Service and the Mississippi State Tax Commission covering a wide range of issues. Many of these ruling requests have involved novel issues of first impression. Our attorneys also have significant experience in the establishment of and planning for tax-exempt, non-profit entities organized for diverse charitable and other exempt purposes.
Attorneys in our Tax Practice Group also advise clients in a wide range of wills, trusts, gift and estate planning matters, as well as estate administration and probate matters. We also assist with business succession planning and work closely with business owners in transitioning their businesses from one generation to the next. Our estate and business planning practice is designed to assist our clients with many tax-saving opportunities available under federal and state tax laws, as well as planning for special needs of our clients and their families.
Our tax attorneys assist in the resolution of a wide variety of ad valorem tax-related issues by working with local tax assessors, members of county and municipal governing authorities, economic developers and attorneys for various governing bodies, state agencies, and the Mississippi Attorney General's office. A unique area of emphasis where we are particularly active is tax planning designed to garner for our clients the benefits of Mississippi's many state and local tax incentives extended to new or expanding business enterprises. The tax savings resulting from these efforts amount to millions of dollars each year.
Over the years, the Firm has been heavily involved in the tax legislative arena. Our tax attorneys work closely with the Firm's governmental relations attorneys in lobbying efforts designed to promote our clients' interests in regard to various tax laws. Recognizing the knowledge and exposure our tax attorneys have in the economic development and overall Mississippi tax area, we have been requested by members of the State Legislature to assist in drafting certain provisions of and amendments to the Economic Development Reform Act of 1989 and various other tax laws; and at the request of the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development, the Firm recently helped draft technical amendments to the tax incentive provisions of the Rural Economic Development Act of 1993.
Attorneys
Jason Wilton Bailey
Robert E. (Bob) Box, Jr.
Alveno N. Castilla
William E. Dossett
John F. Fletcher
David B. Grishman
Margarett A. Johnson
Linda Bounds Keng
Erich Nichols
Pamela Prather
Leonard D. Van Slyke, Jr.
Cody W. Waters
J. William Williams
Benjamin C. Windham
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