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With more than 30 years of tax and business law experience, Gary Q. Michel serves as business advisor and tax specialist to his clients who cover a wide spectrum of industries. Mr. Michel’s clients are generally privately owned businesses with a strong entrepreneurial spirit demanding effective and creative legal judgment over a wide area of legal terrain.
Mr. Michel chairs the firm's Tax Department, is an active participant in the Wealth Transfer Planning Department and co-chairs the Healthcare Department. In these capacities, he counsels individuals, families and business enterprises of all stripes in sophisticated business transactions, especially the tax issues arising from them.
Mr. Michel earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1975 where he became a member of the Order of the Coif. He was also on the Board of Editors of the UCLA Law Review, 1974-1975. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in 1972, where he graduated Cum Laude. Mr. Michel is also the recipient of the Elijah Watt Sells Honor Award for his performance on the CPA Exam, May 1972.
Mr. Michel is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association and Beverly Hills Bar Association, where he was past chairman of the Taxation Committee in 1979-1980. He was a speaker at the State Bar of California Association Taxation Committee and California Society of CPA's Discussion Group of Burbank/North Hollywood, California, Speaking on Final Partnership Allocation Regulations. and a speaker at the California Society of CPA's Discussion Group of the West San Fernando Valley, California, where the topic was Patenting Tax Strategies.
Representative Matters:
Represented the sellers of the largest independent pipe and supply wholesaler in Southern California during its sale to Hughes Supply (which was thereafter acquired by HD Supply). Developed strategy working with the CEO, top-level management team, and the company’s investment banker to prepare the company for sale and to negotiate the highest and best price possible with the lowest tax cost. This was the landmark event to the founder and seller, and was an opportunity to confirm the transfer of significant wealth to future generations without incurring a transfer tax.
Represented large pipe and supply wholesaler to maximize real estate interests in connection with the sale of its operations to competitive company. Restructured the leases prior to negotiations in order to shift all property risk to the tenant and therefore the buyer of the business. Crafted a renewal provision allowing the landlord maximum flexibility, and during the course of negotiations seized upon the opportunity to increase historical rents significantly. This resulted in an annual increase in rents of almost $500,000 and a substantial increase in the value of the real estate based on market value of a 5% cap rate. Represented the client during the company’s years of acquisition of real estate and guided the client past environmental and other hazards presented in the process, including local tax issues (such as property tax assessments), and where possible tax rebates obtained for the establishment of a new and larger business operation in the community.
Represented the sellers of the second largest independent pipe and supply wholesaler in Southern California to Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. Working with the CEO and founder, the top-level management team, and investment banker, prepared the company for sale, orchestrated the auction of the company and negotiated the highest and best price possible. The transaction was structured as a stock sale in order to minimize the tax liability to the sellers, but was coupled with a tax election that allowed the buyer to obtain substantial tax benefits as well.
Worked with a major plumbing contractor in connection with his wealth transfer needs and asset protection desires of his company. Excess liquid assets were removed from the operating business entity and other assets were transferred to a family limited liability company to facilitate gifts for the benefit of their children and grandchildren.
Assisted three of the four founding families of a real estate partnership that owned numerous commercial and multi-family residential projects in connection with their desire to split up and break away from the fourth family. The transaction was structured to avoid any adverse property and income taxes to the remaining three families, while minimizing income taxes to the departing fourth family.
Represented a large multi-specialty group practice in its sale of its group practice to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital. Negotiated sale transaction documents as well as the relationship documents to be effective post-closing, such as the Professional Services Agreement. Significant benefits were achieved for client in the negotiation of the indemnification provision, with its buckets, baskets and deductibles.
Represented the newly-hired senior executive officers of an online seller of movie tickets in connection with the tax planning of their compensation package with the company. Structured the purchase of restricted stock with only partial recourse, thereby enabling the senior executives to make a Section 83(b) election. Shortly thereafter, the company received an unsolicited offer which was too good to refuse. Structured the sale transaction to enable the senior executive to achieve long-term capital gain on the sale of the company’s shares.
Represented a publicly-traded hospital management company in connection with its purchase of USC Norris Cancer Hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center, and Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in California and the following medical centers across the nation: Providence Memorial Hospital (El Paso, Texas), Hialeah Hospital and North Shore Medical Center (each of Miami, Florida), Deaconess Incarnate Word Health System (St. Louis, Missouri) and Saint Louis University Hospital (St. Louis, Missouri). Worked with company on its operational and compliance issues with its academic medical center at USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, Saint Louis University Hospital and Creighton University Medical Center Saint Joseph Hospital.
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