Taxation

Our tax attorneys provide a diverse range of services where necessary throughout the life-cycle of our clients and their businesses.

• Analyzing and structuring business transactions, including: start-up and choice of entity planning; partnership/LLC formation, agreements and tax planning; sales and purchases of business assets and equity; tax-free mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and spin-offs; private equity placements and investments; real estate purchase and sale transactions (including 1031 tax-free exchanges); business exits and dissolutions; tax review of proxy statements, registration statements, offering memorandum, etc.; and public and private company incentive equity plans, executive compensation matters and phantom equity plans
• Proffering tax opinions
• Representing clients in front of the IRS and state and local taxing authorities and pursuing tax litigation, where necessary
• Advising clients on the impact of qualified retirement plans and optimizing methods for reducing income tax obligations in such plans
• Implementing asset transfers
• Developing and preparing tax-efficient estate plans for high net worth individuals
• Representing Trusts and Trustees in litigation and divorce actions to protect trust assets
• Establishing and implementing complex gifting strategies for the multigenerational transfer of wealth to minimize gift and estate taxes
• Preparation of federal and Colorado Estate Tax, Gift Tax and Fiduciary income tax returns.
• Establishment of family investment vehicles such as family limited partnerships and limited liability companies
• Representing individuals and fiduciaries in all aspects of litigation relating to the interpretation and administration of trusts and estates in the State of Colorado
• Establishing and implementing charitable contribution vehicles such as family foundations, charitable trusts, donor advised funds and direct gifts

Jones & Keller’s tax attorneys work closely with clients to develop, implement and manage qualified plans, including defined benefit plans, ESOP’s, and defined contribution plans. We also counsel clients in developing non-qualified plans that achieve the financial and incentive goals of corporate clients and their executives, including reviewing and revising existing plans to comply with Internal Revenue Code §409A as well as drafting new stock option, restricted stock, and phantom stock plans.

Our attorneys also work with corporate and individual trustees in providing advice and guidance in the operation and administration of trusts. We represent both regional and national bank trust departments and have formed trust departments for client banks. Jones & Keller’s tax attorneys also work with owners of businesses to assist them in forming new businesses, structuring transactions as the business grows and tax planning for an eventual exit strategy. The Tax practice also advises clients in the formation of charitable organizations.