John George works with closely-held businesses and their owners in navigating the various aspects of the business lifecycle, from start-up and capitalization, through operational and growth issues, to developing the desired exit strategy. In this capacity, John George regularly counsels clients on a wide range of topics, including entity formation and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings, corporate governance, regulatory and compliance matters, employee compensation and benefits, income tax planning and tax incentives, and business succession and estate planning.
John George has developed a particular focus in working on complex transactions and dealing with regulated industries, professional services firms, and franchised businesses. In addition, he has experience working within specialized areas such as private equity, captive insurance, federal government contracting programs, 501(c)(3) and other nonprofit organizations, and CARES Act programs and compliance.
Prior to attending law school, John George studied accounting at the University of Mississippi and sat for the CPA exam. While at New York University, he served as a graduate editor of the Tax Law Review, an honor afforded to select students in the school's Graduate Tax Program. This background enables him to better understand and work with clients and their team of accounting, financial and other professional advisors.
Experience >
- Designed and implemented major corporate restructuring plan for multi-state business looking to maximize tax efficiencies and growth potential
- Worked with clients concerning the regulatory and tax issues involved in winding-up and liquidating captive insurance companies
- Counseled business clients on various CARES Act incentives, including PPP Loans, EIDL and Employee Retention Credits (ERCs)
- Assisted qualifying entrepreneurs in applying for the SBA 8(a) Business Development, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) programs
- Developed strategies and structures for tax clients designed to mitigate the application of the basis limitation, at-risk, and passive activity loss rules in connection with large annual depreciation deductions
- Counseled numerous clients in the negotiation, due diligence, closing and post-closing phases of the sale and purchase of a business
- Secured state and local tax incentives for area manufacturing company
- Negotiated and closed large debt facilities to finance clients' new and ongoing capital projects
- Advised nonprofit boards on internal governance matters and related-party transactions
- Prepared various forms of employee retention and incentive plans, including Section 409A-compliant deferred compensation plans, equity options and restricted stock plans, phantom equity awards, and bonus compensation plans
Memberships and Affiliations >
- Alabama State Bar, Sections of Business Law and Taxation
- American Bar Association, Sections of Taxation, Business Law and Mergers & Acquisitions
- Montgomery County Bar Association
Education >
- LL.M. in Taxation, New York University, 2018
- J.D., summa cum laude, University of Mississippi, 2017
- B.S. in Economics, cum laude, Auburn University, 2009
Accolades >
- Included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for:
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
- Graduate Editor, Tax Law Review
- Leon G. Kozak Scholar in Tax Law (NYU)
- Executive Board, Mississippi Law Journal
- Moot Court Board, University of Mississippi School of Law
- Phi Kappa Phi
Presentations and Publications >
- This SOX: Combating Public Charity Fraud with Sarbanes-Oxley, 85 Miss. L.J. 1395 (2017).
Related Practices
- Corporate and Securities
- Tax
- Estate and Business Succession
- Federal and State Tax Controversy
- Corporate Transparency Act
Bar Admissions
- Supreme Court of Alabama
- United States District Court, Middle & Southern Districts of Alabama
- United States Tax Court
Licensed In
- Alabama
- New York