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Regina "Gina" M. Staudacher

There is a great amount of creativity that can be brought to the law.

Contact: P /312.415.4444E /[email protected]

Education

Detroit College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1993

University of Michigan, B.A., magna cum laude, 1989

Bar Admissions

Michigan, 1993

My Approach

Anytime I can help a client optimize a benefit, in particular a tax benefit, that exists but they’re not taking advantage of yet – that’s when I love my work the most. For businesses that are expanding, hiring, training, expanding operations and facilities, or developing or improving new products, there are tax and economic incentives available that often go unused or underutilized. I work to apply my knowledge to help clients maximize the benefits of these programs, and ensure they don’t miss any opportunities.

With my understanding of accounting and financial concepts and legacy from a third generation mechanical contracting firm, I am able to construct benefits for clients by simply matching business operations with the financial benefits and the intention of the law. There are so many rules and requirements, and it’s unreasonable to expect businesses and business owners to have the time or ability to leverage most of these programs — that’s where I come in! Once I understand a client’s business and objectives, I am able to put the law to work with my knowledge and experience of the tax law and corresponding legislation, and identify and optimize tax credits and economic benefits that can be game changers to a business.  I take the time to get to know our clients – that openness and trust is the only way I can do my work well.

I have never known a time that I was not immersed in business. I come from a third-generation family business, and understand the complicated challenges and dynamics that are involved in issues like succession planning, business continuity, generational wealth transfer and sustainable growth. I take the complexity and nuances of tax law and simplify it in a way to make it understandable and relatable to my clients so that they can make quick and effective decisions.

Outside of work, I have four children who are passionate about sports and their social activities.  I come from a large family with 8 siblings and parents who taught us to always think of others first and be active in our communities.  We can often be found volunteering at school and church activities as well as at any number of NFP organizations to which we dedicate a lot of time and energy and resources.  Our family and extended family is a big part of our social and business network. I love getting to visit my nieces and nephews from Boston to San Francisco and having the opportunity to enjoy vacations, holidays and ad hoc weekend get-togethers for family gatherings. I also love to run and read biographies – and cook big family meals on the weekends.

Practice Areas

Practicing Specialty Tax Credits & Incentives

My Experience

I concentrate my practice in the areas of strategic tax planning and dispute resolution for companies with global operations and multistate activities, including defending positions against the IRS and various taxing authorities and agencies. I work closely with clients to maximize tax and economic incentives, and structure creative financial solutions to support corporate development and business expansion strategies. These projects involve all aspects of tax and economic programs, credits and incentives, including Opportunity Zone planning, Research Tax Credits, 174 Amortization considerations, New Markets Tax Credits, Department of Energy ATVM loans and related funding programs, Energy Tax Credits, Employee Retention Credits, property tax abatements, and endless state and local tax and economic programs designed to attract and retain businesses and accelerate job growth.

Representative Matters

• Counsel to global food service equipment manufacturer for annual tax credits, IRS and State tax representations resulting in more than $40MM in tax benefits, including the research tax credit and state job growth and retention tax benefits.
• Counsel to global food service and uniform supplier for computation and defense of research tax credit resulting in more than $20MM in tax refunds and annual tax benefits.
• Counsel to global leader in paint finishing systems for tax credit and incentive advisory services resulting in more than $12MM in cash grant and property tax abatements for plant rehabilitation and corporate expansion project.
• Counsel to a private real estate development group for syndicated tax credit and economic incentive loan structure, resulting in nearly $9MM of available tax credits and low interest rate financing for new hotel and multi-use commercial development project.
• Counsel to new EV OEM for multi-state incentive package for R&D center, manufacturing and customer service center, resulting in more than $50M of combined state tax abatements, cash incentives and economic benefits.
• Counsel to a Tier I automotive supplier for corporate relocation and a job growth package resulting in more than $8MM in state tax and economic cash incentives.
• Counsel to a global leader in industrial packaging products and services for research tax credit resulting in more than $14MM annually in research tax credits. Also helped secure a $7MM incentive package for a new investment in capital infrastructure and an operational improvement strategic initiative.
• Counsel to autonomous vehicle manufacturer for employment tax and real estate acquisition support along with advising and securing a multi-state incentive package resulting in more than $30MM in state and federal incentives related to the growth and investment in a new R&D facility and a manufacturing facility as well as training cost reimbursements and payroll tax reductions for retaining and adding new jobs.

Practicing General Corporate

My Experience

I represent clients in a wide range of corporate and business matters, including general tax or strategic tax planning, corporate management, corporate formation, contracts with other businesses or municipalities, as well as family offices or private companies with generational issues in business succession and continuity planning.

Also experienced in

Tax

Honors & Awards

"Women in the Law"

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2015

Michigan Lending Lawyers

2020-2021

Associations & Memberships

State Bar of Michigan

International Section
Taxation Section

Michigan and Illinois Associations of CPAs

Non-CPA Member

Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Taxation Section, Board Member

Chicago Finance Exchange

International Women's Forum

Member
Chicago Leadership Pledge Signatory, 2021

Michigan Women's Tax Association

Former President

Chicago Tax Club

InForum

Executive Board Member

Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance

Chair, Executive Board

Flint & Genesee Group

Board Member