Course1

Taxation of Settlements & Judgments in Civil Litigation

$89.00

Two of the questions clients have about settlements are: Is the settlement taxable? And if so, how is the settlement treated for tax purposes?  The answers to these questions turn on the nature of the underlying claim(s) giving rise to the settlement.  Some settlements are taxed as ordinary income, subjecting income tax and employment tax withholding in certain instances.  Other types of settlements are taxable as capital gains. There are also questions related to the treatment of that portion of the settlement, if any, attributable to attorneys’ fees.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to the tax treatment of settlements in civil litigation.    How the underlying claim giving rise to a settlement determines its tax treatment Loss of income or gross business profit v. destruction of capital property Special treatment for physical injury Treatment of portion of settlement attributable to attorneys’ fees Income and employment tax withholding from settlements   Speaker: Stephen J. Turanchik is an attorney in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings, LLP, where his practice focuses on tax litigation at the state and federal levels as well as tax controversy work at the administrative levels. Before entering private practice, he is previously litigated for six years for the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, where he litigated over 300 tax cases in federal, bankruptcy, state and probate court. He has also lectured at Loyola Law School and California State University, Fullerton on topics relating to tax litigation and is chair-elect of the executive committee of the Los Angeles Bar Association’s Tax Section. Mr. Turanchik received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross, his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, and his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 1/12/2026
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Course1

Sophisticated Choice of Entity, Part 1

$89.00

Choosing the right entity for a closely held business is not only a choice in time but planning for long stretches of time and the likelihood of substantial change. Among those changes are changes in tax law, changes in the capital structure and ownership ranks of the company, and changes in business strategy. These and a multitude of other considerations often involve a sophisticated tradeoff of benefits and costs, balancing certainty with flexibility, in full knowledge that change is certain.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to sophisticated choice of entity considerations for closely held businesses.    Day 1: Impact of industry norms, investor expectations, and regulatory requirements Management and information rights, and the ability to restrict Fiduciary duties/liability of owners and managers, and the ability to modify these duties Economic rights – choosing among capital rights, income rights, tracking rights   Day 2: Anticipating liquidity events – sale of the company, liquidation of the company, new investors/members Planning for distributions of property Owner and employee fringe benefit considerations Impact of recent tax law changes, employment taxes, and SALT considerations   Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering private practice, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.  Mr. Kaplun received his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Christopher Davidson is a partner in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where he advises clients on a wide variety of federal and tax matters, including in the areas of corporate formations, financings, and transactions.  His focus is on foreign and domestic tax matters for partnerships, LLCs, and corporations. He is a frequent contributor to professional tax journals. Mr. Davidson received his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Maryland, his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, and his LL.M. from New York University.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 2/2/2026
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Course1

Sophisticated Choice of Entity, Part 2

$89.00

Choosing the right entity for a closely held business is not only a choice in time but planning for long stretches of time and the likelihood of substantial change. Among those changes are changes in tax law, changes in the capital structure and ownership ranks of the company, and changes in business strategy. These and a multitude of other considerations often involve a sophisticated tradeoff of benefits and costs, balancing certainty with flexibility, in full knowledge that change is certain.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to sophisticated choice of entity considerations for closely held businesses.    Day 1:  Impact of industry norms, investor expectations, and regulatory requirements Management and information rights, and the ability to restrict Fiduciary duties/liability of owners and managers, and the ability to modify these duties Economic rights – choosing among capital rights, income rights, tracking rights   Day 2:  Anticipating liquidity events – sale of the company, liquidation of the company, new investors/members Planning for distributions of property Owner and employee fringe benefit considerations Impact of recent tax law changes, employment taxes, and SALT considerations   Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering private practice, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.  Mr. Kaplun received his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Christopher Davidson is a partner in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where he advises clients on a wide variety of federal and tax matters, including in the areas of corporate formations, financings, and transactions.  His focus is on foreign and domestic tax matters for partnerships, LLCs, and corporations. He is a frequent contributor to professional tax journals. Mr. Davidson received his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Maryland, his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, and his LL.M. from New York University.

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    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 2/3/2026
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Course1

Closely Held Company Merger & Acquisitions, Part 1

$89.00

Mergers and buyouts of closely held companies are complex, multifaceted processes.  Agreeing on a valuation can be very difficult because there is no regular market of buyers and sellers and information on comparable sales is scarce. Closely held companies are typically structured to benefit a few shareholders, often members of a family, and require their financial statements to be normalized. There can also be substantial issues of liability, including successor liability in asset deals, requiring carefully crafted reps and warranties. Confidentiality is often essential in these transactions as sellers try not to unsettle existing commercial relationships and employees. This program will provide you with a practical guide to major planning and drafting considerations in the mergers and buyouts of closely held companies.   Day 1: Confidentiality considerations in the sale and negotiation process Due diligence – financial, operational and workforce red flags Stock v. asset transactions and forms of consideration – cash v. equity Valuation of closely held companies in an illiquid market Use or of “earnouts” to bridge the gap in valuation   Day 2:  Reps, warranties, indemnity and basket issues common to closely held companies Successor liability concerns where assets are transferred Asset transfer issues – intangible assets, including intellectual property Transition issues – management, employees, business relationship, contract issues Escrow and post-closing issues   Speaker: Daniel G. Straga is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he counsels companies on a wide variety of corporate and business matters across a range of industries. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, venture capital, and governance matters.  He also have extensive experience in private equity and cross-border transactions.   Molly Merritts is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where she focuses her practice on a wide range of corporate law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, and real estate investment trusts. She also advises clients on corporate governance matters, transactional and commercial contract negotiations, and corporate reorganizations.  

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    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/8/2026
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Course1

Closely Held Company Merger & Acquisitions, Part 2

$89.00

Mergers and buyouts of closely held companies are complex, multifaceted processes.  Agreeing on a valuation can be very difficult because there is no regular market of buyers and sellers and information on comparable sales is scarce. Closely held companies are typically structured to benefit a few shareholders, often members of a family, and require their financial statements to be normalized. There can also be substantial issues of liability, including successor liability in asset deals, requiring carefully crafted reps and warranties. Confidentiality is often essential in these transactions as sellers try not to unsettle existing commercial relationships and employees. This program will provide you with a practical guide to major planning and drafting considerations in the mergers and buyouts of closely held companies.   Day 1: Confidentiality considerations in the sale and negotiation process Due diligence – financial, operational and workforce red flags Stock v. asset transactions and forms of consideration – cash v. equity Valuation of closely held companies in an illiquid market Use or of “earnouts” to bridge the gap in valuation   Day 2:  Reps, warranties, indemnity and basket issues common to closely held companies Successor liability concerns where assets are transferred Asset transfer issues – intangible assets, including intellectual property Transition issues – management, employees, business relationship, contract issues Escrow and post-closing issues   Speaker: Daniel G. Straga is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he counsels companies on a wide variety of corporate and business matters across a range of industries. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, venture capital, and governance matters.  He also have extensive experience in private equity and cross-border transactions.   Molly Merritts is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where she focuses her practice on a wide range of corporate law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, and real estate investment trusts. She also advises clients on corporate governance matters, transactional and commercial contract negotiations, and corporate reorganizations.  

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    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/9/2026
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Course1

Defending Against IRS Audits of Closely Held Companies, Part 1

$89.00

This program will provide you with a practical guide to defending closely held businesses and owners against IRS audits and collection activity. The program will discuss counseling clients about what to expect in the process and preparing their documentation for review.  It will also cover assessing their potential liability and preparing strategies accordingly.  The differences between income and employment tax issues will also be covered. This program will provide you with real world guide to defending against IRS audit and collection activity of closely held companies.    Day 1  Ascertaining the IRS’s goals and determining a reasonable range of settlements Types of settlements and IRS settlement standards Appeals process and rates of success at each level Negotiating an audit settlement in anticipation of collections Collections process, defenses, and forms of penalty   Day 2  Counseling clients about the scope and nature of IRS collection activity IRS use of asset freezes – cash and liquid assets Liens and levies – and how to obtain releases Obtaining injunctive relief from collection activity Interrelationship of bankruptcy law and collection activity   Speakers: Stephen J. Turanchik is an attorney in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings, LLP, where his practice focuses on tax litigation at the state and federal levels as well as tax controversy work at the administrative levels. Before entering private practice, he is previously litigated for six years for the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, where he litigated cases in federal, bankruptcy, state and probate court. 

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    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 9/19/2026
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Course1

Defending Against IRS Audits of Closely Held Companies, Part 2

$89.00

This program will provide you with a practical guide to defending closely held businesses and owners against IRS audits and collection activity. The program will discuss counseling clients about what to expect in the process and preparing their documentation for review.  It will also cover assessing their potential liability and preparing strategies accordingly.  The differences between income and employment tax issues will also be covered. This program will provide you with real world guide to defending against IRS audit and collection activity of closely held companies.    Day 1  Ascertaining the IRS’s goals and determining a reasonable range of settlements Types of settlements and IRS settlement standards Appeals process and rates of success at each level Negotiating an audit settlement in anticipation of collections Collections process, defenses, and forms of penalty   Day 2  Counseling clients about the scope and nature of IRS collection activity IRS use of asset freezes – cash and liquid assets Liens and levies – and how to obtain releases Obtaining injunctive relief from collection activity Interrelationship of bankruptcy law and collection activity   Speakers: Stephen J. Turanchik is an attorney in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings, LLP, where his practice focuses on tax litigation at the state and federal levels as well as tax controversy work at the administrative levels. Before entering private practice, he is previously litigated for six years for the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, where he litigated cases in federal, bankruptcy, state and probate court. 

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 9/20/2026
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Course1

Planning with Single Member LLCs, Part 1

$89.00

Single Member LLCs are among the most flexible vehicles in business and real estate transactions.  Creatures of state law, they are “nothing” for federal income tax purposes.  They can be used to minimize tax and liability with maximum organizational flexibility. They may be used in conjunction with S Corps and general partnerships in business and real estate transactions. But there are also substantial limits and traps.  Among the traps is that their limited liability can be pierced more easily through equitable doctrines to personal liability. There are also many potential tax traps.  This program will provide you with a real-world guide to organizing and using Single Member LLCs in transactions.   Day 1: Classification of LLCs for income tax purposes – what does “nothing” mean? Formation and organizational issues – how they differ from multi-member LLCs Relationship to S Corps – as owners, as subsidiaries, as Single Member LLCs themselves Single Member LLCs as charities or as property of charities – and gifting issues Merger and acquisition issues involving Single Member LLCs Series LLCs as an alternative to commonly owned Single Member LLCs   Day 2: Changes in tax classification of Single Member LLCs Single Member LLCs and general partnerships – which may own which? Piercing the veil of a Single Member LLC Compensation issues and traps Use of charging orders against Single Member LLC distributions Use of SMLCCs in real estate transactions, including Like-Kind Exchanges State tax and excise tax overview   Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering private practice, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.   Elizabeth Fialkowski Stieff is an attorney in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where her practice focuses on corporate advisory matters, including mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, as well as tax controversies.  Prior to joining Venable, she was an associate in corporate and securities practice at a national law firm, where she advised clients on a variety of federal and state tax issues.  Before entering private practice, she served as a judicial clerk to Judge L. Paige Marvel of the United States Tax Court.  

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/3/2026
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Course1

Planning with Single Member LLCs, Part 2

$89.00

Single Member LLCs are among the most flexible vehicles in business and real estate transactions.  Creatures of state law, they are “nothing” for federal income tax purposes.  They can be used to minimize tax and liability with maximum organizational flexibility. They may be used in conjunction with S Corps and general partnerships in business and real estate transactions. But there are also substantial limits and traps.  Among the traps is that their limited liability can be pierced more easily through equitable doctrines to personal liability. There are also many potential tax traps.  This program will provide you with a real-world guide to organizing and using Single Member LLCs in transactions.   Day 1: Classification of LLCs for income tax purposes – what does “nothing” mean? Formation and organizational issues – how they differ from multi-member LLCs Relationship to S Corps – as owners, as subsidiaries, as Single Member LLCs themselves Single Member LLCs as charities or as property of charities – and gifting issues Merger and acquisition issues involving Single Member LLCs Series LLCs as an alternative to commonly owned Single Member LLCs   Day 2: Changes in tax classification of Single Member LLCs Single Member LLCs and general partnerships – which may own which? Piercing the veil of a Single Member LLC Compensation issues and traps Use of charging orders against Single Member LLC distributions Use of SMLCCs in real estate transactions, including Like-Kind Exchanges State tax and excise tax overview   Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering private practice, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.   Elizabeth Fialkowski Stieff is an attorney in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where her practice focuses on corporate advisory matters, including mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, as well as tax controversies.  Prior to joining Venable, she was an associate in corporate and securities practice at a national law firm, where she advised clients on a variety of federal and state tax issues.  Before entering private practice, she served as a judicial clerk to Judge L. Paige Marvel of the United States Tax Court.  

  • MP3 Download
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/4/2026
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