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New York (November 5, 2020) — Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP, is pleased to announce that Lawrence (Larry) Sannicandro has joined the firm as a partner. Mr. Sannicandro has spent more than a decade advising clients on tax law and joins K&F from McCarter & English, LLP.
At K&F, Mr. Sannicandro will focus his practice on federal and state tax controversies, including representation in audits, administrative appeals, collection matters, summons proceedings, criminal tax investigations and prosecutions, and litigation in the U.S. Tax Court, federal district and appellate courts, and state tax tribunals. Mr. Sannicandro has extensive experience providing tax-related advice with respect to original tax return reporting positions on a broad range of substantive tax issues, amending tax returns, filing and litigating claims for refund, challenging civil tax penalties, reporting foreign assets and income, and making voluntary disclosures.
Utilizing his experience as a former estate and gift tax attorney at the Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Sannicandro is particularly well-versed in estate and gift tax planning techniques, as well as the valuation of closely held businesses. This experience allows him to defend planning techniques and a range of valuation-related issues in tax disputes. He also counsels clients on all facets of business and tax planning, including the formation, operation, transfer, and termination of business entities.
“Larry’s wealth of experience in handling tax controversies and his passion for providing clients with the best representation possible make him a welcome addition to our skilled team of attorneys,” said partner Bryan Skarlatos. “We’re grateful for our firm’s ability to expand and grow during these challenging times, and, with this addition, we look forward to continuing to build upon our global reputation as the law firm of choice for clients facing high-stakes controversies and negotiations with government agencies.”
“Kostelanetz is the gold standard in tax controversy. This is a tremendous opportunity for me to partner with some of the best tax litigators in the country,” said Mr. Sannicandro. “I am excited to bring my unique skillset to resolve the most sophisticated and complex tax controversies for our clients.”
Mr. Sannicandro is an active member of the tax bar, serving as the Chair of the Tax Collection, Bankruptcy and Workouts Committee of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Taxation. He teaches a course in tax practice and procedure as an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and he has taught classes on corporate tax, partnership tax, and legal ethics as an adjunct professor at Pace University and a lecturer at Georgetown University Law Center and Rutgers Law School. He also authored the Tax Management portfolio on Innocent Spouse Relief.
As a firm, Kostelanetz & Fink is dedicated to helping the underserved through pro bono legal work, and Mr. Sannicandro is no exception. He works with the After Innocence organization to provide tax-related advice to wrongfully convicted individuals. For his work in co-designing and co-implementing an entirely new form of low-income taxpayer assistance, the ABA Section of Taxation awarded Mr. Sannicandro the 2020 Janet Spragens Pro Bono award, the Section of Taxation’s highest award for pro bono.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Sannicandro served as a law clerk for the U.S. Tax Court. He earned his LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center, his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and his M.B.A. in Finance from Binghamton University.
Over the past 75 years, Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP, has built a global reputation as the law firm of choice for clients facing high-stakes controversies and negotiations with government agencies. K&F attorneys have unparalleled experience in tax controversies and white-collar criminal defense and are regularly called upon to handle the most challenging and sensitive cases and internal investigations. An important part of the firm’s practice includes tax and estate planning, commercial litigation, government procurement, and government contracting.
