Practice Strengths

Transactional Tax

We advise the owners and operators of market leading businesses on the federal, international, state and local tax implications of their mergers, acquisitions, asset sales and other transactions. Our tax lawyers have developed creative and sophisticated tax-planning ideas and solutions relating to the purchase, sale and financing of publicly traded and privately held companies and the maintenance of management and ownership continuity for closely held business enterprises. We remain at the forefront of the use of limited liability companies, partnerships, joint ventures and subchapter S corporations to own and operate business activities.

Our tax lawyers have substantial experience in planning and implementing tax-oriented investment opportunities that involve Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), sale-leasebacks, leveraged leasing and other ventures. We not only advise on the tax consequences of the transactions themselves, but also help clients assess the tax impact of funding and development alternatives.

Our tax lawyers have developed creative and sophisticated solutions to minimize the tax impact on profitable transactions.

Transactional Experience

  • Designed integrated global structures that included the creation of tax-advantaged holding companies and intellectual property holding companies. Our legal services included determining the most tax-efficient capitalization plan for each business and engaging in substantial Subpart F planning for expansions into Europe by one of the largest U.S. privately held companies and a significant Internet-based company.
  • Represented the family owners of a market leading hair care products corporation in the sale of their company to a public company. We structured the the sale in a way that gave the family cash along with stock, diversifying their wealth by adding a significant holding of public company stock.
  • Performed a full range of services for Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) clients, including formation of public and private REITs; tax compliance; private letter ruling requests; formal and informal guidance from the IRS, mergers with public and private REITs; UPREIT structures; and DOWNREIT transactions.
  • Structured joint ventures and limited liability company agreements with developers, pension funds and venture capital funds.

About Our Tax Team

With a team of more than 80 lawyers—many of whom have served as senior government tax advisors and have received substantial leadership recognition within the legal profession—Baker Hostetler's national tax practice offers unsurpassed resources to our clients. We can handle any tax planning matter or tax controversy at the state, federal or international level, and have the insight and experience to make the Tax Code work to our clients' advantage.
Tax—Transactional Tax Lawyers
Michelle R. Canerday Associate
Denver 303.764.4137
Neil Carrey Of Counsel
Los Angeles 310.442.8835
Jeffry J. Erney Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7550
Michael K. Gall Associate
Cleveland 216.861.7842
Robert R. Galloway Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7423
Theodore Z. Gelt Of Counsel
Denver 303.764.4048
Mark Hatcher Associate
Columbus 614.462.4765
Michelle M. Hervey Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7290
John R. Lehrer II Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1620
Allen J. Littman Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1686
Naomi Meisels Staff Attorney
New York 212.589.4217
Christina Novotny Associate
Cleveland 216.861.7295
Michael W. Nydegger Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1688
Jeffrey H. Paravano Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1770
Edward G. Ptaszek, Jr. Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7497
Paul M. Schmidt Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1760
Hewitt B. Shaw Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7514
Winnie Sim Associate
Columbus 614.462.4726
Elizabeth Ann Smith Partner
New York 212.589.4277
Michelle M. St. Pierre Partner
Denver 303.764.4089
David L. Starbuck Partner
Denver 303.764.4107
Raymond L. Sutton, Jr. Partner
Denver 303.764.4103
Kristen L. Sweat Associate
Denver 303.764.4082
Christopher J. Swift Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7461
Alexander J. Szilvas Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7883
William M. Toomajian Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7569
Date Tax—Transactional Tax Events
3/25/2009 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS—20th Annual Tax and U.S. Legislative Policy Seminar

For more information about our Transactional Tax practice:

National Contacts
Edward G. Ptaszek Jr. 216.861.7497
William M. Toomajian 216.861.7569
Chicago
Ronald S. Okada 312.416.6210
Cincinnati
David G. Holcombe 513.929.3402
Cleveland
Edward G. Ptaszek Jr. 216.861.7497
William M. Toomajian 216.861.7569
Columbus
Edward J. Bernert 614.462.2687
Costa Mesa
George T. Mooradian 714.966.8800
Denver
Raymond L. Sutton Jr. 303.764.4103
Houston
Lisa H. Pennington 713.646.1303
Los Angeles
Neil Carrey 310.442.8835
New York
Elizabeth Ann Smith 212.589.4277
Orlando
James V. Etscorn 407.649.4067
Washington, DC
Paul M. Schmidt 202.861.1760

Contact

National Contacts
Edward G. Ptaszek, Jr.
216.861.7497


William M. Toomajian
216.861.7569


Contacts by Office »

Practice Highlights

We are one of the largest tax groups of any law firm in the country, with more than 80 lawyers in 11 offices nationwide

Our tax transaction lawyers are involved in all aspects of Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) transactions and have been active in REIT tax policy on behalf of the National Association of Real Estate Investement Trusts (NAREIT). 

We are a nationally recognized practice in tax-exempt organizations and tax sheltered investments.

We have a consistent record of success in high-stakes tax appeals and litigation at the state, federal and international levels.

Our experience includes a significant amount of large case tax controversy work in U.S. Tax Court, other federal courts and state supreme courts

Our Washington practice represents the interests of clients during the legislative process as tax policy is made and tax law is written.