COZEN O'CONNOR | The Confidence to Proceed

Overview

TAX PLANNING FOR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS

Cozen O'Connor's tax attorneys provide a broad and sophisticated range of services, with particular emphasis in planning designed to minimize the consequences of federal, state, and local taxes on businesses and individuals. Our tax attorneys have a demonstrated record of designing and implementing creative and effective tax strategies suitable for each client's specific situation.

Because of the breadth and diversity of our client base, our attorneys are experienced in such matters as mergers and acquisitions, financings, the purchase or sale of businesses, the negotiation and structuring of joint ventures and the representation of clients in the wholesale and retail trades, manufacturers and distributors, services companies, and entrepreneurs. Our clients include partnerships, joint ventures, LLC's, small and medium sized corporations and public companies.

We have a demonstrated record of excellence in real estate matters. Among our clients are real estate developers, builders, lenders, and mortgage brokers. Working with attorneys in our Real Estate Practice Group, our tax lawyers assist in structuring real estate transactions in the most tax efficient manner.

Our tax attorneys also counsel clients in individual tax planning techniques relating to their business, investment, financial, and personal matters. This advice is intended to enable our clients to organize their affairs in such a way as to minimize the tax consequences of their activities, consistent with the accomplishment of their non-tax goals.

EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS

Our tax attorneys are proud to have assisted numerous tax-exempt organizations in their formation and operation. We have advised and continue to represent public charities, museums, trade associations, healthcare providers, veterans' organizations and private foundations. We have successfully defended the exempt status of several organizations against IRS challenge, and have worked with many other organizations in obtaining initial determinations from the IRS of entitlement to tax exemption. The firm's tax attorneys work closely with attorneys in our health law practice in advising hospitals, nursing home chains, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare providers regarding such nonprofit issues as fundraising restrictions, formation of integrated healthcare delivery systems, affiliations with other exempt organizations, tax-exempt bond financings and joint ventures with for-profit entities.

CONTROVERSY WORK

Our tax attorneys regularly represent clients in tax controversies with the IRS and state and local taxing authorities. This representation includes both administrative practice on audit or at the IRS appeals branch and litigation in the Tax Court or the District Courts of the United States, where the firm has achieved some notable successes. Because of our reputation for being willing to try cases, if necessary, to protect the interests of our clients, we have been able to fashion favorable settlements for clients in administrative proceedings, thereby sparing those clients who wish to avoid the cost and distraction of full-blown litigation. Certain of our attorneys have served with IRS officials on continuing professional education panels dealing with insolvency and collection matters, as well as disputes regarding the tax treatment of particular items. We have also successfully argued cases and handled tax administrative appeals with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia and other local taxing authorities.