- In General
- Committee Activities
- CLE and Special Activities
- Community Outreach
- Taxation Section Committee Program Series Dates and Times
In General
The section of Taxation has almost 1850 members and operates primarily through its ten Committees: Corporate Tax; Employee Benefits; Estate Planning, Exempt Organizations; Financial Products; International Tax; New Tax Practitioners; Pass-Throughs and Real Estate; State and Local Taxes; and Tax Audits and Litigation. The steering committee meets on a monthly basis. The committee chairs and vice chairs of all Committees attend every other steering committee meeting.
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Committee Activities
Consistent with past years, each Taxation Section committee will continue to sponsor timely and informative educational programs for its respective membership. Each committee has between 5 and 10 scheduled meetings each year. In total, the Taxation Section committees will host approximately 63 luncheon programs this year on matters of current interest to tax practitioners. In addition, special luncheon programs may be scheduled to address important new developments.
The featured speakers at the programs are typically high-level government officials responsible for formulating federal and local tax policy. For that reason, the section’s programs are regularly covered in the national tax press. Special admission rates are available for luncheon series subscribers, for section “subscribers” (i.e., non-lawyers), for Government and non-profit employees, and for law students. To increase participation by Government attorneys, the Taxation Section also has a no-charge “brown bag” option for Government employees. This affords our members greater access to Government attorneys and policy makers. Attached is a list of planned committee programs.
To assist our committee chairs and cochairs in providing the best service to their members, the steering committee has developed a list of “Best Practices” that committee chairs and vice-chairs are asked to adopt. For example, all committee chairs are asked to make early program decisions, have written handouts prepared for each program, write thank-you letters to speakers, give caveats if needed for government speakers, alert the tax press of important programs, distribute flyers of upcoming events, and provide information to the steering committee with respect to room costs and facilities used in order to provide a timely estimate of costs for each program. This last item is satisfied by a “Post-Section Committee Program Questionnaire” that each committee chair is asked to complete and send to the steering committee after each meeting. This allows the Taxation Section to approximate on a real time basis the costs for each program. In addition, committee chairs are asked to obtain separate email lists for their respective committee members so that program handouts can be sent by email to all committee members, and committee members can be notified of upcoming events.
An important committee of the Taxation Section is our New Practitioners Committee.
The New Practitioners Committee has, in past years, hosted a reception
in the fall for new practitioners in the tax area to introduce them
to the Taxation Section and encourage new practitioner participation
in the section. Given the state of the economy, many firms have deferred
the start dates for their new associates, so the committee has decided
to postpone the reception until the spring. In addition, for the past
couple years, the New Tax Practitioners Committee has partnered with
the other substantive tax committees to sponsor “back-to-basic”
programs that focus on the basics rules of the particular tax specialty.
These programs have been very well attended. This year seven back–to–basics
programs are scheduled.
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CLE and Special Activities
The Taxation Section is planning a half-day program on tax issues and opportunities associated with coming out of a recession. The program is scheduled for December 4, 2009 at the Dirkson Senate Office Building. The section is also planning a CLE program on the Introduction to International Taxation to be offered in the spring. In addition, we have been cosponsoring more non-Taxation Section programs that might be relevant to members’ practices in order to broaden the types of programs available to members.
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Community Outreach
The Taxation Section has an active community outreach component. As an ongoing activity, we staff the Pro Bono Program’s monthly Advice and Referral Clinic with a tax lawyer. Section members will also provide assistance at the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), and our section will participate as a cosponsor of the annual Youth Law Fair in the spring.
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District of Columbia Bar Association
Taxation Section
Committee Program Series Dates and Times
September 2009 - June 2010
CORPORATION TAX COMMITTEE
(5 luncheon programs)
Selected Issues under Section 108(i) and “All Cash” D Reorganizations
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Speakers:
Mark R. Hoffenberg, KPMG LLP
Scott M. Levine, Jones Day
Donald W. Bakke, U.S. Treasury, Office of Tax Policy
Bruce A. Decker, IRS, Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate)
Future Program Dates:
December 15, 2009
February 2. 2010
March 23, 2010
May 18, 2010
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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COMMITTEE
(7 luncheon programs)
September 17, 2009
What You Should Be Telling Your Clients about the New Interim Final GINA Regs
Date: October 21, 2009
Speaker: Debbie G. Leung, Groom Law Group
Future Program Dates:
November 18, 2009
January 20, 2010
February 24, 2010 (Cosponsored by the New Tax Practitioners Committee)
April 21, 2010
May 19, 2010
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ESTATE PLANNING SERIES
(9 luncheon programs)
Making Lemonade of Lemons: Exit Strategies & Opportunities in a Volatile Economy
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Speaker: Douglas L. Siegler, Sutherland
Current Developments in Federal Estate, Gift and GST Tax
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Speakers:
Douglas W. Benson, Sutherland
Sarah M. Johnson, Venable
Planning with Retirement Benefits & 2010 Roth IRA Conversions
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Speakers:
Paula Calimafde, Paley Rothman
Richard Franklin, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Federal Estate and Gift Tax Audits
Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Speakers:
John S. Pirri, Internal Revenue Service (subject to IRS approval)
Stefan F. Tucker, Venable LLP
Calvin H. Cobb III, Carghill, Mayfield, Fenwick, Cromelin & Cobb LLP
Ronald D. Aucutt, McGuireWoods LLP
Estate Tax Legislation
Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2009
Speaker: Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Caplin & Drysdale
Year-in-Review/Heckerling Update
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Speaker: Howard Zaritsky
D.C. and Maryland Estate Tax Returns
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2010
Speakers:
Virginia A. McArthur, The Law Office of Virginia A. McArthur
Philip L. O’Donoghue, Furey, Doonlan & Abell LLP
L. Laurel Lea, Furey, Doonlan & Abell LLP
Back to Basics Program (Cosponsored by the New Tax Practitioners Committee)
Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Speakers: TBD
Business Succession Planning/Valuation Issues
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2010
Speakers: TBD
D.C., Maryland, and Virginia Update (Cosponsored by the Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Section)
Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Speakers:
William E. Davis, Jackson & Campbell
Kimberly Martin Turner, Law Office of Kimberly Martin Turner PLLC
Charless S. Abell, Furey, Doolan & Abell LLP
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EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS SERIES
(5 luncheon programs)
The New Supporting Organization Regulations
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Speakers:
Philip Hackney, senior technician reviewer, Chief Counsel, IRS
Emily Lam, attorney adviser, Office of Tax Policy, Treasury Department
Ruth Madrigal, of counsel, Caplin & Drysdale
Holly Paz, acting manager, EO Technical, IRS
Moderator:
Roger Colinvaux, Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America
Future Program Dates:
December 9, 2009
February 3, 2010
March 24, 2010
May 26, 2010
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FINANCIAL PRODUCTS SERIES
(5 luncheon programs)
Financial Transactions Withholding Tax Update
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Speakers:
Jeff Dorfman, IRS Office of Chief Counsel
Jon Zelnik, KPMG
Rebecca Lee, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Moderator:
Matthew Stevens, Alston & Bird LLP
Life Settlement Transactions Update
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Speakers:
Steve Hooe, IRS Office of Chief Counsel
Mark Smith, Office of Tax Policy
David Shapiro, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
John Lutz, McDermott, Will & Emery LLP
Moderator:
John Lutz
Future Program Dates:
December 2, 2009
January 6, 2010
February 23, 2010
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INTERNATIONAL TAX SERIES
(6 luncheon programs)
Back to Basics - The Fundamentals of FIRPTA (Cosponsored with the New Tax Practitioners Committee)
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Speakers:
Charles Besecky, IRS Branch Chief, Branch 4, associate chief counsel (International)
David Bailey, assistant to the Branch Chief Associate Chief Counsel (International)
Moderator:
Guy Bracuti, KPMG LLP
International Tax Guidance on the 2009-2010 Business Plan
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Speakers:
Manal Corwin, International Tax counsel, Treasury Department
Michael DiFronzo, deputy associate chief counsel (International), Office of the Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service
Robert Culbertson, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP
Moderator:
Rocco Femia, Miller & Chevalier
Future Program Dates:
December 8, 2009
January 26, 2010
March 23, 2010
May 18, 2010
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NEW TAX PRACTITIONERS SERIES
(7 luncheon programs)
Back to Basics - The Fundamentals of FIRPTA (Cosponsored with the International Tax Committee)
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Speakers:
Charles Besecky, IRS Branch Chief, Branch 4, associate chief counsel (International)
David Bailey, assistant to the Branch Chief Associate Chief Counsel (International)
Moderator:
Guy Bracuti, KPMG LLP
Back to Basics: An Introduction to D.C. Real Property Taxation (Cosponsored by the New Tax Practitioners Committee and the Antitrust and Consumer Law Section, the Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Section, the D.C. Affairs Section, the Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Section, the Family Law Section, the Law Practice Management Section, the Litigation Section, and the Real Estate, Housing, and Land Use Section)
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Speakers:
Tanja Castro, Holland & Knight
Robert McKeon, D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue
Moderator:
Jana Leslie, council on State Taxation
Future Program Dates:
December 7, 2009 (Cosponsored by the Pass-Throughs and Real Estate Committee)
January 7, 2010 (Cosponsored by the Corporation Tax Committee)
February 24, 2010 (Cosponsored by the Employee Benefits Committee)
March 17, 2010 (Cosponsored by the Tax Audits and Litigation Committee)
April 13, 2010 (Cosponsored by the Estate Planning Committee)
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PASS-THROUGHS AND REAL ESTATE SERIES
(7 luncheon programs)
Multiple Section 704(c) Layers - Does It Have To Be This Difficult?
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2009
Speakers:
Laura Fields, Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs & Special Industries)
Beverly Katz, special counsel to the Associate Chief Counsel, IRS Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries)
Steven Frost, senior counsel, Office of Tax Legislative Counsel, Treasury Department
Moderator:
John Rooney, KPMG, senior manager
Public-Private Investment Funds - Who's Toxic Now?
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Speakers:
Christopher Kelley, special counsel to the Associate Chief Counsel, IRS Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries)
Robert Honigman, Arent Fox LLP
Moderator:
Linda Carlisle, White & Case LLP
Future Program Dates:
December 7, 2009 (Cosponsored by the New Tax Practitioners Committee)
January 14, 2010
February 10, 2010
April 21, 2010
May 12, 2010
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STATE AND LOCAL TAXES SERIES
(6 luncheon programs)
Recent Developments in D.C. Taxes
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009
Speaker: Alan Levine, chief counsel, D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue
Moderator: Todd Lard, council on State Taxation
Back to Basics: An Introduction to D.C. Real Property Taxation (Cosponsored by the New Tax Practitioners Committee and the Antitrust and Consumer Law Section, the Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Section, the D.C. Affairs Section, the Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Section, the Family Law Section, the Law Practice Management Section, the Litigation Section, and the Real Estate, Housing, and Land Use Section)
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Speakers:
Tanja Castro, Holland & Knight
Robert McKeon, D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue
Moderator:
Jana Leslie, council on State Taxation
Future Program Dates:
January 13, 2010
March 4, 2010
April 22, 2010
May 26, 2010
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TAX AUDITS AND LITIGATION SERIES
(6 luncheon programs)
Foreign Bank Account Disclosures: Current Events and Next Steps
Date: Monday, October 26, 2009
Speakers:
Rick Raven, director, Operations, Policy and Support, IRS Criminal Investigation
James Mastracchio, member, Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered
Moderator:
Seth D. Hanlon, associate, Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered
Developments Involving the Economic Substance Doctrine: Recent
Cases and Proposed Legislation
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Speakers: TBA
Future Program Dates:
December 17, 2009
February 18, 2010
March 17, 2010 (Cosponsored by the New Tax Practitioners Committee)
April 15, 2010
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