Overview
Michael J. Wilder focuses his practice on corporate and international tax issues. He has extensive experience in structuring corporate mergers and dispositions, spin-offs, liquidations, cross-border transfers and financing instruments, as well as in the areas of consolidated returns, bankruptcy and insolvency tax matters. Michael represents clients in seeking private letter rulings from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and in handling audit and appeals matters. Michael is the leader of McDermott’s Corporate Tax Practice.
Michael has taught advanced international taxation at Georgetown Law School. He also speaks frequently on tax issues.
Previously, Michael worked in the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate) at the IRS for fourteen years. At the IRS, he reviewed and consulted on guidance projects, technical advice memoranda, private letter rulings, litigation, spin-offs, and other matters concerning corporate tax transactions and issues.
Before his legal career, Michael was a professional chess player. He became the national champion of the United States in 1988 and was awarded the title of international grandmaster in 1989.
Results
- Advised clients with respect to a number of the largest transactions in the public markets over the last five years, including the following:
- Spin-offs involving Fortune 50 and Fortune 100 companies
- Redomicile transactions involving Fortune 50 and Fortune 100 companies
- Domestic and cross-border mergers involving Fortune 50 companies
- Advised clients on dozens of multibillion-dollar internal restructurings, audit matters and financing arrangements
Recognitions
- Chambers USA, Tax, 2023-2024
- Turnaround & Workouts, Bankruptcy Tax Specialists in the Nation’s Major Law Firms, 2022-2024
- Legal 500 US, 2019-2024
- World Tax, International Tax Review, 2017
Credentials
Education
University of Michigan Law School, JD, 1992
Yale University, BA, 1985
Admissions
District of Columbia
