Sarah litigates cases involving state and local tax issues at all levels, and offers transaction planning, regulatory and legislative experience to assist clients in reaching their financial goals. She also obtains advisory rulings and publishes tax guidance for industry groups. Sarah's primary focus is on Maine issues though she also has significant experience with Massachusetts and New Hampshire tax issues and multistate nexus issues.
Sarah clerked for Chief Justice Vincent McKusick of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court immediately after law school. Following her clerkship she joined Pierce Atwood where she has practiced ever since, in the state and local tax area.
Recent Experience
- Successfully litigated income apportionment issue for multistate student loans and financial services provider, using costs of performance analysis
- Obtained full abatement for multistate taxpayer at administrative appeal level in Maine of tax resulting from inclusion in tax base of dividends from a non-unitary partnership
- Obtained full abatement for multinational taxpayer at administrative appeal level in Maine of tax plus additional refunds, on issue involving applicability of income tax throwback rule
- Negotiated VDA on behalf of company seeking to come into compliance with Service Provider Tax on telecommunications services
- Obtained full abatement at the administrative appeal level of Maine use tax assessed on fleet of corporate aircraft on the basis that they were exempt as instrumentalities of interstate commerce
- Obtained ruling for family limited partnership regarding applicability of lodgings tax
- Obtained published guidance on behalf of manufacturing industry group and printers and publishers on application of manufacturing exemptions
Honors & Distinctions
Sarah is listed in
The Best Lawyers in America for Taxation Law since 2007. She is rated AV® by
Martindale-Hubbell and is a current member and past Chair of the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Bar Tax Section. Sarah is a past Co-Chair of the Maine State Bar Association Tax Section.
Professional Activities
Member, Maine State Bar Association, 1987- present
Member, American Bar Association, Taxation Section (State and Local Tax Committee), 1993-present
Publications
Sarah contributes the Maine Tax Developments chapter to fall and spring Council on State Taxation (‘COST") audit conference publications.
Civic Activities
Board of Directors, Education Foundation of Freeport, 2003-2006