Construction projects often involve large amounts of money changing hands among a large number of people, creating a situation that is ripe for mistakes and even fraud. In response, the government has developed investigative techniques specifically for uncovering tax non-compliance in the construction industry.
This panel reviews how the government approaches audits and investigations in the construction industry and offers practical tips for representing taxpayers who are faced with having to explain where their money came from and where it went.
Identify common issues relating to construction industry audits and investigations, and how to best respond to them and prevent problems.
Kostelanetz LLP
Attorney
cferguson@kflaw.com
(212) 808-8100
Since joining Kostelanetz, LLP in 2003, Christopher M. Ferguson has concentrated his practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, civil and criminal tax litigation, and other white-collar criminal and regulatory enforcement matters. He represents clients in both federal and state courts, as well as before governmental agencies and other regulatory bodies, including the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the New York Stock Exchange.
Marcum LLP
Office Managing Partner
philip.wilson@marcumllp.com
(949) 236-5650
Philip J. Wilson is Managing Partner of the Costa Mesa office of Marcum LLP, one of the largest independent public accounting and advisory services firms in the nation, with offices in major business markets throughout the U.S., as well as Grand Cayman, China, and Ireland. He is the National Practice Leader of the Firm’s Tax Controversy Group. Mr. Wilson has over 30 years of CPA and Business Advisory expertise, including experience as a former IRS Revenue Agent. Mr. Wilson helps individuals and companies resolve tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service by developing and implementing a resolution strategy. His unique background and experience allow him to represent all levels of corporations and high-net-worth individuals confidently. Before joining Marcum LLP, Mr. Wilson was a founding partner of WilsonMorgan LLP, based in Irvine. He oversaw all of the firm’s tax compliance, tax consulting, and tax controversy engagements. He has substantial experience in the real estate area, including tax structuring for commercial and residential developers and working with clients in a wide variety of industries. Mr. Wilson obtained his master’s degree in business taxation from Golden Gate University and his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting concentration from Western Carolina University.
Baker Tilly
Senior Manager, National Forensic, Litigation and Valuation Services
thomas.bishop@bakertilly.com
(212) 792-4854
Thomas Bishop is a senior manager in Baker Tilly’s Tax Advocacy & Controversy group. He joined the firm in 2017 and brings over 25 years of experience to the practice. Tom provides litigation and investigative support to municipalities, internal and external counsel, senior management and boards of directors.
Tom joined Baker Tilly following over two decades with the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division where he provided executive-level leadership to their largest field office. He directed numerous, high profile, sensitive and complex criminal investigations involving voluntary disclosures, offshore banking related crimes, tax evasion, money laundering, Ponzi schemes and anti-trust related financial crimes. Most recently, Tom served as Director of International Field Operations overseeing global investigations.
IRS
Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office
Jonathan Larsen is the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) as of January 2019. Mr. Larsen provides executive leadership in planning, directing and evaluating activities of criminal investigation employees in the state of New York and oversees IRS criminal investigative programs, which include tax enforcement, money laundering investigations, narcotics and terrorism, and the Bank Secrecy Act.
United States Attorney’s Office
Assistant United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York
burton.ryan@usdoj.gov
BURTON T. RYAN, JR, Senior Investigative Counsel for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, received a Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law (1975) and a B.S. in Economics from Manhattan College (1971). Mr. Ryan has been a prosecutor on the local, state and federal level for over thirty years and an adjunct professor at St. John’s University Law School. Students he has instructed have won regional and national trial competitions, including the ABA‘s White Collar Crime Trial competition.
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