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Tax

Tax

Our firm represents a variety of clients, from individuals, partnerships, and limited liability companies, to corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our extensive practice includes a broad range of federal, state and local tax services involving income, estate, gift, and real property taxes, and ranging from personal and transactional tax planning to dispute resolution and tax litigation.

We regularly advise startup founders and venture capitalists on a variety of tax issues, including qualified small business stock (QSBS) and equity compensation issues, including forward contracts. We help founders optimize federal and state tax issues from formation until IPO. Our attorneys are nationally recognized as experts on startup tax issues and regularly publish and speak on tax issues affecting founders, early employees, and venture capitalists.

Many of our tax lawyers have extensive experience in corporate and business law, which enhances our ability to navigate complex tax issues in structuring transactions. Our approach is to carefully review each transaction, evaluate its history, identify the consequences of certain actions and, ultimately, provide options to clients in achieving their goals.

We have advised numerous companies on the tax ramifications of structuring partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations; mergers and acquisitions; and corporate and LLC divisions and spin-offs of subsidiaries. We collaborate with clients as a strategic partner, whether we’re advising families on gift and estate tax planning or guiding companies through corporate reorganizations. When tax disputes arise, we represent them in audits, appeals, and litigation.

In addition to federal tax planning, we assist clients with a wide range of state and local tax matters. When a dispute leads to litigation, we represent clients before the IRS, the Franchise Tax Board and the California Office of Tax Appeals. We also provide tax advice for U.S. and foreign individuals and entities, with particular experience in cross-border issues affecting taxpayers in the Pacific Rim.

Experience

  • Corporate Tax: Advise C corporations, S corporations and other companies in all phases of development, from early formation to public offerings
  • Employee Benefits: Advise employers on compensation and benefits tax issues, and individuals on benefit distributions, retirement plans and income and estate tax elections
  • Health: Provide practical advice on such tax issues as “pay or play”
  • Employment: Assist with a variety of issues, including payroll taxes, independent contractor controversies, and federal and state employment tax audits
  • Nonprofit and tax-exempt entities: Advise on formation and compliance issues
  • Partnership tax: Cover sales and purchases of limited liability company and partnership interests and assets, as well as carried interest issues 
  • Real estate tax: Advise on tax-free exchanges under Section 1031 as well as Proposition 13 reassessment rules and local real property transfer taxes

 

Key Contacts

Christopher Karachale
Christopher Karachale
Partner
San Francisco, CA
Daren Shaver
Daren Shaver
Partner
San Francisco, CA
Nancy Dollar
Nancy Dollar
Senior Counsel
San Francisco, CA

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News & Resources

Publication |

The Turbulent Market’s Impact on Qualified Small Business Stock Exclusions

Christopher Karachale and Ann Lucchesi review changes in economic conditions that have caused the rules regarding working capital and qualified small business stock (QSBS) exclusions to be reexamined, possibly impacting QSBS eligibility for growing companies.

Tax
Publication |

Unconventional Profits Interest Structure Receives U.S. Tax Court Blessing

In ES NPA Holding, the U.S. Tax Court evaluated a multi-tier partnership arrangement as well as valuation methodologies, ultimately holding that the structure met the requirements for a valid profits interest grant within the meaning of Revenue Procedure 93-27.

Tax
Publication |

An Overview of California Tax Residency

An overview of California tax residency for tax purposes and the factors the California Franchise Tax Board considers in residency audits.

Tax
Publication |

Santa Monica's Measure GS And Why It Is Important

Measure GS, commonly referred to as the "Funding for Homelessness Prevention, Affordable Housing, and Schools" initiative, was proposed in response to the rise in homelessness in Santa Monica and became effective March 1.

Tax
Real Estate

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