John H. Birkeland
Member
Phone: 303.299.8225
Fax: 303.298.0940
Legal Secretary
Amie Bergondo
303.299.8143
Areas of Emphasis
Tax
Estate and Tax Planning
Real Estate
Mergers and Acquisitions
Education
- LL.M. Taxation, New York University, 1973
- Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, University of Iowa College of Law, 1968
- Order of the Coif
- Editor, University of Iowa Law Review
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Iowa, 1966
John Birkeland is a Member of Sherman & Howard’s Tax/Probate Department. He has more than 40 years of experience in representing individual and business taxpayers in transactional tax planning and IRS disputes. He has published extensively in the areas of real estate tax planning and the taxation of small- and medium-sized business entities. He is also an expert on the Colorado and Federal tax law relating to Conservation Easements. John is a past president of the Tax Section of the Colorado Bar Association and of the Denver Tax Association.
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Representative Matters
- Routinely provides advice to companies of all sizes regarding federal and state income tax issues, including tax advice concerning the acquisition and disposition of business entities and assets.
- Advises clients on tax and real estate aspects of conservation easements.
- Routinely counsels clients facing audits and represents them in administrative proceedings before the Internal Revenue Service and the Colorado Department of Revenue.
- Routinely advises on and prepares partnership agreements and operating agreements for a variety of business concerns.
- Provides tax advice concerning the structure and operation of private equity limited partnerships.
- Routinely counsels clients on commercial real estate transactions.
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Professional Activities
- Member, Colorado Bar Association
- Past Chairman, Section of Taxation
- Past President, Metro Denver Executive Club
- Past Trustee, Board of Trustees, Denver Botanic Gardens
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Honors and Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Tax Law (2018 – 2019)
- The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year; Tax Law (2017)
- Super Lawyers, Super Lawyer (2006 – 2019)