Laura E. Al-Shathir
Shareholder
P: 314.505.5424
F: 314.505.5425
E: alshathir@capessokol.com
HIGHLIGHT
Helped secure a victory in U.S. Tax Court on behalf of our clients, in Bross Trucking, Inc., et al. v. Commissioner, saving our clients millions in tax liability.
HIGHLIGHT
Negotiated and implemented the closing of an eight-figure business separation, implemented as tax free “split-off” pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 355.
Experience at Work
Laura Al-Shathir serves as tax and corporate counsel to businesses in a variety of industries. Her clients range from multi-national corporations to small businesses, and include limited liability companies, S corporations, and non-profits.
Laura provides business planning advice in a wide variety of corporate transactions, focusing on the associated federal income tax issues. She negotiates, structures, and assists with the implementation of a variety of commercial transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; tax-free reorganizations; debt restructurings; financing transactions; tax-deferred like-kind exchanges; various types of contracts and agreements; and executive compensation plans.
As special tax counsel, Laura assists corporations, partnerships, and individuals in resolving complex tax controversy matters at the examination level, in IRS appeals, in the U.S. Tax Court, and in making voluntary disclosures. She also represents clients in state level income tax and in sales and use tax controversies.
With a background in international tax, she represents clients in resolving tax compliance issues related to foreign income and assets.
A widely respected member of the tax community, Laura is an elected Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, which is a highly selective organization comprised of a limited number of attorneys who have made significant contributions in the field of tax law. She is the past Chair of the S Corporations Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation and a past Chair of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’s Taxation Section. In addition, she is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America © list for Tax Law.
Laura is an elected Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She has also been honored with several awards from Missouri Lawyers Weekly, including the 2018 Women’s Justice Award–General Practitioner Honoree and the 2014 Up and Coming Lawyer.
Laura has served as a standing guest lecturer for Corporate Tax at the Washington University School of Law LL.M. in Taxation Program, and she has also been an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, teaching Basic Business Principles for Lawyers.
In the Community
Laura is devoted to a variety of non-profit and pro bono work. She currently serves on the Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship Committee of the ABA Tax Section, as Chair of the Audit Committee for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and as an Advisory Board Member for the Mizzou Tax and Transactional Law Society. She is a past member of the Board of Directors and Board Secretary for Saint Louis Ballet and Girls in the Know. Laura also volunteers through St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, helping non-profit corporations obtain and maintain their tax-exempt status.
Awards & Recognitions
Awards
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly, The POWER List – Tax (2021 & 2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America® | Tax Law, St. Louis (2021 – Present)
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Women’s Justice Award – General Practitioner (2018)
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Up & Coming Lawyer (2014)
- Federal Bar Association – Section of Taxation Annual Writing Competition, First Place
Recognitions
Memberships & Associations
Professional Organizations
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- American Bar Association | Business Law Section
- American Bar Association | Taxation Section
- American Bar Association Section of Taxation | Nominating Committee
- University of Missouri-Columbia Tax and Transactional Law Society
- The Missouri Bar
Education
Educational Background
- J.D., Certificate in Tax, University of Missouri School of Law (2003)
- B.J., University of Missouri, School of Journalism, cum laude (2000)
Significant Experience
Representations
- Advising and implementing business restructurings as a result of the landmark “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”
- Serving on the team that prevailed in Tax Court on behalf of our client, the taxpayers, in Bross Trucking, Inc., et al. v. Commissioner
- Effectuating a wide range of mergers and acquisitions, including negotiating and implementing the closing of an eight-figure tax free “split-off” pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 355
- Negotiating complex shareholder agreements and limited liability company operating agreements
- Frequently representing clients in resolving civil and criminal tax and reporting non-compliance issues with respect to foreign source income and assets as part of the IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) or the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedure
- Facilitating Executive Compensation arrangements
- Forming Tax Exempt Organizations and providing advice regarding on-going tax compliance.
Knowledge & Insights
Speaking Engagements
- Choice of Entity: Is There Really More Than One Option? 2025 Midyear Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section. Los Angeles, CA. (2025)
- Choice of Entity after OBBBA. Fall Virtual Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section. Virtual. (2025)
- Back to Basics: Introduction to S Corporations. Midyear Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section. Virtual. (2021)
- Current Developments in the Federal Income Taxation of S Corporations. Joint Fall Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section & Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. San Francisco, CA. (2019)
- Important Developments in the Federal Income Taxation of S Corporations. May Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section. Washington, D.C. (2019)
- Changes to S Corporation, Partnership and LLC Taxation under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. American Bar Association | Tax Section. Virtual. (2018)
- Important Developments in the Federal Income Taxation of S Corporations. Midyear Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section. New Orleans, LA. (2019)
- Choice of Entity Under the 2017 Tax Act. May Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section. Washington, D.C. (2018)
- Roundtable Discussion of 199A. May Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section. Washington, D.C. (2018)
- Using LLCs As S Corporations. Joint Fall Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section & Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. Austin, TX. (2017)
- S Corporation – Important Developments. Joint Fall Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section & Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. Boston, MA. (2016)
- Taxes 101 for Nontax Attorneys. National Business Institute. St. Louis, MO. (2016)
- Missouri Real Estate and Property Taxation: What Attorneys Need to Know. National Business Institute. St. Louis, MO. (2016)
- S Corporation – Important Developments. Midyear Tax Meeting. American Bar Association | Tax Section. Los Angeles, CA. (2016)
- Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls: Attorney Fiduciary Liability, Fraud and More. National Business Institute. St. Louis, MO. (2016)
- Real Estate and Property Taxation: What Attorneys Need to Know. National Business Institute. St. Louis, MO. (2016)
- Tax Law Update. Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. St. Louis, MO. (2015)
- Ethical Issues in Tax. Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. St. Louis, MO. (2015)
- 3.8% Net Investment Tax Concerns for Real Estate Investors. National Business Institute. St. Louis, MO. (2014)
- Representing Clients with Foreign Accounts and Assets-US Federal Income Tax Issues and Exposures. Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis | Taxation Section. St. Louis, MO. (2014)
- Navigating the Ethical Minefield and Keeping Your C.P.A. License! Practical Advice for Avoiding Ethical Concerns in Your Tax Practice and Properly Handling Them When They Arise. Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. St. Louis, MO. (2013)
Publications
- “Entity Level Penalties: Worth the Fight?” Journal of Passthrough Entities – Tax Controversy Corner. (2019)
- “Tax Return Preparer Penalties: Does Choice of Entity Impact Liability Exposure?” Journal of Passthrough Entities – Tax Controversy Corner. (2018)
- “Let’s Not Forget, Partnerships Are Not the Only Passthrough Entities Subject to IRS Examination.” Journal of Passthrough Entities – Tax Controversy Corner. (2018)
- “The Elimination of Partner-Level Penalty Defenses in the Post-TEFRA World.” Journal of Passthrough Entities – Tax Controversy Corner. (2017)
- “When Is an S Corporation a “Corporation” Under the Code?” Journal of Passthrough Entities – Tax Controversy Corner. (2016)
- “Help Clients with Undisclosed Foreign Accounts and Assets Mitigate Criminal and Financial Exposure.” The Asset. Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. (2015)
- “The Swiss and Foreign Account Controversy and International Tax Fraud in the 21st Century.” St. Louis Bar Journal. (2013)
Teaching
- Corporate Tax. Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation Program. Washington University School of Law | Guest Lecturer
- Basic Business Principles for Lawyers. University of Missouri School of Law | Adjunct Professor
Firm Programs
- Legislative Landmines. Capes Sokol Business & Real Estate Symposium. St. Louis, MO. (2021)
- Tax Planning or Tax Evasion? Staying on the Right Side of the Line. Capes Sokol Tax Controversy Symposium. St. Louis, MO. (2020)
- COVID-19 Response Legislation – Economic Relief for Small Businesses. Webinar. Louis, MO. (2020)
- Taking the Sting out of Generosity: Navigating Federal Gift Tax Rules and Potential IRS Controversies. Capes Sokol Tax Controversy Symposium. St. Louis, MO. (2019)
- Sales Tax Audits: Digging Out from the Mountains of Paper, POS Reports, and Sales Receipts. Capes Sokol Tax Controversy Symposium. St. Louis, MO. (2018)
- Roundtable Ethics: Common Issues that Arise During Taxpayer Representation. Capes Sokol Tax Controversy Symposium. St. Louis, MO. (2018)
- To Speak or Not to Speak: Balancing Ethics in IRS Representations. Capes Sokol Tax Controversy Symposium. St. Louis, MO. (2017)
- Employment Tax Examinations: Practical Tips for Helping Your Client Through a Payroll-Related Mess. Capes Sokol Tax Controversy Symposium. St. Louis, MO. (2016)
- TEFRA Repeal and Other Important Updates in the Law Relating to Tax Controversy. Capes Sokol Tax Controversy Symposium. St. Louis, MO. (2016)
Firm Insights
- Supreme Court Stays Injunction on the Corporate Transparency Act, But Effective Date Remains Delayed Nationwide
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Reinstates Injunction on Corporate Transparency Act
- Federal Court Blocks Corporate Transparency Act: Landmark Ruling Halts CTA Reporting Requirements, Including January 1, 2025 Reporting Deadline
- LLCs Taxed as S Corporations: Welcome Relief for Inadvertent “S” Failures
- Sweet Relief: Stimulus Bill Would Confirm PPP Borrower Tax Relief – Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
- New COVID-19 Relief Bill is Filled with Tax Provisions – Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
- PPP Loan Forgiveness Comes with a Price: Lost Deductions
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act: Payroll Tax Implications
- COVID-19 Consequence: Tax Filing and Payment Deadlines Extended
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Paid Medical Leave and Paid Sick Leave for Employees
- COVID-19 Consequence: Tax Payment Deadlines Extended
- Amending LLC and Partnership Agreements for Changes in Partnership Tax Audits
- TEFRA Repeal: Opting Into the New Partnership Tax Audit Regime?
- Now is the Time to Prepare for a Sea Change in Partnership Tax Audits
- Missouri’s New Series LLC Law
Admissions & Qualifications
Bar & Court Admissions
- Missouri
- Illinois
Leadership & Community Engagement
Current Leadership Positions
- Programming Subcommittee | ABA Tax Section – Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship Committee
- Mizzou Tax and Transactional Law Society | Advisory Board Member
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis – Audit Committee | Chair
Past Leadership Positions
- Saint Louis Ballet | Board Secretary
- Saint Louis Ballet | Director
- American Bar Association – Tax Section | Chair of the S Corporations Committee
- Downtown Children’s Center | Board of Directors
- Girls in the Know | Board of Directors
- Girls in the Know | Secretary
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis – Tax Section | Chair (2015 – 2016)
Civic & Community
- Girls in the Know
- Saint Louis Ballet
- Downtown Children’s Center
Laura E. Al-Shathir’s Insights
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