Matthew J. Meltzer

Transactional Tax and Federal Tax Planning

Matt works with private real estate businesses and publicly traded real estate investment trusts across the country in structuring like-kind exchanges of real estate. In addition to representing principals in these exchanges, Matt advises the intermediaries and lenders that facilitate the transaction. He has also served as special tax counsel in private securities offerings, including offerings of interests in Delaware statutory trusts intended to facilitate tax-deferred exchanges of real property, as well as in qualified opportunity fund investments. Matt assists both buyers and sellers in corporate acquisitions and tax-free mergers and joint ventures, in drafting their agreements and navigating the complex world of tax diligence.

In addition to his transactional work, Matt advises on the income tax treatment of structured litigation settlements and attorney fee arrangements, financial products and employee compensation. He has assisted nonprofit organizations in obtaining tax-exempt status and advised the board of directors of a leading donor-advised fund on tax issues associated with gifts of interests in closely held businesses and other forms of complex illiquid assets.

State and Local Tax Planning and Controversy

Matt has extensive experience in the field of state and local tax, with a focus on both transactional and addressing disputes. Recently, Matt has assisted a variety of businesses, particularly remote sellers, in navigating the new legal landscape of sales-and-use tax collection obligations and obtaining voluntary disclosure arrangements, both as a matter of routine compliance and to facilitate the closing of a business acquisition. He has also worked with real estate developers in structuring transactions in states and localities with intricate realty transfer tax schemes. Matt also litigates state and local tax disputes before administrative agencies and state appellate courts.

Previous Experience

Prior to entering law practice, Matt worked as a financial adviser, assisting private clients with issues related to personal income and business-entity tax planning, federal and state taxation audits and income tax preparation. Matt completed a federal judicial clerkship with Chief Judge Gary L. Lancaster in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania after graduating from law school.