Nagel, Stuart M.

Fran Muracca's practice centers on advising entrepreneurs and privately held business owners on a range of business structuring, transaction, and disposition issues including self-insured risk management and small insurer captives. He advises on the form of business entity and structure of business acquisitions, private equity transactions, and dispositions to minimize federal income tax consequences. In addition, he counsels affluent families and private equity principals on wealth transfer tax and succession planning alternatives.

Fran regularly provides corporate counseling to Gateway Financial Group, a member of M Financial, and Hirtle, Callaghan & Co. He advises a wide range of energy, infrastructure, wood products, and manufacturing companies including clients such as Allegheny Wood Products, Thar Geothermal, Trumbull Corporation, and Zamagias Properties. He also advises the principal owners of a National Football League franchise on ownership succession.

In addition to his corporate counseling, Fran represents clients in federal tax controversies at the administrative dispute resolution level before the IRS and in litigation before the U.S. Tax Court. Fran has successfully defended regional and national private business owners against challenges raised by the IRS involving unreasonable compensation, the valuation of nonmarketable business interests for wealth transfer tax purposes, constructive dividends, and tax-motivated transactions.

Fran is a member of the national board of advisors for Tax Management, the board of directors of Lake Erie College, and the Circle of Care Cabinet to the CEO of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.