Shannon Retzke Smith > Withers Bergman LLP > New Haven, United States > Lawyer Profile

Shannon Retzke Smith

Work Department

Tax Controversy and Compliance

Position

Partner

Career

Shannon focuses her practice on sensitive tax matters, which often involve negotiations with government agencies. Shannon represents clients in a broad range of tax, trust, estate, and business planning issues. Her work involves planning for high net worth US and international families, with particular emphasis on planning for closely-held businesses. Shannon’s planning work for clients involves a range of matters, from creating tax-efficient wealth transfer structures to addressing income tax issues arising from investments and operating businesses. She has advised prominent politicians, business people, and well-known athletes. She is known globally as one of the go-to attorneys for individuals with US tax or reporting issues and has represented clients from over 20 countries in the last year.

She is a highly regarded tax controversy attorney who assists clients in resolving high-stakes, complex tax controversies. She regularly represents high net worth individuals, corporations, and partnerships facing federal or state tax liability. Shannon develops strategic responses and solutions to resolve a client’s matter privately at the earliest possible point while securing the best possible result.

In addition to the traditional tax controversies, such as representing clients in an audit, she has extensive experience in advising clients on issues regarding foreign bank account reporting (FBAR) obligations, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and the Internal Revenue Service’s 2009 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative, 2012 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, 2014 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, Streamlined Filing Procedure and other means of resolving US income and reporting deficiencies. Shannon has represented hundreds of U.S. taxpayers with undisclosed foreign bank accounts.

Memberships

Connecticut Department of Revenue Services

Zoe’s Best Friend Foundation

Cornell University Alumni Admission Ambassador Network

Connecticut Bar Association

American Bar Association

New York Bar Association

Education

Cornell University, Dean’s List, B.S.

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Certificate in Business and Public Policy

University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D.