J. Barclay Collins is a partner in the Tax Department. He joined the firm in 1997.
Practice
Mr. Collins has broad experience advising clients on the tax considerations of commercial transactions, contested matters, legislation and compliance. He represents many non-profit educational and research institutions. He also works with WilmerHale’s Business Transactions Group in structuring corporate acquisitions and divestitures, issuance of corporate securities, and addressing corporate and partnership tax planning. Mr. Collins has assisted multi-national companies in planning with respect to US operations, obtaining regulatory guidance and seeking legislative solutions for federal income and excise tax issues. Mr. Collins also represents clients in all stages of audits before the IRS and in making voluntary disclosures of tax compliance oversights, including reporting and withholding compliance, anti-boycott reporting and foreign bank account reporting.
Practice Highlights
- Prepared public comments seeking limitations and exceptions on foreign financial account disclosure rules for major educational institutions and their employees.
- Advised organizations and individuals on compliance and reporting practices for foreign financial accounts.
- Advised on the sale of a multi-national business by a major US financial institution.
- Advised on the establishment of a foundation to support the expanding foreign scope of a US educational institution’s activities.
- Advised technology companies and educational institutions on reporting and compliance procedures for vendor and employee payments and benefits, including correction of practices as necessary.
- Provided tax advice in connection with the first effective SEC registration of public debt securities of a peer-to-peer lending site.
- Advised on the US public offering of debt securities for the foreign operations of a US educational institution.
- Obtained a ruling for a real estate development enterprise permitting an extension of time to file an accounting election resulting in substantial tax savings.
- Successfully defended an IRS audit challenge of deduction of a government settlement payment.
- Provided tax advice relating to the distribution of a settlement fund including formulation of beneficiary questionnaires to assist in tax reporting for the payments.
- Advised on the organization and on-going operation of a real estate investment trust.
- Advised foreign businesses on the US tax considerations of establishing operations in the United States.
