Jon R. Stefanik

• Focuses practice on general business and corporate matters, including related tax planning and consulting
• Tax practice experience includes analysis of a wide range of tax issues, including issues related to LLC and partnership taxation, estate and gift taxation, corporate taxation and state and local taxation
• Business practice experience includes assistance with entity formations, start-up ventures, software licensing arrangements, contract drafting and buy and sell-side mergers & acquisitions representation

• Represented early stage software client in receiving multi-million dollar Series A and Series B preferred equity investments.
• Represented start-up company in multi million dollar convertible debt bridge financing round.
• Regularly advise wealth management client in multi-million dollar strategic asset acquisitions.
• Regularly advise public accounting firm client in multi-million dollar strategic asset acquisitions.
• Regularly advise national disaster restoration business client in roll-up acquisitions throughout the US.
• Represented client in tax-free split up of professional services corporation into two separate corporations to facilitate a split of conflicting shareholder groups.
• Represented client in acquisition of software company competitor via asset purchase.
• Regularly represent clients in the sale of their businesses to strategic and financial purchasers.
• Regularly advise national real estate group in structuring capital stack and distribution waterfall for each LLC formed to acquire property.
• Represented family office client in the acquisition of a controlling interest in a global restaurant concept.
• Represented S corporation client in contribution of appreciated assets to a newly-formed LLC co-owned by an institutional investor, with a simultaneous partially liquidating distribution to S corporation. Structured as a part-sale/part-contribution resulting in significant tax deferral.
• Restructured an S corporation client prior to sale so that unwanted assets could be distributed tax-free and buyer could purchase stock while receiving asset sale treatment for tax purposes.
• Represented a management group in the sale of their investment in a private LLC on a favorable tax basis while reinvesting in the successor company on a tax-free basis.
• Regularly advise clients in the negotiation of various commercial contracts, including Distribution Agreements, License Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, and Joint Development Agreements.

• The University of Akron School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2007)
  • Co-Valedictorian
• The University of Akron (MTax, 2007)
• The University of Akron (B.S., summa cum laude, 2004)

Admissions

• Ohio
• U.S. Tax Court

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® (2017-2025)
• Dr. Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Akron College of Business (2023)
• Named Best Lawyers in America^® ‘Lawyer of the Year’ (2019 & 2021)
• Recipient: 30 for the Future Award by the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce (2011)
• Selected for inclusion in Ohio’s Super Lawyers® (2022-2024), as voted by his peers
• Selected for inclusion in Ohio’s Super Lawyers® - Rising Stars™ (2011-2013, 2016-2017), as voted by his peers
• Recipient: University of Akron Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award (2015)
• Recipient: Ernest Karam Award for Academic Excellence
• Recipient: Beta Gamma Sigma Outstanding Graduate Student Award

• American Red Cross, Greater Akron and Mahoning Valley Chapter, Board Member
• Akron Tax Club, Board Member
• Leadership Akron, Class XXVII

• ACCESS Inc., Board Member
• Torchbearers, Board Member
• Akron Bar Association, University of Akron Liaison Committee, Chair
• Akron Roundtable, Board Member and Past President
• Project Learn of Summit County, Board Member
• Akron Tax Club, Past President

Associations

• Akron Bar Association
• American Bar Association
  • Taxation and Business Law Sections
• Ohio State Bar Association
  • Taxation Committee

Presentations:

• "Liability Sharing and Disguised Sales: The Proposed Regulations," University of Akron National Tax Conference (2014)
• "Partnership Allocations,” University of Akron National Tax Conference (2012)
• "Recourse and Nonrecourse Liability in Partnership Agreements,” Stafford Legal Webinars (2012)
• “Federal Income Tax Developments,” Akron Tax Club (2011)
• "Choice of Entity and Federal Taxation Issues," Akron Global Business Accelerator (2010)
• "Taxation of Carried and Profits Interests," University of Akron National Tax Conference (2010)
• “Transaction Structuring: Avoiding Potential Pitfalls," Akron Tax Club (2010)
• “Selected Issues in Private Equity Acquisitions: A Case Study,” Akron Tax Club (2008)

• "Don't Forget the Buy/Sell Agreement," Crain's Cleveland Business Blog (2015)
• "Allocating Recourse and Nonrecourse Liabilities under Subchapter K,” Journal of Taxation and Regulation of Financial Institutions (2013)
• “Fisher and Price: The End of Annual Exclusion Gifts of FLP Interests, or Mere Child’s Play?,” Taxes- The Tax Magazine® (2011)
• “Joint Committee Refund Review: Twelve Questions to Consider,” Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure (2008)
• “Crew 4 You, Inc. v. Wilkins: The Ohio Supreme Court Misapplies Statute and Precedent to Eliminate the Resale Exception to Sales of Employment Services,” Akron Tax Journal (2007)