Summary

Rick focuses his attention on analyzing the tax consequences of complex business transactions, including corporate mergers and acquisitions, partnership transactions, trusts, and public and private debt and equity offerings. Rick has special expertise in the tax aspects of LLCs, partnerships, REITs, private investment funds, employee benefits, and executive compensation. He also advises clients regarding tax and non-tax business structuring issues arising in the course of operations and in connection with transactions.

Rick has structured complex business and commercial transactions, with respect to both tax and corporate issues, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, private equity investments, real estate syndications, gaming-industry transactions, and other private and public offerings. He also has designed complex executive compensation award arrangements and succession plans.

Rick received his B.A. from Wesleyan University and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his J.D., with high honors, from the University of Chicago Law School where he was a member of the University of Chicago Law Review and Order of the Coif.  He also has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Tax Law since 2018.

Awards

All Service Areas

Education

  • University of Chicago Law School (1992)
  • Wesleyan University, B.A. (1989)

Admissions

  • Federal - Northern District of Illinois
  • Federal - U.S. Tax Court
  • State - Illinois

Speeches and Publications

Co-author, “Employee Treatment of Owners in a Limited Liability Company,” Taft Law Bulletin, June 2, 2021

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association

    Member, Section of Taxation

  • Chicago Bar Association

    Member