Senior Associate/Of Counsel - Advanced Tax Strategy Attorney (ATS)

Goodspeed Merrill•Hampton Township, MI

29d•$170,000 - $188,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Goodspeed Merrill is seeking a senior-level transactional tax attorney to join its Advanced Tax Strategies (ATS) group. This position would ideally be located in Dallas, Texas (Southlake Area) or Englewood, Colorado; however, a remote role would be considered for a candidate with a significant book of business. This role is designed for an attorney with substantial hands-on experience advising, drafting and implementing sophisticated tax planning and transactional structures for entrepreneurs, closely held businesses, and high-net-worth clients. The attorney should have experience and familiarity with both corporate and individual wealth planning strategies, including family office structuring. This is a key leadership role within ATS and involves close collaboration with the firm’s corporate practice group and trust and estate practice group; significant client-facing responsibility; and independent management of complex matters from initial structuring through final implementation.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
8+ years post-JD tax practice with significant transactional drafting responsibility
Ability to operate independently with accountability
Strong communication and relationship-management skills
Professional presence in client-facing and internal settings
Calm leadership across complex, multi-party matters

Nice To Haves

LL.M. in Taxation strongly preferred (or equivalent experience)
Big-4 or accounting firm experience welcomed where it includes substantive planning and implementation

Responsibilities

Direct the strategic design and execution of high-value tax planning initiatives, including: Tax-free mergers and acquisitions and related restructurings, Multi-tier corporate and partnership structures, Complex partnership agreements, including profits interests, Section 1202 QSBS planning and memoranda, Corporate conversions, reorganizations, and recapitalizations, Advanced planning including irrevocable trusts, grantor trust strategies and family entity structuring.
Translate high-level designs into sequenced implementation plans.
Ensure strategic alignment and efficient execution across multi-party transactions.
Serve as a primary client contact on advanced tax planning matters.
Explain complex tax concepts clearly and practically.
Coordinate with clients, internal attorneys, and external advisors.
Build and maintain long-term client relationships.
Coordinate clients, advisors, and internal teams on implementation and design of tax strategies.
Oversee team execution and maintain high-performance standards.
Mentor and guide junior and mid-level attorneys and staff.
Maintain productive relationships with external advisors.
Opportunity to help scale a nationally recognized advanced tax planning platform.
Participate in regional expansion initiatives.
Shape team structure and hiring decisions.
Potential pathway into practice group leadership.