James H. Rownd

Experience

James (“Jim”) H. Rownd is a veteran business and tax attorney with over 35 years of experience advising clients on corporate transactions, finance strategy, and tax resolution. His practice blends legal precision with deep business insight, making him a trusted advisor to closely held companies and high-net-worth individuals navigating complex deals and IRS disputes.

Jim provides counsel on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, asset and stock purchases, entity formation, and investment documentation. He is also highly skilled in tax collection matters — helping taxpayers resolve disputes with the IRS through Offers in Compromise (OICs), employment tax defenses, and “innocent spouse” relief claims.

Jim represents clients in:

• Mergers & acquisitions and corporate restructurings
• Commercial contracts, licenses, leases & lending documentation
• Joint ventures and business formation (LLCs, partnerships, corporations)
• IRS disputes, tax resolution, and collection defense
• Employment-related agreements, non-competes, and business succession planning

His combination of legal depth and business acumen is especially valuable to growing enterprises and investors facing tax or transactional challenges.

Notable Results

• $21M Multi-Company Acquisition– Led equity purchase in Maryland-based conglomerate
• IRS OIC Settlements– Negotiated discounted payments for large tax debts
• $10M Architectural Firm Buyout– Represented minority shareholders in a stock purchase
• Employment Tax Dispute– Secured full waiver of $400K “responsible person” assessment
• Medical Practice Acquisition– Guided physician buyer through several-hundred-thousand-dollar deal
• Franchise Purchase– Represented buyer in $750K asset transaction
• Innocent Spouse Relief– Obtained IRS and Ohio income tax reduction for client

Presentations and Thought Leadership

Jim shares his expertise through numerous publications and presentations, including:

• “The Offer in Compromise: A Lifesaver”, Cleveland Bar Journal
• “Cannabis Industry & Taxation”, Journal of Taxation of Investments
• Regular speaker for Ohio Society of CPAs, National Business Institute, and Association of Corporate Counsel; topics include tax collection strategies, corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, and regulatory updates

Professional and Civic Engagement

• Member, LawPact®
• Admitted to practice in Ohio, Indiana, and U.S. Tax Court
• Member, Ohio State and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associations

Recognition & Honors

• Ohio Super Lawyers®, 2000–2012, 2023–2024
• AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyers in America – Business Organizations, 2019–2022
• Lawyer of the Year – Business Organizations, 2022

Whether negotiating a multimillion-dollar deal or untangling complex IRS liability, Jim is known for delivering clarity, confidence, and real-world solutions.