Murtha Means More
Marc T. Finer Murtha Cullina LLP Partner

Partner

Hartford
Email: mfiner@murthalaw.com
Phone: 860-240-6096
Fax: 860-240-5896

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Bar & Court Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • Connecticut
  • New York
  • New Jersey

Education

  • New York University School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation, 1998)
  • Hofstra University (J.D., 1994)
  • Binghamton University (B.S., 1991)

Marc T. Finer

Marc T. Finer, a partner, is an accomplished tax lawyer who chairs the firm’s Tax Practice Group and its Pro Bono Committee. 

Marc applies more than 25 years of experience in federal, multistate and business tax planning to deliver innovative solutions to closely held businesses, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate and investment entities, tax-exempt organizations, entrepreneurs, individuals and families. He regularly advises clients on:

•    Federal, state and local income, compliance and reporting tax issues
•    Business and asset acquisitions and sales
•    Joint ventures, mergers, reorganizations and divestitures
•    Real estate purchases and sales
•    Entity formations and liquidations
•    Insurance and financial products
•    Tax controversies

An integral part of Marc’s practice includes advising real estate professionals and investors on structuring tax-deferred exchanges under IRC Section 1031; minimizing the impact of net investment income taxes and real estate/controlling interest transfer taxes; identifying real estate dealer versus investor issues; and planning capital gains strategies. He regularly advocates for clients in U.S. Tax Court against the Internal Revenue Service and represents their positions before state and local taxing authorities.

As a natural extension of his tax practice, Marc assists business clients with general corporate and management matters that encompass business formation; governance; contract negotiations; and shareholder, partnership, employment, deferred compensation and buy-sell agreements. 

Marc, who joined Murtha in 2018, draws on his accounting and legal degrees, Big 4 accounting firm experience, and work in the diversified tax practices of leading law firms to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex tax and business issues facing his clients. Known for developing creative, common-sense solutions to difficult tax problems, he frequently speaks and authors articles on timely topics, and is a sought-after source for national media such as the Bloomberg Daily Tax Report. 

When not practicing tax law, Marc enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, watching sports, and spending time outdoors skiing, fishing and hiking. 

Representative Matters Include:

  • Advised client on the tax rules relating to partnership divisions, sales and redemptions of limited liability company membership interests to increase inside tax basis of building owned by limited liability company to eliminate $130 million gain from cancellation of indebtedness triggered by foreclosure.
  • Devised plan to effect tax-free split-up of $20 million real estate portfolio jointly held by two family members through a tax-free reogranization and split-up of corporate entity and merger of limited liability companies.
  • Advised client on strategy to defer recognition of capital gain on sale of $100 million building through an IRC Section 1031 like-kind exchange.
  • Restructured $50 million investment portfolio by creating tracking partnership to segregate family assets into different classes and provide for separate investments in the classes by various family members and trusts.
  • American Bar Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee
  • Connecticut Bar Foundation, James W. Cooper Life Fellow

Authored "IRS Proposed Regulations Take the Bite Out of State Workarounds of SALT Deduction Cap", Bloomberg BNA (September 2018)

Authored "Connecticut's 'Kill Quill' Bet Seems To Pay Off", Law 360 (July 2018)

Authored "Key federal income tax considerations for real estate owners", New England Real Estate Journal (June 2018)

Authored "IRS Refuses to Acquiesce to ‘Estate Of Bartell' Decision on Non-Safe Harbor Reverse Like-Kind Exchanges", Bloomberg BNA (January 2018)

Co-Authored "Understanding Connecticut's Income Tax On Stock Options", Law 360 (February 2017)

Authored "Tax Court Holds Benefits and Burdens Test Does Not Apply to Non-Safe Harbor Reverse Section 1031 Exchange", GlobeSt.com (September 2016)

Co-Authored "Recourse or Non-Recourse? The Limited Scope of Partnership Liability Regs", LexisNexis Tax Law Newsroom (March 2016)

Co-Authored "Tax Risks Challenge Small Captive Insurers", LexisNexis Tax Law Newsroom (March 2016)

Co-Authored "When Surrender Leads to Success" (Private placement life insurance offers high net worth clients many tax benefits but they have to give up control of the assets in the account), Investment Advisor Magazine (December 2015)

Co-Authored "Taxpayers Wynnes: A Recent US Supreme Court Decision May Provide Refund Opportunity for New York City Residents", LexisNexis Tax Law Newsroom (July 2015)

Co-Authored “Like-Kind Exchange Can Help Foreign Investors Reach Goals”, Estate Planning Journal (July 2014)

Overview

Marc T. Finer, a partner, is an accomplished tax lawyer who chairs the firm’s Tax Practice Group and its Pro Bono Committee. 

Marc applies more than 25 years of experience in federal, multistate and business tax planning to deliver innovative solutions to closely held businesses, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate and investment entities, tax-exempt organizations, entrepreneurs, individuals and families. He regularly advises clients on:

•    Federal, state and local income, compliance and reporting tax issues
•    Business and asset acquisitions and sales
•    Joint ventures, mergers, reorganizations and divestitures
•    Real estate purchases and sales
•    Entity formations and liquidations
•    Insurance and financial products
•    Tax controversies

An integral part of Marc’s practice includes advising real estate professionals and investors on structuring tax-deferred exchanges under IRC Section 1031; minimizing the impact of net investment income taxes and real estate/controlling interest transfer taxes; identifying real estate dealer versus investor issues; and planning capital gains strategies. He regularly advocates for clients in U.S. Tax Court against the Internal Revenue Service and represents their positions before state and local taxing authorities.

As a natural extension of his tax practice, Marc assists business clients with general corporate and management matters that encompass business formation; governance; contract negotiations; and shareholder, partnership, employment, deferred compensation and buy-sell agreements. 

Marc, who joined Murtha in 2018, draws on his accounting and legal degrees, Big 4 accounting firm experience, and work in the diversified tax practices of leading law firms to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex tax and business issues facing his clients. Known for developing creative, common-sense solutions to difficult tax problems, he frequently speaks and authors articles on timely topics, and is a sought-after source for national media such as the Bloomberg Daily Tax Report. 

When not practicing tax law, Marc enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, watching sports, and spending time outdoors skiing, fishing and hiking. 

Representative Matters Include:

  • Advised client on the tax rules relating to partnership divisions, sales and redemptions of limited liability company membership interests to increase inside tax basis of building owned by limited liability company to eliminate $130 million gain from cancellation of indebtedness triggered by foreclosure.
  • Devised plan to effect tax-free split-up of $20 million real estate portfolio jointly held by two family members through a tax-free reogranization and split-up of corporate entity and merger of limited liability companies.
  • Advised client on strategy to defer recognition of capital gain on sale of $100 million building through an IRC Section 1031 like-kind exchange.
  • Restructured $50 million investment portfolio by creating tracking partnership to segregate family assets into different classes and provide for separate investments in the classes by various family members and trusts.
Practices & Industries
Memberships
  • American Bar Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee
  • Connecticut Bar Foundation, James W. Cooper Life Fellow
Publications

Authored "IRS Proposed Regulations Take the Bite Out of State Workarounds of SALT Deduction Cap", Bloomberg BNA (September 2018)

Authored "Connecticut's 'Kill Quill' Bet Seems To Pay Off", Law 360 (July 2018)

Authored "Key federal income tax considerations for real estate owners", New England Real Estate Journal (June 2018)

Authored "IRS Refuses to Acquiesce to ‘Estate Of Bartell' Decision on Non-Safe Harbor Reverse Like-Kind Exchanges", Bloomberg BNA (January 2018)

Co-Authored "Understanding Connecticut's Income Tax On Stock Options", Law 360 (February 2017)

Authored "Tax Court Holds Benefits and Burdens Test Does Not Apply to Non-Safe Harbor Reverse Section 1031 Exchange", GlobeSt.com (September 2016)

Co-Authored "Recourse or Non-Recourse? The Limited Scope of Partnership Liability Regs", LexisNexis Tax Law Newsroom (March 2016)

Co-Authored "Tax Risks Challenge Small Captive Insurers", LexisNexis Tax Law Newsroom (March 2016)

Co-Authored "When Surrender Leads to Success" (Private placement life insurance offers high net worth clients many tax benefits but they have to give up control of the assets in the account), Investment Advisor Magazine (December 2015)

Co-Authored "Taxpayers Wynnes: A Recent US Supreme Court Decision May Provide Refund Opportunity for New York City Residents", LexisNexis Tax Law Newsroom (July 2015)

Co-Authored “Like-Kind Exchange Can Help Foreign Investors Reach Goals”, Estate Planning Journal (July 2014)

Press Releases
Seminars & Events
Newsletters & Alerts
Articles
Speaking Engagements
Bar & Court Admissions
  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • Connecticut
  • New York
  • New Jersey
Education
  • New York University School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation, 1998)
  • Hofstra University (J.D., 1994)
  • Binghamton University (B.S., 1991)
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