James Wood | Estate Planning

Diefenderfer Hoover & Wood, LLP

James Wood | Diefenderfer Hoover & Wood, LLP

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Firm Summary

Mr. Wood is the Technical Tax Matters Partner for the Law Firm of Diefenderfer Hoover McKenna & Wood, LLP.. He joined the Partnership on December 1, 1990 after gaining valuable experience in the public accounting and private sector. His primary areas of concentration involve individual and corporate tax and business planning; entity selection and formation, business succession and construction for business owners and executives; estate, gift and transfer tax planning. In addition he frequently represents individuals and companies before the Internal Revenue Service in connection with examinations and appeals of audits, and in tax litigation before the United States Tax Court.

Professional Affiliations

• Allegheny County Bar Association
• Past Chair, Tax Section, Allegheny County Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Pittsburgh Tax Club
• Board of Directors, Chartiers Mental Health and Retardation Center, Inc.

Professional Experience

• 1990 – Diefenderfer Hoover McKenna & Wood, LLP, Partner
• 1986 – 1990 Arthur Young,  Principal
• 1983 – 1986 National Intergroup, Inc., Manager of Tax Planning and Research

Education

• 1977 – J.D., Dickinson School of Law
• 1974 – B.S in Commerce McIntyre School of Commerce University of Virginia

Bar Admision

• Pennsylvania
• U.S. Tax Court

Representative Matters

• Represented numerous families in developing and implementing an construction strategy to protect the surviving spouse and to maximize the after-death tax transfer of wealth to the succeeding generation.
• Assisted corporate clients in designing succession plans for the business seeking to protect the business while minimizing business disruption and estate and inheritance taxes.
• Represented buyers and sellers in various corporate acquisitions, sales and mergers.
• Represented executors and trustees in the administration and settlement of all sizes of estates and trusts.
• Obtained innocent spouse relief for spouse of an individual convicted of tax evasion. Developed reasonable installment plans for clients unable to pay their federal income taxes on a timely basis.
• Represented numerous clients before the audit and appeal division of the IRS achieving favorable settlements of tax assessments
• Assisted clients in the selection and formation of the type of entity best suited for their operations.

Other Affiliations

• Rotary Club of Pittsburgh- 1981-present, former officer and director
• UVA Club of Pittsburgh – Member of the Executive Committee and Past President
• PIAA Certified Track and Field Official