Industries
Education
Northwestern University School of Law, LL.M. in Taxation, with honors, 2010
University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2007
Northwestern University, B.A., 1999
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Christie Galinski is a tax attorney with more than 16 years of sophisticated transactional experience in federal, state, and international tax issues. She knows the importance of balancing good tax planning with practical business goals. Her specific experience includes everything from tax planning to tax diligence.
Christie is also experienced in tax controversy issues, such as preventing and responding to audits and penalties assessed by the IRS and state taxing authorities.
Representative Matters
- IRS Penalty Abatement: Successfully obtaining removal of IRS penalties and responding to IRS letters. Effectively navigating IRS audits, penalty abatements, closing agreements and private letter rulings.
- Tax Planning for Small and Large Businesses: Helping companies of all sizes with tax planning at every stage, from founding to dissolution. Advising on tax issues like selecting entity types, maintaining the preferred entity type, and tax efficient structuring of operations and transactions.
- Tax Planning for Partnerships, C-Corporations and S-Corporations: Tax planning for partner and shareholder contributions and distributions, as well as asset sales, stock sales and restructuring. Issues include equity compensation options for partners and qualified small business stock exclusions for corporate stock under Section 1202.
- Tax-Exempt Entities: Assisting tax-exempt entities in obtaining and maintaining their tax-exempt status and qualifying for grants and other financing, including tax due diligence and tax opinion letters.
- International Tax Issues and U.S. Tax Treaties: Advising on U.S. tax law and tax treaties for cross-border lending, sales, other inbound and outbound transactions, including withholding taxes and FATCA compliance.
- M&A: Advising on planning asset sales vs stock sales, performing tax due diligence and reviewing sale and purchase agreements, including hospitals, other 501(c)(3) organizations, banks and international companies.
- Litigation Matters: Assisting litigators on lawsuits that involve tax claims. Also, advising plaintiffs and defendants on tax treatment of settlements for lawsuits that may or may not involve tax matters.
- Tax Incentives: Advising and writing tax opinions regarding federal tax incentives, including low-income housing, Investment Tax Credits and other energy tax credits.
- State Taxes: Identifying employment and income tax risks for employees working remotely out of state or out-of-state workers commuting to work in the employer’s state.
- Financial Products: Providing tax advice and assisting with legal documentation for Real Estate Investment Trusts, Regulated Investment Companies, credit agreements, and private placements.
- Payroll Taxes: Advising employers on compliance with withholding for federal income tax, employment taxes and state income tax, including for international employees.
Professional Activities
Publications Chair for ABA International Tax Committee, International Law Section (Publications Chair)
Speeches
Panelist, "Tax and Employee Benefits Talk: Frequent Tax Issues Facing HR & Updates on SECURE 2.0," Miller Canfield 2024 HR Spring Training
Publications
Editor, International Tax chapter, “International Tax – International Legal Developments Year in Review: 2024,” American Bar Association International Law Section (This article highlights significant legal developments in 2023 regarding corporate transparency and reporting regimes that are relevant to companies in Austria, Brazil, China, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.)
Co-Editor, International Tax chapter, "Taxation of Remote Workers Worldwide - The Year In Review: International Legal Developments: 2022," American Bar Association International Law Section
"Flawed Analysis Supports Common Law Tax Deficiency Ruling" (co-authored with Loren Opper), Law360, July 11, 2023
"State Payroll Taxes Need Remote Work Reforms" (co-authored with Samuel Parks and Gregory Nowak), Law360, May 15, 2023
Co-Editor, International Tax chapter, "International Uncertainty on Taxation of Cryptocurrency - The Year In Review: International Legal Developments: 2021," American Bar Association International Law Section