Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered
General Information
Overview
Ivins, Phillips & Barker is exclusively engaged in the practice of federal tax, benefits and compensation and estate and gift tax law. Our lawyers are nationally recognized to be among the best and brightest, bringing years of government service and corporate experience to bear on our clients' tax problems. We provide seasoned counsel in all major areas of tax law, and we offer prompt and efficient attention, whether with respect to the most detailed and intricate of issues, or for rapid responses to emergency situations.
Founded by two of the original judges on the United States Tax Court in 1935, our decades of focus on the intricacies of the Internal Revenue Code and Department of Labor regulations have led numerous Fortune 500 companies, as well as smaller companies, tax-exempt organizations, and high net worth individuals to rely on us for answers to their most complicated and sophisticated tax planning problems as well as for complex tax litigation. Our experience has taught us that while the tax code is ever-evolving, for most taxpayers it remains dauntingly complex; we keep up on the latest developments in tax reform so that we can provide timely advice on how changes to the law will affect you and your business.
We believe our clients are best served by a practice environment in which lawyers concentrate on an area of specialization within the tax law, so that they see all the issues that come to the firm in that area. Unlike other firms that use unnecessarily large teams to solve simple problems, IPB keeps clients costs to a minimum with extreme efficiency, outstanding intellect, and practicality.
We are committed to providing the highest-quality, timely responses to our clients’ needs. We also recognize an obligation to be forward-thinking and to bring potentially beneficial tax planning ideas to your attention, whether you're the Tax Director at a multinational corporation, or an individual taxpayer.
Our loyal national and international clients know that they can rely on us for the finest, most timely tax advice and tax controversy services available anywhere in the United States.
Rankings
Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered is nationally ranked in 4 practice areas and metro ranked in 6 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
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Metro Rankings
Firm Leadership
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Rankings
National Rankings
Metro Rankings
Practice Areas
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Litigation and Controversy - Tax
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Client Comments
Awards
- 2020 - 2022 Mansfield Certification Plus
Main Location
Management and Personnel
Contacts
Significant Matters
- Bayer Corp. and Subsidiaries v. U.S., 2:09-cv-351 (W.D. Pa. - pending): representing Bayer Corporation in $65 million tax refund suit in U.S. district court, challenging the IRS’s denial of the research credit under section 41 of the Code.
- Platinum Suppl. Ins., Inc. v. Comm’r, No. 9816-17 (U.S. Tax Court 2018): in response to IPB’s motion for summary judgment, the IRS conceded in full that Platinum Supplemental Insurance was not liable for $3.6 million in alleged FICA tax and income tax withholding. The IRS had asserted that nearly a thousand insurance agents working with Platinum Supplemental were employees and not independent contractors.
- Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) litigation (U.S. Tax Court 2015): IPB negotiated settlements for over 50 clients in Tax Court cases involving over $12 million in proposed tax assessments related to a VEBA.
- IPB's Jeff Moeller led the team advising on the U.S. tax aspects of the largest all-cash acquisition in history, Bayer's $63 billion purchase of Monsanto. The deal closed June 7, 2018, two years after it was announced, facing antitrust challenges along the way, and taking place amidst the creation and passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This required Jeff and his team to devise multiple contingent scenarios to address potential tax issues under the new law. He also worked in conjunction with a number of other firms to develop cross-border tax compliance plans for over 20 other countries in which Bayer and Monsanto operate.