Stephen J. Dunn
Stephen J. Dunn has practiced law since 1985. He is a tax lawyer. He analyzes and applies tax laws so that companies and individuals pay no mor tax than is required by law. Throughout his career Steve has represented taxpayers in tax controversies. Steve is adept at representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service. He gets great results for clients from the IRS Independent Office of Appeals. Litigation is almost never necessary. But when litigation is necessary, Steve brings to bear formidable litigation skills—analysis, legal research, persuasive writing, and oral advocacy.
Since 2009 Steve has brought clients into compliance with United States laws concerning foreign income, accounts, and entities, and defended them against penalties for alleged noncompliance. Steve is nationally-known for this practice, and regularly publishes articles and speaks to groups of lawyers about it. Steve gets great results for taxpayers in these cases.
Throughout his career Steve has performed estate planning and administration. An expert in Federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxation, and in income taxation of decedents, Steve specializes in estate planning for high net-worth individuals.
Steve has practiced law since 1985. He has a Martinadale-Hubbell Peer Review rating of AV, “Preeminent.”
In law school Steve served as Associate Editor of the Notre Dame Law Review. Steve worked for a large law firm in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan while in law school, and joined the firm upon earning his J.D. degree from Notre Dame in 1985. In 1987 Steve moved to a large law firm in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1991, upon earning his LL.M. (Taxation) degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Steve moved to metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, where he as lived and practiced ever since.
Steve’s first career was as an accountant. Upon earning his B.S.B.A. degree cum laude in Accounting from Aquinas College in 1978, Steve joined the Grand Rapids office of one of the Big Four accounting firms. Steve served in positions of increasing responsibility on audits of some of the largest clients of the Grand Rapids office, and earned the Michigan Certified Public Accountant designation.
Steve is active with charities including Loyola High School, Detroit, Michigan, and Guest House, Inc., Lake Orion, Michigan.
Steve and his wife Geri have three children and 15 grandchildren.
Steve follows Notre Dame Football, the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions, and the Detroit Red Wings. Steve runs 14.5 miles every week.
Stephen J. Dunn
Stephen J. Dunn
My first career was as an accountant. As an undergraduate I worked as an intern for BDO (then Seidman & Seidman) in their flagship office in Grand Rapids. Upon earning my bachelor’s degree I joined the EY (then Ernst & Ernst) as an auditor. I worked on audits of the largest for-profit and not-for-profit clients of EY’s Grand Rapids office. But law school beckoned.
Notre Dame Law School was rigorous and competitive. I worked for a South Bend law firm and served on the Notre Dame Law Review. Notre Dame provided a firm grounding in ethics—what is right and what is wrong in the practice of law. I loved my law school experience; without hesitation I would do it again.
In law school I worked as a summer intern with Varnum Riddering Schmidt & Howlett in Grand Rapids, and joined the firm upon earning my J.D. degree in 1985. Two years later I moved to Thompson Coburn (then Thompson & Mitchell) in St. Louis. While in St. Louis I earned my LL.M. (Taxation) degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Upon earning my LL.M. degree I returned to my native Michigan, to metropolitan Detroit, where I have lived and practiced since that time.
Throughout my career I have represented companies and individuals before the Internal Revenue Service. I love Federal tax practice and procedure. I get some of my best results before the IRS Independent Office of Appeals. When necessary I petition the U.S. Tax Court, but it is almost never necessary.
Since 2009 I have helped taxpayers comply with U.S. laws concerning foreign income, accounts, and entities, and defended them against penalties for alleged noncompliance. I have also counseled American citizens and lawful permanent residents on expatriating from the U.S. and, when appropriate, helped them to expatriate. I have published many articles on this practice, and spoken extensively on it. I serve as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law, Income & Tax Planning Group, International Tax Planning Committee.
Throughout my career I have also performed estate planning. I am expert in Federal estate and gift taxation, and income taxation of decedents. I provide sound, ethical counsel in estate planning.
Throughout my career I have formed corporations and limited liability companies. I have drafted operating agreements. I have advised on tax issues, drafted documents, and performed due diligence in mergers and acquisitions.
My community involvement includes serving on the Finance Committee of Loyola High School, Detroit, Michigan. I serve on the Bishop’s Dinner Committee of Guest House, Lake Orion, Michigan. I am part of a team that weekly visits residents at a Medicaid nursing home—this has been beneficial to me personally as well as professionally.
I live in Troy, Michigan with my wife of 48 years, Geri. We have 15 grandchildren and love spending time with them. I love Notre Dame football, the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions, and the Detroit Red Wings. I run regularly.