Jenny Louise Johnson handles complex tax disputes of significant value for clients ranging from individuals to multinational corporations. She represents taxpayers in all stages of criminal and civil tax proceedings, including sensitive audits and examinations, IRS appeals, summons enforcement, search warrants, grand jury subpoenas, negotiated resolutions with the IRS and the Department of Justice, trials in federal district court and the U.S. Tax Court, sentencings and appellate litigation. She has successfully resolved disputes involving income taxes, estate and gift taxes, excise taxes, federal and state tax credits, employment taxes, and employee plan matters.
As a skilled trial lawyer with a sophisticated understanding of tax issues and extensive experience in each of the many forums where tax disputes get resolved, Ms. Johnson offers her clients creative and practical solutions that are customized to achieve the goals that are most important to each client. By bringing the perspective of a trial lawyer to the development of a case from the very beginning, she is often able to avoid the expense and uncertainty of protracted litigation and achieve a favorable settlement. When that is not possible, she is a powerful and seasoned advocate in the courtroom.
Ms. Johnson also routinely provides behind-the-scenes strategic counseling to clients and their other advisors on potential or existing tax-related disputes. For example, Ms. Johnson frequently works with high net worth individuals, families and their other advisors to identify potential audit risks and navigate enterprise examinations pursued by the IRS Global High Wealth Industry Group.
Ms. Johnson is an adjunct professor on the tax faculty at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, currently teaching Investigation, Prosecution and Defense of Tax Crimes. She is also a frequent speaker and faculty member at both national and international professional conferences, and is in the upper echelon of nationally recognized tax litigators.
Ms. Johnson participated heavily in launching a Tax Court Calendar Call pro bono initiative in Chicago, representing low income taxpayers in front of the U.S. Tax Court. Partnering with the Center for Economic Progress, Ms. Johnson and her team developed a program to train attorneys and law students to represent low income taxpayers, and then appear in court to assist taxpayers who arrive for their required hearing without legal assistance.
Ms. Johnson lives with her three children in Western Springs, Illinois, where she is actively involved in her community.
