Overview

John Schmehl has been Chair of the Tax Group for 35 years. He advises clients on tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions; spin-off, split-off, and split-up transactions involving the tax-free division of assets; structuring executive compensation plans, including advice on golden parachutes and §409A deferred compensation issues; preservation of net operating losses and §382 studies; insolvency and bankruptcy planning, including forgiveness of debt issues; §1031 like-kind exchanges; S corporations; formation of limited partnership and limited liability companies; qualified opportunity zones and state and local tax issues.

With four years of experience as an IRS trial attorney, John continues to advise clients in tax controversies from audit to appeal to litigation, both in the United States Tax Court and in tax refund litigation in District Court or the Court of Federal Claims, and in state and local tax examinations and appeals, including sales and use and income taxes. He also advises on private letter rulings and technical advice, on IRS collection matters, and works with the firm’s Corporate Investigations/White Collar Group to defend fraud and criminal tax investigations.

As an IRS District Counsel trial attorney, John advised revenue agents, revenue officers and special agents, and the Department of Justice in civil, collection, and criminal tax matters.

Representative Experience

  • Represented one of the country’s largest tax insurance underwriters in a variety of acquisitions, spin-offs, and other tax matters, and representations and warranty coverage for tax matters.
  • REMIC tax counsel for large mortgage service provider
  • Represents large family trust in Tax Court litigation on substantial capital gain issue.
  • Advised large city newspaper on bankruptcy tax plan.
  • Advised large manufacturers on restructuring and sales.
  • Represented executives of large cable companies in defense of civil and criminal tax charges.
  • Successfully represented executives in responsible person penalty litigation.
  • Successfully represented professional referee before Department of Justice to avoid prosecution.
  • Pro Bono representation of the Milton Hershey School Alumni Association 2003 – 2007 in quest for standing to challenge joint action of the Hershey Trust and Pennsylvania Attorney General.

Professional & Community Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association and Philadelphia Bar Association, Tax Sections
  • Former Member of Tax Council, Philadelphia Bar Association, Tax Section
  • Co-Founder of PCS Retirement Services LLC, a recordkeeper and 401(k) administrator

Speeches & Presentations

  • Presented on “Understanding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” for HalfMoon Education in July 2018
  • Frequent Past Lecturer at Penn State Tax Conferences on S Corporations.

Treatises and Chapters

  • Co-Authored Original BNA Tax Management Portfolios 639, Responsible Person and Lender Liability for Trust Fund Taxes – §§ 6672 and 3505; and Updated 633, Compelled Production of Documents and Testimony in Tax Examinations.
  • Chapter of Inside the Minds: Tax Litigation Best Practices, “Proceeding Efficiently with the IRS Through Tax Litigation,” Aspatore Books (2006)
  • Four-time Contributor of Articles for Journal of Taxation

Professional Recognition

  • BNA Tax Management Advisory Board Member.
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2004 – Present
  • Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Tax Law, 2025

Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Representative Experience

  • Represented one of the country’s largest tax insurance underwriters in a variety of acquisitions, spin-offs, and other tax matters, and representations and warranty coverage for tax matters.
  • REMIC tax counsel for large mortgage service provider
  • Represents large family trust in Tax Court litigation on substantial capital gain issue.
  • Advised large city newspaper on bankruptcy tax plan.
  • Advised large manufacturers on restructuring and sales.
  • Represented executives of large cable companies in defense of civil and criminal tax charges.
  • Successfully represented executives in responsible person penalty litigation.
  • Successfully represented professional referee before Department of Justice to avoid prosecution.
  • Pro Bono representation of the Milton Hershey School Alumni Association 2003 – 2007 in quest for standing to challenge joint action of the Hershey Trust and Pennsylvania Attorney General.

Insights