Maxwell A. Shapiro

My Approach

Failure gets a bad rap. But failure is a huge key to successfully working through problems and finding solutions. It informs future decisions, and allowing for failure widens the scope of what is attempted, and ultimately achieved. That’s why I find working with clients on R&D tax credits so exciting. My clients are people and businesses who seek out challenges, who push the limits of technology and processes, and who attempt to solve problems that have never been solved before. While of course it’s disappointing when a project or experiment doesn’t work, through the use of the R&D tax credit, I help clients understand that the time, money, and resources put into it are not lost, and help them recover value.

I approach my work with a realistic levelheadedness, combining my varied experience in the legal, business, and tax advisory worlds. I appreciate being able to deduce complex legal issues, but at the same time, think of each problem from the client’s perspective, and balance strengths, risks and opportunities. It is important to me to be able to communicate with my clients in the ways that are important to them – understanding and sharing goals helps deliver the best result.

Outside of work, I have two young children who are delightfully exhausting. Our family loves to stay active, taking walks around the lakes and finding adventures wherever we can. I also enjoy playing basketball and burning off steam at the gym.