Annette Ahlers joins Moss Adams as a tax partner in the Tax Specialty Group

 In Moss Adams, Pepper Hamilton

Moss Adams LLP, the largest accounting and business consulting firm headquartered in the West, with more than 600 professionals across 10 California offices, welcomes Annette Ahlers as a tax partner in its Tax Specialty Group. In her new role Ahlers will serve as a strategic counselor for businesses seeking highly technical corporate tax planning services, including advice related to transactions, restructuring, post-acquisition compliance, bankruptcy tax analysis and more. With more than 22 years of experience in corporate tax, including a stint at the IRS, where she was the drafting attorney for the option attribution regulations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, Ahlers brings to Moss Adams a wealth of transaction-based tax planning expertise.

“Annette represents a broad range of experience that will go a long way in helping our corporate clients navigate the most intricate tax issues”
“We’re thrilled to have Annette onboard,” said Todd Van der Wel, managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. “Her deep knowledge of all aspects of corporate tax—particularly mergers and acquisitions—combined with her strong industry relationships and legal background make her an unparalleled asset to our clients.”

Most recently, Ahlers served as a tax partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, where she founded the corporate tax group in the law firm’s Washington, DC, office. Previously she served as a tax partner in the corporate group for Ernst & Young. During her time there, Ahlers was the director of mergers and acquisitions services for the Mid-Atlantic region. Ahlers began her career at the IRS as an attorney adviser in the Office of Chief Counsel, Corporate. In addition to working on the option attribution regulations under Section 382, Ahlers developed her skills in other transaction tax matters, including spin-offs, taxable and tax-free mergers, dispositions, bankruptcy tax matters and treatment of transaction costs.

A member of the Federal Bar Association, the State Bar of California and the District of Columbia Bar, Ahlers also has a wealth of experience representing clients in front of the IRS, both with obtaining private-letter rulings and on IRS exam. Ahlers specializes in tax code sections 108, 162, 165, 195, 263, 355, 368, 382 and 1502.

“Annette represents a broad range of experience that will go a long way in helping our corporate clients navigate the most intricate tax issues,” said Roger Weninger, Southern California regional managing partner for Moss Adams. “While Annette will be an asset to the entire firm, she’s particularly well suited to meet the needs of our clients in Southern California. Given the dynamic nature of the business environment, Annette’s proficiency in mergers and acquisitions and private equity will bring great value to the many corporate clients in the region who are undergoing strategic business changes, including forming new businesses, divesting, merging and more.”

Having spent the majority of her career in Washington, DC, Ahlers has developed a network of strong relationships with IRS professionals and established a reputation among her peers as a thought leader. A member of the American Bar Association and the Association for Corporate Growth, Ahlers regularly participates in panel discussions and delivers presentations on topics such as transaction costs, bankruptcy tax, corporate restructuring and utilization of losses. Ahlers has also been invited to speak before the Tax Executives Institute on numerous occasions.

“I’m excited to apply my background in tax and law along with my experience in DC to add another layer of specialized expertise to the services Moss Adams offers,” said Ahlers. “I look forward to being a resource for all mergers and acquisitions activities and the opportunity to provide strategic advice that will help our clients continue to receive the high level of service Moss Adams is known for.”

A Sacramento native, Ahlers will return to her West Coast roots with her new position in the Los Angeles office. Ahlers earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and economics from the University of Washington. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, and she holds a Master of Laws in tax from Georgetown University.

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