overview
John D. Gatti has more than 25 years of experience in business law and the laws of taxation.
Practice Areas
Bio
A Certified Public Accountant as well as an attorney, John concentrates his practice in the areas of taxation, mergers and acquisitions, business law, real estate law, and estate planning. He serves as the firm’s administrative partner and chairs the firm’s Taxation Practice Group.
John regularly advises business clients in a variety of areas including mergers and acquisitions, business formations, succession planning, real estate, joint ventures and general corporate matters. He has considerable experience representing professional services firms, including accounting, engineering, and architectural firms, as well as insurance agencies, in purchase and sale transactions.
He has extensive experience involving a variety of federal, state and multi-state income and franchise tax issues relating to corporate, partnership and limited liability company acquisitions, dispositions and restructurings. John advises on a wide range of tax issues including Subchapters C, K and S, consolidated returns, income tax accounting, and captive insurance companies.
John currently sits on the Board of Directors and serves as Treasurer for The Guidance Center in addition to acting as Treasurer and Trustee for the Grosse Ile Township school district.
Prior to joining the firm, John served at a nationally recognized accounting firm specializing in the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, and provided tax advice to clients in various industries including the automotive, transportation, publishing, food manufacturing, and health care segments.
John has been recognized by DBusiness Magazine as a “Top Lawyer” and is repeatedly listed in The Best Lawyers in America©.
Speaking Engagements
- “704(c) Allocations Contributions of Appreciated Property to Partnerships,” Michigan Association of CPAs (MICPA) 2020 Fall Tax Symposium
- “Tax and Legal Issues For Nonprofits,” Michigan Association of CPAs (MICPA)
- “Tax Implications of Exit Strategies for Corporations, Partnerships and LLCs,” Michigan Association of CPAs (MICPA)
credentials
Affiliations
- State Bar of Michigan
- American Bar Association
- Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
- Mergers & Acquisition Task Force, Chair
- Program Curriculum Task Force, Vice Chair
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Grosse Ile Township School District, Trustee/Treasurer
- The Guidance Center, Board Member/Chair
- Leadership Detroit XL
Bar and Court Admissions
- Michigan
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D.
- cum laude
- Order of the Coif
- University of Michigan, B.A.
- with high honors
Insights & News
April 3, 2023
The Significance of Purchase Price Allocation
August 18, 2022
Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America© 2023 and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
December 23, 2021
Michigan Enacts SALT Cap Workaround for Pass-Through Entities
August 19, 2021
Kerr Russell Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® List
November 16, 2020
22 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized as DBusiness 2021 Top Lawyers
September 4, 2020
Payroll Tax Deferral
August 20, 2020
Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America© 2021 and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
August 13, 2020
President Trump Issues Presidential Memorandum Authorizing Payroll Tax Deferral
August 6, 2020
FAQs on PPP Loan Forgiveness: Key Takeaways
July 14, 2020
15 Lawyers From Kerr Russell Recognized as Leading Lawyers 2020
June 1, 2020
House and Senate Pass H.R. 7010 Which Would Provide More Flexibility to PPP Borrowers
May 18, 2020
SBA Releases Loan Forgiveness Application and Instructions
May 5, 2020
IRS Announces No Deduction Allowed for Expenses Resulting in PPP Loan Forgiveness
April 24, 2020
House Approves Replenishment of Paycheck Protection Program Loan Funding
April 17, 2020
Small Businesses Administration Stops Accepting PPP Loan Applications
March 30, 2020
CARES Act Establishes SBA Paycheck Protection Program
March 30, 2020
CARES Act: Summary of Key Business Tax Provisions
March 30, 2020
CARES Act Relief for Individual Taxpayers
March 30, 2020
Executive Order 2020-26 Extends Michigan Tax Deadline
March 20, 2020
IRS ExtendsTax Filing Deadline
March 17, 2020
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Business Continuity: A Message to Our Community, Clients and Friends
November 15, 2019
19 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized as DBusiness Top Lawyers for 2020
October 30, 2019
Kerr Russell Attorneys Discuss Legal Issues for Nonprofits at MICPA Event
August 15, 2019
15 Lawyers From Kerr Russell Are Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America© 2020
August 14, 2019
Kerr Russell Featured as "Faces of Corporate Law 2019" by DBusiness
August 5, 2019
Kerr Russell Attorneys Present at MICPA
June 12, 2019
Kerr Russell Tax Attorney Discusses The New Federal Tax Law
May 9, 2019
Kerr Russell Attorneys Advise Peterson in Sale to MiddleGround Capital
September 23, 2018
Kerr Russell sponsors, John and Kathleen Gatti attend Guidance Center 60th anniversary gala
September 20, 2018
Kerr Russell recognizes our 2018 dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees
September 12, 2018
Kerr Russell's John Gatti named to Leadership Detroit, Class XV
September 11, 2018
Sneak peek of Dbusiness Magazine Top Lawyers photo shoot with Kerr Russell
August 15, 2018
15 lawyers from Kerr Russell were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019
August 7, 2018
Cody Attisha contributes "Choice-of-Entity in a New Business Landscape" to Corp! Magazine's July/August 2018 issue
June 9, 2018
The Guidance Center's 2018 Summer Glow a breezy success; Kerr Russell sponsors, attends
March 16, 2018
IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program Coming to an End
January 26, 2018
Download Kerr Russell's updated firm brochure and overview of services
January 8, 2018
Kerr Russell supports Italian American Chamber of Commerce of Michigan
January 3, 2018
Kerr Russell highlighted in Best Lawyers - Business, Winter 2017 issue
December 18, 2017
Kerr Russell team makes holiday donations to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Wigs 4 Kids, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor, and Children's Hospital of Michigan
November 30, 2017
Merry and bright ... Kerr Russell welcomes the holiday season
November 30, 2017
Kerr Russell, Boulevard Investment lunch and learn
November 16, 2017
Culture of Connection - new Kerr Russell ad to appear in Michigan Lawyers Weekly and dbusiness
November 3, 2017
Kerr Russell launches new advertising in upcoming issues of dbusiness and Crain's Detroit
November 3, 2017
Kerr Russell recognizes this year’s dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees
November 1, 2017
Kerr Russell ranked in the 2018 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" list nationally in 1 practice area and regionally in 17 practice areas
October 29, 2017
The Guidance Center's Grape Expectations event nets $101,000 for Kids-TALK Children Advocacy Center
October 12, 2017
John Gatti presents at State Bar of Michigan's "Fundamentals of Taxation"
August 21, 2017
17 lawyers from Kerr Russell were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018
August 10, 2017
A culture of giving
August 1, 2017
From Crain's Detroit: Partners acquire Linear AMS back from Moog (Kerr Russell mentioned)
January 15, 2017
Kerr Russell receives consecutive awards from The M&A Advisor: John Gatti and Mike Gibson receive 2016 “Materials Deal of the Year” Award
November 7, 2016
Kerr Russell attorneys named 2017 Top Lawyers by dBusiness Magazine
August 10, 2016
Kerr Russell, John D. Gatti and Michael D. Gibson named finalists by M&A Advisor for Restructuring Deal of the year Award.
November 20, 2014
John Gatti presents "Tax Implications of Exit Strategies for Corporations, Partnerships and LLCs" to the Michigan Association of CPA's Northern Macomb County
Representative Matters
Purchases and sales of automotive suppliers.
Sale of various divisions of durable medical equipment retailer.
Sale of a food manufacturing company.
Establishment of joint ventures for manufacturers.