OVERVIEW
Vern Bennett joined Lewis Reed & Allen P.C. in 2014, and he is a shareholder of the firm. Previously, he was a Senior Principal (Partner) with a large, multi-jurisdictional law firm, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., with whom he had practiced in West Michigan for almost 30 years. Prior to entering the legal profession, Vern practiced as a Certified Public Accountant. He continues to maintain “registered status” as a CPA in Michigan.
Vern specializes in tax and business law. He handles tax controversies at the IRS and Michigan Department of Treasury on behalf of his clients. Such tax matters include, for example, Audits, Appeals, Collection Division Representation, and also Voluntary Offshore Disclosure Program (“foreign financial accounts”) cases at the IRS. Vern’s Business Law practice integrates his significant tax law expertise at both the planning and the implementation stages of a variety of business transactions, involving, for example, closely-held corporations, “S” corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and foreign “hybrid” entities. He also represents and counsels the owners of such entities. Vern is an AV-rated lawyer in the Martindale-Hubbell® lawyer directory, with an Overall Peer Rating of 5.0 out of 5.0. For the past several years Vern has also been listed in “Best Lawyers®” for his expertise in handling tax controversies.
During his career, Vern has been a speaker at various professional tax seminars in Michigan, and in Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Tampa, FL, and Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also volunteered his time at several non-profit organizations such as Senior Services, Inc., the Kalamazoo County Bar Association and conservation organizations.
BAR ADMISSION
1984, Michigan; 1984, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; 1985, United States Tax Court; 1987, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.
EDUCATION
Western Michigan University (B.B.A., 1978); Wayne State University (J.D., cum laude, 1984; Order of the Coif; Wayne Law Review)
PRACTICE AREAS
Federal and State Taxation, including Tax controversies and Transactional Tax Planning; Business Law, including Mergers, Acquisitions, Nontaxable Exchanges, Like-Kind Exchanges, Business Entities, Closely-Held Businesses.
Vernon Bennett III
Tel: 269-388-7600
Email: vbennett@lewisreedallen.com
OVERVIEW
Vern Bennett joined Lewis Reed & Allen P.C. in 2014, and he is a shareholder of the firm. Previously, he was a Senior Principal (Partner) with a large, multi-jurisdictional law firm, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., with whom he had practiced in West Michigan for almost 30 years. Prior to entering the legal profession, Vern practiced as a Certified Public Accountant. He continues to maintain “registered status” as a CPA in Michigan.
Vern specializes in tax and business law. He handles tax controversies at the IRS and Michigan Department of Treasury on behalf of his clients. Such tax matters include, for example, Audits, Appeals, Collection Division Representation, and also Voluntary Offshore Disclosure Program (“foreign financial accounts”) cases at the IRS. Vern’s Business Law practice integrates his significant tax law expertise at both the planning and the implementation stages of a variety of business transactions, involving, for example, closely-held corporations, “S” corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and foreign “hybrid” entities. He also represents and counsels the owners of such entities. Vern is an AV-rated lawyer in the Martindale-Hubbell® lawyer directory, with an Overall Peer Rating of 5.0 out of 5.0. For the past several years Vern has also been listed in “Best Lawyers®” for his expertise in handling tax controversies.
During his career, Vern has been a speaker at various professional tax seminars in Michigan, and in Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Tampa, FL, and Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also volunteered his time at several non-profit organizations such as Senior Services, Inc., the Kalamazoo County Bar Association and conservation organizations.
BAR ADMISSION
1984, Michigan; 1984, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; 1985, United States Tax Court; 1987, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.
EDUCATION
Western Michigan University (B.B.A., 1978); Wayne State University (J.D., cum laude, 1984; Order of the Coif; Wayne Law Review)
PRACTICE AREAS
Federal and State Taxation, including Tax controversies and Transactional Tax Planning; Business Law, including Mergers, Acquisitions, Nontaxable Exchanges, Like-Kind Exchanges, Business Entities, Closely-Held Businesses.