Formerly with Vedder Price, Dorner focuses his practice on tax controversy matters, advising companies on federal and state tax audits, appeals, administrative hearings, and disputes before the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal and in circuit court. In addition, he has significant experience representing businesses and individuals on a wide array of federal, state and local tax issues, including corporate and individual income, franchise, federal excise, sales, use, and real property taxes, as well as False Claims Act cases and employee misclassification audits. He also has significant experience handling tax appeals before the City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings, state tax agencies outside of Illinois and the Internal Revenue Service.

“Reed Smith is known for its first-in-class State Tax practice, and the opportunity to be part of that and help further build the firm’s Illinois capabilities was a huge draw for me,” said Dorner. “The State Tax practice has a unique and proactive approach to assisting clients, and is well-known within the state and local tax community for identifying issues on the forefront and getting out ahead of the curve. The combination of my tax controversy work and my working knowledge of the Illinois Department of Revenue will provide clients in the state who have complex tax issues with a full range of services.” 

Dorner earned his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School and a B.S. from the University of Illinois.

“David brings additional depth to our State Tax practice in Chicago, allowing us to better serve corporations at a time when state tax issues are becoming increasingly more complex,” said Michael A. LoVallo, Chicago Office Managing Partner. “His previous experience with the state’s Tax Tribunal makes him an invaluable asset – we’re delighted that he has joined the firm.”

Reed Smith’s State Tax practice advises clients on all domestic state and local taxes at all stages of the tax lifecycle, not only providing the highest-quality defense in litigation and appeal matters, but also proactively guiding clients to optimize their tax positions. Located across eight U.S. offices, Reed Smith’s State Tax lawyers have varied backgrounds that generate diverse perspectives that allow them to understand more about clients and their needs, and not solely the laws impacting them. Lawyers in Reed Smith’s State Tax practice work collaboratively with attorneys across the firm, which allows them to leverage the firm’s various national and global practices as needed. Through a unique tax intelligence system implemented by the team, attorneys at Reed Smith are alerted to tax issues in states before the issues become generally known to the tax community. 

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers in 27 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute-resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, entertainment and media, shipping and transport, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and education

U.S.: Century City, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Richmond, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Tysons, Washington, D.C., Wilmington

Europe: Athens, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Paris

Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia: Beijing, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Shanghai, Singapore