Summary

Michelle is an attorney in the Chicago office and focuses her practice on emerging tax issues, with a concentration in tax credits, incentives, and tax controversy. When representing clients, Michelle works to find strategic tax and government funding opportunities arising from ever-changing tax laws. Driven by her passion for tax policy and taxpayer advocacy, Michelle challenges anti-taxpayer positions and unreasonable enforcement efforts at the federal and state level. Michelle consistently finds creative (and feasible) tax credit and controversy solutions for companies ranging from startups to the Fortune 500, improving the financial performance of her clients and advising on tax as a strategic function of the business.

Prior to joining Taft, Michelle was a senior tax associate with a well-known regional firm in Minneapolis. She advised clients on a wide range of tax matters, including advanced energy credits/funding available under the Inflation Reduction Act, defending clients in Tax Court and in federal and state appeals, lobbying against accounting method changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, tackling issues related to COVID-19 assistance, and advising clients on changes to the Reagan-era research & development tax credit. Michelle began her legal career in public accounting where she navigated the state & local tax implications arising from the Supreme Court’s decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair in the firm’s headquarters. Before her legal career, Michelle worked in corporate finance and continues to use her financial background to assist clients in achieving their business goals.

Michelle earned her J.D. from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in finance from Northern Illinois University. While in law school, Michelle was a Senior Editor for the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, Secretary of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, and worked in the Federal Tax Clinic.

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Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law (2019)

    Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, Senior Editor

  • Northern Illinois University (2013)

    B.S. – Finance

Admissions

  • State - Illinois
  • State - Minnesota
  • Federal - U.S. Tax Court