Services Tax

Kean Miller’s nationally recognized federal, state and local tax (SALT), and estate planning attorneys work closely with a variety of clients to develop cohesive, multidisciplinary strategies that integrate legal, financial, and business perspectives. Our analytical skills and deep understanding of federal and SALT tax law allow us to anticipate issues, minimize liabilities, and resolve disputes efficiently, whether through negotiations or formal litigation proceedings. We regularly advise clients on the key business decisions inherent in mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, financing structures, employee benefits, executive compensation, and buy-sell agreements, as well as tax compliance and controversy. Our proactive, collaborative approach ensures alignment with each client’s unique objectives and the evolving tax environment.

Kean Miller brings a depth of legal expertise, strategic insight, and strong advocacy to a range of complex tax matters. Many are board-certified specialists in federal tax and estate planning law, with extensive experience in corporate, individual, and international tax issues. We routinely assist clients with compliance, reporting, and financial planning and are authorized to represent clients before the IRS, U.S. Tax Court, and other federal courts. The team has particular strength in navigating complex federal and SALT tax issues and offering trusted counsel in specialized areas such as tax-exempt organizations, estate and gift taxation, employee benefits, international tax treaties, and high-net-worth individual tax planning. Whether planning or in controversy, the team offers strategic guidance, monitors regulatory developments, and resolves disputes through skilled negotiation or litigation.

Representative Experience

• Representation of an international energy company in tax compliance matters, including the creation and implementation of a system to handle certain federal and international tax issues relating to domestic and foreign tax withholdings.
• After advising a large services business client regarding a complicated accounting method change, with very little published guidance on point, represented the same client in an IRS audit which resulted in a “no change”.
• Successful litigation of a complicated partnership basis issue for a real estate partnership in the United States Tax Court.
• Assisted in the restructuring and sale of a national emergency fuel and water supply group to one of the leading full-service construction management and disaster recovery firms in the world. The sale positioned the purchaser as a global leader in emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, and community resilience. Kean Miller handled all tax-related matters with the sale for the sellers, including federal income tax, Louisiana income tax and Louisiana sales and use tax issues, as well as led the negotiation and closing.
• Representation of clients in the preparation of wills, trusts, family limited partnerships or limited liability companies, and other instruments to implement estate plans to minimize estate taxes and accomplish goals.
• Obtained abatement of a significant penalty and a large refund on an expedited basis on behalf of a large banking institution client after seizure of a customer trust account.
• Legislative representation, including working with legislators to draft statutory revisions to implement tax changes.
• Successfully litigated matters in which state tax regulations were invalidated.
• Negotiated very favorable resolution of alternative apportionment issues.