Steve has practiced tax law in Houston for over 30 years and is sought after to speak on partnership tax, international tax, and oil and gas tax. He also regularly advises clients on business formations and buying and selling businesses. Steve has been an adjunct professor at South Texas College of Law, teaching corporate tax and partnership tax. He has lectured on tax law before the ABA Section of Taxation, the State Bar of Texas, and the Texas Society of CPAs. He is a former director of the Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs and is a past Chair of the Energy and Environmental Tax Committee of the ABA Section of Taxation. Steve has an AV Martindale-Hubbell rating.
Sample Experience
Business Tax Planning
- Advised on formation of joint ventures and partnerships
- Advised on tax consequences of sales and purchases of businesses
- Advised on tax consequences of oil and gas property purchases and sales, including like-kind dispositions of oil and gas properties
- Advised as to compensation arrangements, including profits interest plans, restricted stock options, nonqualified stock options, and phantom stock plans
Tax Controversy Law
- Represented taxpayers in IRS examination of research tax credit
- Represented taxpayers in examination and before IRS Appeals on oil and gas tax issues
- Represented taxpayers in examination before the IRS and in litigation of intercompany pricing issues
- Represented taxpayers before the IRS and in litigation of employee/independent contractor issues
- Represented taxpayers before the IRS and in litigation of reasonable compensation issues
- Represented taxpayers before the IRS and in litigation and valuation of assets for estate tax purposes
International Tax Law
- Advised as to best structure for US persons or entities to own assets or conduct operations outside of US
- Advised as to best structure for foreign persons or entities to own assets or conduct operations inside the US
Oil & Gas Tax Law
- Advised as to purchase and sale of oil and gas properties, including like-kind exchanges
- Advised as to complex sharing arrangements
Trusts, Wills & Estate Law
- Developed and implemented succession plans for business owners and their families
- Structured businesses for management continuity and tax savings for future generations
- Drafted estate planning devices, such as wills, FLPs, GRATs, charitable trusts, and life insurance trusts
General Business Legal Services
- Formed limited liability companies, partnerships and corporations
- Negotiated governance and buy-sell agreements
- Drafted and negotiated employment contracts, leases, licensing agreements, and non-disclosure agreements
Business Mergers & Acquisitions
- Represented purchasers and sellers in acquisitions of closely held businesses
- Represented oil and gas companies in buying and selling businesses and mineral interests
- Represented consulting firm in strategic acquisitions of engineering firms
- Represented engineering firm in its acquisition by a publicly traded company
Education
- Georgetown University (LL.M. in Taxation 1980)
- University of Houston Law Center (J.D. 1978)
- Houston Baptist University (B.S. 1974)
Professional Memberships
- Certified Public Accountant (Admitted 1980)
- State Bar of Texas (Admitted 1978)
- Tax Section
- Business Law Section
- Probate and Trust Law Section
- American Bar Association
- Tax Section
- Houston Bar Association
- Tax Section
- M&A Section
- Probate, Trust and Estate Section