Tax & Wealth Planning

VR&M's Tax Group has extensive experience in counseling the entrepreneur and his or her business entities. To provide efficient services, we apply a team approach, working closely with the client and his or her accountant and other advisors. Through this team approach the Tax Group offers complete tax planning services for its clients and their business entities throughout all stages of business development from a fledgling venture to an established enterprise. Substantive areas of practice for the Tax Group include:

Tax planning and advice for the entrepreneur and closely held business entities, including the choice of business entity( C or S corporations, limited liability company, general or limited partnership, sole proprietorship)compensation analysis, ownership structures, sales of business entities (including stock and asset sales), allocations of purchase price, partnership tax planning (including special tax allocations), reorganizations and restructuring transactions, pension plans and other forms of deferred compensation, and other matters including the review of income tax returns. The special planning needs of non-resident and resident aliens, and creative and charitable giving are also considered by the Tax Group.

Advice and planning concerning estate, gift and generation-skipping taxes to preserve the client's wealth to the maximum extent possible for future generations. Review and analysis of existing estate plans and preparation of all necessary documents to implement an estate plan, including wills, living trusts (including funding), durable powers of attorney, community property agreements, durable powers of attorney for health care, life insurance trusts and charitable trusts and foundations. Preparation and advice concerning buy-sell and cross-purchase agreements, and redemptions and life insurance funding for these arrangements. Representation throughout the probate process from the preparation of the petition for probate through the final discharge and distribution, including preparation of the Federal Estate Tax Return and negotiating or litigating disputes with the IRS about valuation or other issues.

Advice concerning state income, sales and use taxes, and local property and documentary transfer taxes.

Representation of the taxpayer before all levels of administrative agencies and courts with respect to all federal, state, and local taxes, including the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court, U.S. Court of Claims, U.S. Court of Appeals, California Franchise Tax Board, State Board of Equalization, California Superior Court, California Court of Appeal, and U.S. and California Supreme Courts.

The following Attorneys have an expertise in Tax Law:

• Colleen D. Calkins
• Wayne R. Johnson
• Kelly Steven Keuscher  
• Margaret E. Lennon
• Paul Levinson
• David H. Lund
• Philip S. Magaram
• Michael R. Morris
• Todd R. Reinstein
• Bruce D. Sires
• Geoffrey A. Weg