Business Tax Planning
Our tax lawyers work closely with the firm's business and finance attorneys, identifying and handling the tax consequences of transactions such as taxable mergers and acquisitions, tax-free reorganizations, or the purchases and sales of stock, other equity interests and assets. We counsel clients on choice of entity and structure, and related party transactions such as partnership-partner and corporation-shareholder transactions. We are adept at handling debt and equity restructuring, structuring private equity, mutual fund and venture capital transactions, and leasing transactions.
International Tax Planning
We assist our clients operating in the international arena with a variety of tax issues that may arise in international and cross-border transactions, expansion of their U.S. businesses abroad, controlled foreign corporations and passive foreign investment companies, strategic alliances and joint ventures. We also counsel clients in connection with tax and withholding for international employees, classification of U.S. and foreign business entities, tax treaties and elimination of double taxation, transfer pricing and transfers of intangible property and services abroad. We also advise clients in connection with foreign investment in the U.S., preferred structures for ownership and potential dispositions of U.S. businesses, and U.S. tax residence issues.
Real Estate Tax Planning
Our tax lawyers are adept at structuring real estate holding entities, acquisitions, sales and exchanges of real estate, tax credit maximization, REITs, planning U.S. real estate holdings for non-U.S. investors, and limiting unrelated business income for tax-exempt owners of real estate.
Executive Compensation
Buchalter attorneys work with employers in the design and implementation of many types of compensation arrangements. We structure equity incentive programs such as incentive and nonqualified stock option plans, restricted stock, restricted stock units, phantom equity, pass through entity profits interests, section 83(b) elections, and stock appreciation rights. We craft deferred compensation agreements and plans, supplemental executive retirement programs (SERPS), current and deferred bonus plans, split dollar agreements, and change of control and severance agreements. We assist with Section 409A compliance, Golden Parachute planning, Section 162(m) performance compensation planning and insurance programs such as corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) and bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) programs.
Employee Benefits
In the employee benefits arena, we represent employers, trustees, plan sponsors, investment advisors and lenders to address Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) matters, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), pension, health and welfare benefit plans and collectively bargained trust funds.
Tax-Exempt Organizations
Buchalter has in-depth expertise handling the issues facing tax-exempt organizations. Trained in both law and accounting, our tax attorneys are able to identify legal solutions to the unique challenges faced by not-for-profit entities. The firm represents charitable institutions, educational institutions, trade associations and religious organizations on matters of formation, operation, governance and related issues, and in connection with joint ventures and partnerships with for-profit entities, guiding them as to how to protect their tax-exempt status. Working in conjunction with members of the real estate, business, labor and litigation practice members, Buchalter tax attorneys are able to provide guidance on the array of issues tax-exempt organizations manage on a daily basis.
Tax Controversies
Our lawyers represent taxpayers in the resolution of Federal and state civil tax audits and appeals. We also handle disputes in connection with estate and gift tax audits, appeals, and litigation, ERISA and DOL penalties.
Estate Planning
We assist high net worth individuals in planning their estates to achieve their tax and ownership succession goals. We design estate plans that include revocable and irrevocable trusts, including insurance trusts, generation skipping and dynasty trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, and charitable trusts as well as family limited liability companies and family limited partnerships, and private foundations.
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