Program
Program is preliminary and subject to change
Conference Co-Chairs
John Apadula, Comcast Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Debbie Martino, Graham Partners, Newtown Square, PA
Day 1 – Tuesday, November 11
8:00 a.m. – 8:25 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:25 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Conference Co-Chair: Debbie Martino, Graham Partners, Newtown Square, PA
8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Session 1 – Partnership Tax: The Latest from Washington
Panelists:
Jennifer L. Sabin, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, NY
Eric B. Sloan, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, NY
9:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Networking Break
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Session 2 – Corporate Tax Update
This panel will cover recent corporate tax developments, including published guidance as well as planning considerations. The topics may include, but are not limited to:
- IRS/Treasury guidance update
- Spinoffs
- Corporate alternative minimum tax and stock buyback excise tax update
- Section 1202 planning
- Selected provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Perspectives on section 269, economic substance, and Granite Trust transactions
Chair: Scott Robins, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, Philadelphia, PA
Panelists:
Greg Fairbanks, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, Washington DC
Lisa Fuller, Acting Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate), IRS, Washington DC (invited)
Eric Solomon, Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Washington, DC
Christina Tacoronti, EY, Richmond, VA
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Session 3 – State & Local Tax – Coast to Coast Update
This presentation will include a review of recent legislative trends and major administrative and case law developments around the country, with speakers covering Western states, Midwest and East coast. Topics are subject to change but are likely to include:
- Sales and use tax issues;
- State taxation of digital products;
- Statutory and regulatory changes affecting apportionment of business income;
- Combined reporting developments; and
- Business tax issues in Pennsylvania.
Chair: Christopher A. Jones, Ballard Spahr LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Panelists:
Aaron Johnson, Ballard Spahr LLP, Seattle WA
Jennifer Karpchuk, Holland & Knight LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Masha Yevzelman, Fredrikson, Minneapolis, MN
12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Luncheon with Keynote Speaker
Kenneth Kies, Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy), U.S. Department of the Treasury (invited)
2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Session 4 – International Tax Update
This panel will cover recent international tax developments, including the impact of OBBBA, Treasury and IRS regulatory developments and other guidance, and planning considerations.
Chair: Stephen Olsen, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Villanova, PA
Panelists:
Layla Asali, Miller & Chevalier, Washington, DC
John Bates, Deloitte, Washington, DC
Tracy Villecco, Associate Chief Counsel (International), IRS, Washington, DC (invited)
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Networking Break
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Session 5 – Employment Tax
This presentation will cover many payroll tax issues, ranging from current compliance, through audit exposures and refund claims, including:
- Updates in major IRS audit initiatives, including Company aircraft, cafeterias, and FICA taxation of CFC employees,
- Increasing popularity of “security studies” for top executives
- Surge in State Unemployment and payroll tax audits
- IRS changes in Section 530 Moratorium protections from worker reclassifications
- Planning for upcoming tax changes, including:
- Adding the “ARPA 5” additional employees covered under 162(m) in 2027
- Dealing with company cafeteria deduction disallowances in 2026
- 2025-28 tax deductions for overtime compensation, and resulting complications for employers and employees
- The OBBBA’s increase in 1099 information reporting thresholds
Chair: Martin A. Goldman, Tax Dad Consulting LLC, Bala Cynwyd, PA
Panelist:
Mary Hevener, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, New York, NY
Day 2 – Wednesday, November 12
8:00 a.m. – 8:25 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:25 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Conference Co-Chair: John Apadula, Comcast Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Session 6 – What’s Keeping Tax Directors Up at Night? Key Issues and Concerns
A panel of corporate tax leaders talk about their priority issues, such as: recent US tax legislation (and the prospect for future bills), pending international proposals under Pillar One and Pillar Two, compliance priorities, talent retention, and more. Get insights into how your clients are thinking about tax matters and how you can better serve their needs.
Chair: Jennifer Karpchuk, Holland & Knight LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Panelists:
Bonnie Baskin, Airgas, Radnor, PA
Todd Davis, Warner Brothers Discovery, New York, NY
Corinne Good, Berwind Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Tim Wilkinson, Carpenter Technology, Philadelphia, PA
9:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Networking Break
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Session 7 – Tax Policy
This presentation will present a discussion of recent trends and focus points for tax policymakers at the federal and state levels. Topics are subject to change based on evolution of events impacting the nation but may include:
- Key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- IRS hot topics
- Tax policy and controversy considerations for businesses and individuals
Chair: Melissa Schaffer, RSM US LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Panelists:
Alex Brosseau, Deloitte Tax LLP, Washington, DC
J. Anthony Coughlan, RSM US LLP, Washington, DC
Loren Ponds, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates, Washington, DC
Alina Solodchikova, RSM US LLP, Washington, DC
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Session 8 – Tariffs
This panel will provide updates on Trump’s 2025 tariffs, starting with the basics and the methodologies from which US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determines an importer’s declaration values and how, within the importer’s transfer pricing environment, such declaration values may not necessarily align with transfer pricing requirements under the Internal Revenue Code. The panel will end with CBP valuation mitigation strategies related to first sale for export principles, as well as cost unbundling.
Chair: Thomas J. Iannozzi, KPMG LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Panelists:
John McLoughlin, KPMG LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Roderick “Rick” Lawlor, KPMG LLP, Philadelphia, PA
12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Session 9 – Tax Accounting Methods
One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Method & Election Planning Considerations:
- Sec. 174A – Domestic R&E
- Sec. 163(j) Limit – EBITDA
- Sec. 163(j) Scope – Sec. 266
- GILTI
- FDII
- BEAT
One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Credits & Incentives Updates to Green Energy Tax Credits:
- Changes to the clean energy credits
- An overview of the prohibited foreign entity rules
- State and local implications
Chair: Ross Reiter, Deloitte Tax LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Panelists:
Ellen Martin, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, Washington, DC
Marisa Slabbert, RSM US LLP, Philadelphia, PA
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Session 10 – Ethics: Circular 230: Proposed Revisions
Chair: Komal Date, Kreischer Miller, Horsham, PA
In Circular 230 (31 C.F.R. Part 10) Treasury has promulgated special rules governing the conduct of authorized practitioners before the IRS. In the wake of several developments in the past 15 years, Treasury has proposed a substantial overhaul of the rules in Circular 230. This panel will review the recent developments and discuss a number of the most significant proposed changes. And although Circular 230 contains minimal discussion of handling privileged or confidential client information, that obligation often arises in tax matters and practice before the IRS. The panel will also discuss some developments in the law of attorney-client privilege in various situations.
Panelists:
Ian Comisky, Fox Rothschild LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Christopher Rizek, Holland & Knight LLP, Washington, DC
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