Tax Planning in the New E-Commerce Environment

Stephen P. Kranz is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Washington, D.C., office. He engages in all forms of taxpayer advocacy, including audit defense and litigation, legislative monitoring, and the formation and leadership of taxpayer coalitions. Steve is at the forefront of state and local tax issues, including developments arising in the world of cloud computing and digital goods and services. He assists clients in understanding planning opportunities and compliance obligations for all states and all tax types. His approach to taxpayer advocacy brings strategic thinking together with skills for the courtroom and the statehouse.

Steve combines tax controversy and litigation with a unique approach to tax policy advocacy on behalf of his Fortune 100 clients. He often represents companies on issues in litigation while working to address the larger tax policy questions through state legislatures, the U.S. Congress, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association, the Multistate Tax Commission, and the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. Steve was recognized by State Tax Notes as one of the Top 10 Tax Lawyers and as one of the Top 10 Individuals who influenced Tax Policy and Practice for 2011. State Tax Notes had previously identified him as one of the publication’s “People to Watch,” which highlights individuals who have already played an important role in state tax but will likely dominate the field in the next 10 years. Steve was described as “a leading representative of business interests in court as well as before the legislatures.”

Steve has authored numerous articles that have appeared in State Tax Notes, LexisNexis Law Center, and Information Week, among others. He speaks regularly at national conferences regarding state and local tax issues and is frequently interviewed by journalists covering state and local tax developments.
Before joining McDermott, Steve served as General Counsel to the Council on State Taxation (COST), a trade association that represents the interests of more than 600 of the nation’s largest taxpayers on issues of state and local taxation. He began his legal career as a trial lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, where he litigated tax cases in U.S. District Court. Steve then served as Chief Counsel for the District of Columbia’s Office of Tax and Revenue, where he represented the city on tax policy and administrative matters.

Steve is a member and former chair of the State and Local Tax Committee, District of Columbia Bar and a former president of the Business Advisory Council, Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. Steve is admitted to practice in Minnesota, North Dakota and the District of Columbia.

Keith Staats is a Director in Grant Thornton’s State and Local Tax (SALT) practice in Chicago. Keith has experience in all aspects of state and local taxation. He represents of taxpayers before the Illinois Department of Revenue Informal Conference Board and Board of Appeals. He assists clients with audit defense before state and local departments of revenue, as well as with tax planning Prior to his current employment with Grant Thornton, Keith was employed as Counsel in the state and local tax practice of the international law firm, McDermott Will & Emery, and was involved in multistate tax planning, consulting and litigation. Keith also served as General Counsel of the Illinois Department of Revenue. Keith is an attorney licensed in Illinois. Keith is a member of American, Illinois and Chicago Bar associations, and is a professional affiliate member of the Illinois CPA Society. He is a member of the State and Local Tax Committees of each organization and was formerly Chair of the CPA Society State and Local Tax Committee. Keith is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Civic Federation of Chicago.

Damon N. Chronis is a Principal with Ryan, LLC in Dallas, Texas and is the U.S. Transaction Tax Practice Leader. As Practice Leader, Mr. Chronis manages all aspects of the Firm’s largest practice, comprising of almost 400 professionals. Mr. Chronis specializes in representing and advocating for Fortune 1000 clients in transportation, defense, manufacturing, and technology industries. He represents all major U.S. domestic carriers for state and local tax and/or motor fuels excise tax, with over 14 years’ experience in tax consulting. Mr. Chronis lectures on various tax topics for Ryan clients and for Ryan’s Professional Development Program. Additionally, he has appeared as a speaker for the International Air Transport Association. In 2012, he was a recipient of the Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty Award”, and Collin County Business Press’ “40 Under 40 Award. Mr. Chronis earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, Accounting, at the University of New Mexico.

Emily Cummins (MBA, CPA, CPCU) is Director of Tax and Risk Management for the National Rifle Association and its affiliates. Her authority and responsibilities with the NRA involve risk and insurance programs, 501(c) fundraising, financial statement audits, and other top level tasks related to transparency and accountability of the organizations. Prior to her seven years in-house with the National Rifle Association, Emily Cummins worked for Wachovia (Wells Fargo) and Ernst & Young LLP.

Axel Motte has joined Deloitte Luxembourg 13 years ago as tax advisor and has specialized since then in international tax matters for a wide variety of clients, with a specific focus on US market. For the last 3 years (and up to July 2013), Axel has been leading Deloitte Luxembourg tax desk in New York where he joined Deloitte’s International Core of Excellence team, a US-based team of foreign experienced international tax practitioners from key jurisdictions.

As a Tax Partner of Deloitte Luxembourg, Axel will continue to advise US multinationals on centralizing holding, financing or licensing activities in Luxembourg. Axel holds a Master’s degree in law from the University of Lille (France) and an advanced Masters in tax management from ESC Lille.