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

About the role

Goodspeed Merrill is seeking a senior‑level transactional tax attorney to join its Advanced Tax Strategies (ATS) group. This hybrid/in‑person/remote position is ideally based in Dallas, Texas (Southlake Area) or Englewood, Colorado, with remote consideration for candidates who bring a significant book of business. The 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, including expertise in corporate and individual wealth planning strategies and family office structuring. As a key leadership role within ATS, the attorney will collaborate closely with the firm’s corporate practice and trust and estate practice groups, carry significant client‑facing responsibility, and independently manage complex matters from initial structuring through final implementation.

Responsibilities

• 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, and advanced planning involving irrevocable trusts, grantor trust strategies, and family entity structuring.
• Translate high‑level designs into sequenced implementation plans and ensure strategic alignment and efficient execution across multi‑party transactions.
• 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.
• 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.
• Participate in scaling a nationally recognized advanced tax planning platform; engage in regional expansion initiatives; help shape team structure and hiring decisions; pursue a potential pathway into practice group leadership.

Requirements

• 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.

Skills

• 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.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, disability, and supplemental benefits.
• 401(k) plan.
• Paid Time Off.
• Bar dues and