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Michael J. Wynne

Wynne,MJ_web image

Partner

Chicago

T:
+1 312 207 3894 (Chicago)
F:
+1 312 207 6400 (Chicago)
E:
mwynne@reedsmith.com
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Michael joined Reed Smith's Chicago office in 2007 as a member of the State Tax Group.  His experience involves state and local taxation, litigating tax issues, and significant tax planning, legislative and regulatory tax work.  Prior to joining Reed Smith, Michael was a partner in the Chicago office of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, where he was the head of the firm's State and Local Tax Practice Group.

Michael has also served as General Counsel to the Illinois Department of Revenue, where he led the Department's regulatory, legislative support and adjudicative functions and staff.  Also included in his  extensive governmental experience is his earlier role as Acting Chief in the Revenue Litigation Division, Office of the Attorney General, where he served as and supervised trial and appellate counsel for the state in all tax and revenue-related matters.

Michael has served on the Advisory Committees for the Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois, the Tax Committee of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, and the State and Local Tax Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association, and he is a former Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's State and Local Tax Committee.  He is also a frequent national speaker and author on tax policy matters.

Representative Matters

  • Constitutional challenge to the Illinois Telecommunications Excise Tax Act

  • Challenge to Illinois sales tax exemption application denial determination

  • Challenge to Illinois property tax exemption denial determination

  • Constitutional challenge to the Illinois discriminatory alcoholic beverage tax provisions

  • Constitutional challenge to the Illinois income tax residency provisions for trusts

  • View all...

Speeches / Presentations

  • Taxpayer's Federation of Illinois 8th Tax Policy Conference: "Modern Nexus Developments Across the Tax Types," (2007)
  • Chicago Bar Association Seminar: How to Contest A Tax Assessment: "The Protest Act and Other Non-Administrative Remedies," (2007)
  • Illinois State Chamber of Commerce Tax & Economic Development Conference, "State Tax Incentives: Litigation and Related Developments," (2005)
  • Taxpayer's Federation of Illinois 6th Annual Tax Policy Conference: "Update on Illinois Amnesty and Tax Shelter Disclosure," and "Streamlined Sales Tax and the Potential Impact on Illinois," (2005)
  • Chicago Bar Association, State and Local Tax Committee, "Protest Monies Act Litigation Update," (2005)

Experience

2007 Reed Smith
2004 Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, Partner
1997 Deloitte & Touche LLP, Partner in Charge, Midwest State and Local Tax Services
1994 Baker & McKenzie, Partner
1991 Illinois Department of Revenue, General Counsel
1989 Price Waterhouse LLP, Consultant, State Tax Policy Group
1984 Illinois Attorney General's Office, Acting Chief, Revenue Litigation Division

Legal Education

1984 J.D., The John Marshall Law School

Undergraduate Education

1981 B.S., Southern Illinois University, Finance

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

  • Illinois

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Seventh Circuit
  • State Supreme Court - Illinois
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois

Professional Affiliations

  • Taxpayers Federation of Illinois
  • Illinois State Chamber of Commerce
  • Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
  • American Bar Association; Tax Section, Litigation Section
  • Chicago Bar Association, State and Local Tax Committee

Representative Clients

  • Coca-Cola Enterprises
  • Country Mutual Insurance Company
  • Exelon
  • General Electric
  • General Motors
  • Hunt ELP, Inc.
  • International Paper Company
  • Robert Bosch (USA)
  • Triarc