Senior Associate/Of Counsel – Advanced Tax Strategy Attorney (ATS)
Goodspeed Merrill | Hybrid - In Person - Remote
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.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Advanced Transactional Tax Planning & Drafting
- 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
Client Strategy & Relationship Management
- 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
Coordination and Mentorship
- 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.
Growth & Leadership Opportunity
- 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
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
- Deep, substantive transactional tax experience with hands-on drafting
- 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
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
- LL.M. in Taxation strongly preferred (or equivalent experience)
- 8+ years post-JD tax practice with significant transactional drafting responsibility
- Big-4 or accounting firm experience welcomed where it includes substantive planning and implementation
- Compliance-only backgrounds are unlikely to be a fit
Selected candidates may be asked to provide a representative deal list and/or drafting sample demonstrating direct, hands-on involvement in advanced transactional tax planning and implementation.
BENEFITS & COMPENSATION
- Salary range: $170,000–$188,000 (depending on experience)
- Quarterly bonus potential: 3%–16% of realized revenue
- Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, and supplemental benefits
- 401(k) plan
- Paid Time Off
- Bar dues and CLEs