I lead Plante Moran’s Tax Controversy practice, which assists clients with resolving examinations, appeals and other disputes with the IRS. I am also a leader in the firm’s National Tax Office, focusing on transaction structuring and reporting as well as unique and emerging issues. In addition, I serve as the Firm’s Tax Counsel.
I’ve saved clients millions of dollars in taxes through creative approaches. Recently, I helped a client avoid over $20 million of tax liability by developing an argument based a permissible interpretation of the Internal Revenue Code. I’ve also been successful in leading teams in obtaining full or substantial concessions from the IRS Office of Appeals on many occasions.
I have more than 20 years of professional experience as an attorney and Certified Public Accountant, including experience gained with a Big Four accounting firm. Prior to joining Plante Moran, I was a renowned trial and appellate attorney with experience in nearly 20 jury trials and 40 cases originating at or appealed to Ohio’s Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. I received seven favorable jury verdicts against Fortune 500 opponents, and a landmark decision from the Supreme Court of Ohio that drew national attention. In addition, my legal and statistical research was utilized by the United States government in a Medicare fraud case to obtain an eight-figure settlement. Outside the courtroom, I’m also a past-President of a long-standing local trial lawyers association.
While practicing law full-time, I received a Masters of Tax Law degree from New York University after graduating from law school ranked fifth in my class. I was a tax law professor for several years before arriving at Plante Moran. I was also one of the original test reviewers for the Uniform Certified Public Accountancy Exam.