Taxation

Sonnenschein’s Taxation Practice advises a broad array of clients regarding U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and general transactions.  Our services are designed to create tax efficient structures for our clients that satisfy their business and financial concerns.  Our lawyers structure and advise on complex corporate acquisitions and dispositions, financing techniques, partnerships and other joint ventures, real estate and non-U.S. transactions.  The group has extensive experience in tax controversies, including: tax litigation in state courts, the United States Tax Court and various appellate courts.

Our attorneys are sensitive to the unique tax ramifications of renewable energy projects.  We therefore provide tax counsel as an integrated part of our other services related to transactions, developments, and governmental functions generally, rather than as a separate discipline.  Our attorneys have counseled Clients in negotiations with state authorities, crafting the provisions of intergovernmental tax agreements where applicable and tax incentives packages.

Sonnenschein is nationally recognized for its tax-advantaged investing experience, specializing in the representation of investors, guarantors, sponsors, syndicators, developers and lenders in all aspect of tax credit transactions, including energy tax credits such as renewable (solar, wind, biomass) electricity credits under the Internal Revenue Code.  Sonnenschein attorneys have extensive experience in the issues involved in combining energy credits with LIHTC or NMTC transactions. Sonnenschein offers nationwide depth and expertise in these areas and is among the country’s preeminent tax credit and community development law firm.

Sonnenschein represents clients such as J.P. Morgan Chase (formerly Banc One Capital Corporation), Morgan Stanley, Discover Bank, Bank of America, US Bank, Goldman Sachs, GE Capital, Prudential Financial, Inc., Allstate Insurance Company, and Union Bank of California, in numerous direct investment and fund investment LIHTC transactions as well as NMTC and energy credit transactions nationwide.  In the aggregate, Sonnenschein has closed tax credit transactions representing in excess of $3 billion of investment.

Sonnenschein is in the forefront in the practical implementation of the New Market Tax Credits, and have closed numerous such transactions on behalf of our clients.  Sonnenschein attorneys were actively involved in commenting on Treasury and CDFI regulations pertaining to the credit with a focus on helping to develop a program that will efficiently raise new capital for the areas targeted by the credit.  Bringing together attorneys with extensive backgrounds in tax credits, partnership taxation, venture capital and securities, Sonnenschein works with clients to develop innovative structures to accomplish their particular purposes.