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

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