TAXATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

          Capell & Howard’s tax - federal and state - practice is an area of emphasis of the Firm and complements the Firm’s business law orientation. The Firm’s attorneys assist clients with a broad variety of local, state and federal tax matters, including, if necessary, representing clients before the United States Tax Court and other tax tribunals and agencies. The Firm’s attorneys advise companies and individuals regarding their tax planning in connection with a variety of transactions and business matters. The Firm has nine attorneys with advanced degrees in taxation law. They customarily advise clients and work with other tax professionals in connection with a variety of transactions having tax implications. In addition to Federal and Alabama income tax matters, the Firm has experience with a number of other Alabama taxes, involving the business privilege tax, sales and use taxes, and ad valorem taxes. Members of the Firm have been principal drafters of several important pieces of legislation concerning Alabama taxes. The Firm’s attorneys have served as special tax counsel to parties involved in litigation, including advice regarding the taxability of settlements and judgments, structured settlements and Medicaid disability trusts.

          Certain of the Firm’s tax attorneys routinely provide advice and assistance with respect to employee benefits and ERISA matters. For example, they typically advise clients with respect to the legal and tax aspects of executive compensation, employment contracts, employee benefits, non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, and qualified retirement plans, including pension, profit-sharing, section 401(k), section 457, money purchase pension, employee stock ownership and cafeteria plans.