Michael Shaff advises clients on the full spectrum of federal income taxation, bringing more than four decades of experience to complex corporate, securities, and finance-related matters. His work spans tax planning, structuring, and compliance, with a focus on helping businesses and investment entities navigate evolving regulatory landscapes.
A certified tax law specialist, Michael’s practice includes structuring debt and equity offerings, advising on REIT formation and compliance, federal corporate and partnership taxation, taxation of compensation, state and local taxation, and resolving IRS controversies. He has served as trial counsel for the IRS and represented public companies, financial institutions, and real estate investment trusts on federal, state, and local tax matters.
Michael is the co-author of the annually published Real Estate Investment Trusts Handbook (Thomson Reuters/West) and was a contributing author to Accessing Capital Markets Through Securitization. He is a past Chair of the Tax Section of the Orange County Bar Association.
“As Judge Learned Hand stated in Helvering v. Gregory, ‘anyone may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes.”
Michael Shaff advises clients on the full spectrum of federal income taxation, bringing more than four decades of experience to complex corporate, securities, and finance-related matters. His work spans tax planning, structuring, and compliance, with a focus on helping businesses and investment entities navigate evolving regulatory landscapes.
A certified tax law specialist, Michael’s practice includes structuring debt and equity offerings, advising on REIT formation and compliance, federal corporate and partnership taxation, taxation of compensation, state and local taxation, and resolving IRS controversies. He has served as trial counsel for the IRS and represented public companies, financial institutions, and real estate investment trusts on federal, state, and local tax matters.
Michael is the co-author of the annually published Real Estate Investment Trusts Handbook (Thomson Reuters/West) and was a contributing author to Accessing Capital Markets Through Securitization. He is a past Chair of the Tax Section of the Orange County Bar Association.
Financial Services
Corporate & Securities
Real Estate
Tax
“As Judge Learned Hand stated in Helvering v. Gregory, ‘anyone may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes.”