Taylor Porter tax and estate planning practice leader John McDermott served as a panelist on "Private Clients and Estate Planning" for the 2020 MSI Virtual International Conference. The digital conference ran from Oct. 20-22 with the central theme of "Preparing for an Uncertain Future." A record number of 900 delegates from over 60 countries heard how to do business, look after their people and practices, and prepare for the future in an uncertain world.

The "Private Clients and Estate Planning" webinar discussed issues such as: review of estate planning documents and beneficiary designations; impacts of down markets and low interest rates; and planning for individuals and corporations. McDermott was joined on the panel by both Gideon Rothschild, co-chair of Moses & Singer's private client group, and Debi Tobin, CPA with Sarvas, Coleman, Edgell & Tobin, in Phoenix, Arizona. 

McDermott has more than 35 years of experience in his primary practice area of taxation, including business and individual income tax, payroll tax, franchise tax, excise tax, ad valorem tax, sales and use tax, and gift and estate tax. McDermott has assisted tax-exempt organizations in making application for, obtaining, and maintaining status under IRC section 501(c). He is experienced in representing non-profit, tax exempt and charitable entities from initial consultation through organization and obtaining tax status determination letters to dissolution and liquidation. He has represented individuals, business entities, trusts, and estates with controversies before the IRS examinations and appeals, US District Court, US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Louisiana Department of Revenue, the Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals, and parish and municipal taxing authorities. He has made applications to the Taxpayer Advocate and has assisted clients in collections, in dealing with tax levies, and in the preparation and presentation of offers-in-compromise, innocent spouse relief, and installment payment arrangements. He has also applied for and obtained private letter rulings. McDermott is ranked among Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America® in Tax Law.

Taylor Porter is the exclusive Louisiana law firm member for MSI Global Alliance, a Top 20 ranked, leading, international association of independent professional firms. Membership of MSI enables Taylor Porter to quickly source reliable, local expertise wherever in the world clients are involved in doing business. MSI Global Alliance was formed in 1990 in response to the growing need for cross-border cooperation between independent, professional services firms. MSI has steadily grown to become a leading, international association with over 250 independent member firms in more than 100 countries throughout the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa regions.