700 State Street, Suite 100
New Haven, CT 06511
New Haven: (203) 285-8545
Stamford: (203) 428-4907
West Hartford: (860) 967-0427
Jeff’s practice is focused on representing businesses and individuals with complex financial litigation needs including: bankruptcy/bankruptcy litigation, creditor/debtor litigation, tax litigation, pension and employee benefit litigation and commercial litigation. He regularly tries cases and appeals before Connecticut’s state and federal courts. Jeff has particular experience regarding the interplay between and among bankruptcy law, tax law and ERISA.
Jeff regularly serves as counsel to clients experiencing a wide of array of financial challenges. Representative engagements include:
Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy
- Counsel to the debtor-in-possession in numerous industries of industries including: finance, real estate, aero space, medical and medical devices, construction, specialty mill working, real estate, hospitality and recreation, legal profession, manufacturing, energy and industrial
- Counsel to unsecured creditors committees/liquidating custodians/liquidation trustees in reorganization and post-confirmation liquidation and litigation matters
- Counsel to ad hoc committee of creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and out of court restructurings/wind down/liquidations
- Counsel to debtors in workouts (out-of-court restructuring)
- Prosecution and defense of preference, fraudulent transfer and avoidance actions
- Counsel to the Chapter 7 Trustee in prosecution of avoidance actions, sale of assets and other matters involving a major ponzi scheme
Tax Litigation
- Successful resolution of criminal tax investigations
- Successful abatement of penalties for employment taxes assessed against a company on account of internal fraud by controller
- Successful abatement of penalties for federal excise taxes on behalf of major fuel installation
- Resolution of refund litigation related to trust fund recovery penalties with Department of Justice Tax Division
- Successful resolution of sales tax liability owed out-of-state consulting firm with Connecticut Department of Revenue Service
- Workout and resolution of tax shelter matters
Commercial Litigation
- Counsel to plaintiff in Fine Home Builders v. Perrone, concerning the proper method of service on estate style homes
- Prosecution and defense of fraudulent transfer matters
- Successful resolution of cases involving lawsuits against long-term disability insurers
- Successful defense of medical products manufacturer in a replevin action
- Successful defense of lessee and establishment of significant case law concerning damage mitigation requirements in commercial leasing
- Counsel to note holders in cutting edge litigation involving improper use of “personal goodwill” as an asset protection tool.
Jeff received his B.A. in government from Colby College, his J.D. from the University of Connecticut, School of Law and his LL.M. (Taxation) from Boston University, Graduate Tax Program.
Jeff is a 2005 recipient of the Connecticut Law Tribune’s New Leaders of the Law Award (Overall Achievement, Fairfield County) and has been listed by New England Super Lawyer® as a Super Lawyer (Business Litigation) since 2010 (Rising Star 2010-2013), and was named a Fellow of the American Bar Association, Business Law Section (2011 – 2013). Jeff holds many positions with local and national bar organizations and is a frequent writer and lecturer on topics involving bankruptcy, tax litigation and commercial litigation. Current positions include: Chair of the Government Powers Sub-Committee of the American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Business Bankruptcy Committee and Education Director of the American Bankruptcy Institute, Bankruptcy Tax Committee. He is a member of the New Haven Jewish Community Center Board of Directors. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys playing with his kids and swimming, biking and running.
Selected Lectures
- Speaker and co-founder of the New England IRS Representation Conference (Nov. 21, 2014), Topic Presented: Handling Case with the IRS Appeals Division, Discharging Taxes in Bankruptcy,
- Bankruptcy Tax Update (2011-2014, presented numerous times to the Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Society of CPAs, Connecticut Association of Enrolled Agents, and private groups).
- Tax Aspects of Bankruptcies and Workouts (2007-2011, 2014, presented numerous times to the Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Society of CPAs, Connecticut Association of Enrolled Agents, and private groups)
- Criminal Tax and Employment Tax Issues in Bankruptcy (June 3, 2015), Presented to Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors, 31st Annual Bankruptcy & Restructuring Conference
- Preparing for Battle: Investigating and Litigating Criminal Tax Cases and Civil Damage Issues (May 30, 2015), Presented to National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, Conn. Chapter
- Tax Liens & Bankruptcy, Tax Discharges in Bankruptcy, Short Sales & More (June 2014), Presented to: American Society of Tax Problem Solvers
- Objecting to and Litigating a Tax Claim in Bankruptcy (May 14, 2014), Presented to American Bar Association, Tax Section
- Tax Issues in Divorce: What Family Law Attorneys Need to Know (May 2014), Presented to Family Law Section, Connecticut Bar Association
- Preparing For Metamorphosis: Tax Questions Arising From The Change In Debt From Recourse To Nonrecourse (Or Vice Versa) – Bankruptcy Discharges, Anti-Deficiency Statutes, Short Sales And § 1111(b) (Apr. 25, 2014), Presented to American Bankruptcy Institute
- If You’re Going to Fight About it, Know What its Worth (Mar. 2013 and Nov. 2013), Presented to American Bar Association, Business Law Section
- Closing the Deal: Financial Reporting Issues in Mergers & Acquisitions (Jul. 2013), Presented to American Bar Association, Business Law Section
- LLC Fiduciary Duties – To Be Or Not To Be? That Is The Question: Litigating Fiduciary Duty Claims Involving LLC Managers and Members, Presented to Conn. Bar. Assoc. Annual Meeting (Jun. 2013)
- International Arbitrations (May. 2013), Presented to American Bar Association, Business Law Section
- Tablet Computing in Business Litigation, (Moderator, Jan. 2013) Presented to American Bar Association, Business Law Section
- Introduction to Bankruptcy (presented to the Connecticut Bar Association, 2006-2011)
- A Refresher on the Tax Implications of Workouts – A Sign of the Times, ABA Tax Section, (May 2008)
- Brave New World: The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005, Connecticut Bar Association, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section (Oct. 2005)
Selected Articles & Press
- Forthcoming, Gaming Goodwill: Can Personal Goodwill be Used as an Asset Protection Tool?, ABA Business Law Section Business Bankruptcy Newsletter
- J. Sklarz and N. Quesenberry, Can the Same Counsel Represent Both a Chapter 11 DIP and the Debtor’s Sole Equity Owner?, XXXIV ABI Journal 2, 44-45, 77 (Feb. 2015)
- J. Sklarz, Bankruptcy & Government Powers, ABA Business Law Section Business Bankruptcy Newsletter (Summer 2014)
- J. Sklarz, No Average Creditor: Nominee Liens and Other IRS Special Collection Powers, Conn. Lawyer (Dec. 2013)
- J. Sklarz, Are S-Corp Elections “Property of Estate”? The Majestic Star Casino, LLC v. Barden Development, Inc., ABI Taxation Committee Newsletter (Oct. 2013)
- J. Sklarz, Sperry: Business Owners Are Liable for Non-Trust Fund Taxes, XXXII ABI Journal 8, 46-47, 80 (Sept. 2013)
- J. Sklarz and S. Pugh, The “Connections” Conundrum: A Call for Clarity and Guidance with Rule 2014, ABA Business Law Section Business Bankruptcy Newsletter (Feb. 2012)
- J. Sklarz and A. Romney, Final Judgments and Avoidance Actions after Stern v. Marshall, ABI Business Reorganization Committee Newsletter (Oct. 2011)
- J. Sklarz, Private Party Discovery of Financial Frauds and Suspicious Activities: A Regulatory Cover Up?, ABA Business Law Section Business Bankruptcy Newsletter (Jul. 2011)
- J. Sklarz, Tax Considerations for Victims of Ponzi Schemes, ABI Bankruptcy Taxation Committee Newsletter (Mar. 2011)
- J. Sklarz, Can a Corporate Officer Be Held Strictly Liable for Payments to Union Multi-Employer Funds?, ABI Journal (May 2010)