Overview

Lauren A. Ferrante focuses her practice on state and local taxation. She represents taxpayers at all stages of state and local controversy disputes at the audit, administrative and judicial levels. Lauren also assists taxpayers with planning, transactional, and compliance matters with respect to various state and local taxes, including income and franchise, sales and use, gross receipts and other miscellaneous taxes.

Lauren regularly speaks on state and local tax matters and has authored publications on nexus, procedure and state tax false claims act issues and Illinois tax issues. She hosts key presentations for colleagues at McDermott Will & Emery on a wide variety of state and local tax topics and legal ethics, including Hot Topics & Recent Developments, State Tax-Related Third Party Enforcement Actions, and Basics of State and Local Taxation.

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Results

Obtained favorable resolution of numerous audit periods, some in litigation and some in audit, for an automobile dealership with respect to Illinois sales and use tax liability
Secured two complete dismissals of claims with prejudice and a favorable ruling from the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court in defending online retailers in Illinois False Claims Act litigation with respect to sales and use tax claims
Obtained circuit court orders dismissing several other Illinois False Claims Act cases
Secured a favorable Illinois administrative hearing ruling on behalf of an automobile dealership with respect to use tax liability

Secured a dismissal and favorable settlements in multiple states with respect to income tax assessments, where the underlying issues were related to apportionment and add-back, on behalf of a restaurant business operating worldwide
Secured favorable settlements in multiple states with respect to issues related to characterization of business/non-business income
Secured an Illinois sales and use tax exemption for numerous clients
Resolved disputes with the Illinois Department of Revenue regarding claims for personal liability penalty

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Community

Current Chair, State and Local Tax Committee of Chicago Bar Association
Vice Chair, State and Local Tax Committee of Chicago Bar Association (2017-18)
Current Member, Institute for Professionals in Taxation
Member, Sales Tax Symposium Committee, Institute for Professionals in Taxation (2016 -2018)

Credentials

Education
Northwestern University School of Law, LLM, with honors, 2010
University of Illinois College of Law, JD, magna cum laude, 2009
Miami University, BA, magna cum laude, 2006

Admissions
Illinois