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John C.
Blackman, IV

Position
Partner
Office
Baton Rouge

John Blackman is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. He focuses on employee benefit plans, estate planning, and individual, corporate, and pass-through entity income tax planning.


John has drafted qualified plans, employment agreements, and deferred compensation plans; has advised and represented clients on tax and ERISA matters, including Internal Revenue Code Section 409A; and has frequently represented clients in matters involving ERISA litigation. He works with clients to draft complex wills and trusts; counsels them through complex successions; applies the income, gift, and estate tax laws to estate planning issues; and represents clients involved in gift and estate tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He has advised and guided clients through succession law controversies among executors, heirs, and legatees. John also advises clients on family business and succession planning and has advised on and litigated the issues that arise in connection with such areas of practice.

John has obtained numerous private letter rulings from the IRS. In his individual, corporate, and pass-through entity tax practice, he has structured countless transactions, drafted complex limited partnerships and limited liability company operating agreements, and negotiated agreements involving complex taxable and tax-free purchases and sales of businesses.

John is a tax specialist and an estate planning and administration specialist. He is a fellow in the American College of Tax Counsel and a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. John taught individual income tax at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, from 1990 to 1993. He speaks frequently in his areas of experience. 

Noteworthy

  • Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year,” Tax Law, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2013)
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Estate & Probate (listed annually since 2007)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (listed annually since 1987)
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell

Experience

  • Settled a gift tax controversy with the IRS regarding a defined value sale to a grantor trust on terms favorable to the client
  • Was appointed by a court as a special master to judge a succession controversy
  • Represented a public company in an acquisition of another public company for more than $11 billion
  • Handled several high-net worth estates
  • Drafted sophisticated real estate development limited liability company operating agreements
  • Represented a client in connection with the purchases and sales of businesses in controlled auctions
  • Drafted, amended, and restated numerous deferred compensation plans to comply with Code Section 409A
  • Represented an estate in a federal estate tax refund suit in a federal district court involving a unique Louisiana law usufructuary accounting debt issue
  • Represented a public company in the acquisition of a subsidiary of another public company for more than $2 billion
  • Converted individually owned corporations and corporate subsidiaries into limited liability companies for tax purposes
  • Obtained favorable rulings from the Internal Revenue Service on a divisive reorganization and on the proper tax treatment of insurance company tax credits with respect to CAPCOs
  • Provided advice and federal court litigation concerning the collection of employee's qualified and nonqualified plan benefits
  • Provided estate and business tax planning services for private companies and their shareholders
  • Represented a client in connection with a criminal tax fraud investigation
  • Provided advice concerning the tax-free exchange nature of business acquisitions and dispositions
  • Represented an individual who was being audited by the IRS for the donation of a conservation easement
  • Represented a company in the acquisition of several other companies in taxable transactions


Publications

  • "Federal Tax-Saving Opportunities for Financial Institutions under Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code," Jones Walker LLP Client Alert, May 2009
  • "Plan Loan and Hardship Rules Relaxed in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina," Jones Walker LLP Employee Benefits, ERISA & Executive Compensation EZine, September 20, 2005
  • "Congress Changes the Rules on Deferred Compensation," Jones Walker LLP Employee Benefits, ERISA & Executive Compensation EZine, October 22, 2004

Presentations

  • "Model LLC," 38th Annual Estate Planning Seminar, Louisiana State University, McKernan Law Auditorium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 17, 2008
  • "Selected Provisions of the Final Internal Revenue Code Section 409A Regulations," Lod Cook Alumni Center, LSU Campus, December 4, 2007, Lod Cook Alumni Center, LSU Campus
  • "Selected Provisions of the Final Internal Revenue Code Section 409A," Baton Rouge Estate and Planning Council, July 19, 2007
  • "Trust Drafting Techniques," 35th Annual Estate Planning Seminar, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, McKernan Law Auditorium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 22, 2005

Memberships

  • Advisory Committee for Estate Planning and Administration, Chairman (1998–1999)
  • American Bar Association, Section of Taxation; Subcommittee on ERISA Litigation, Employee Benefits Committee, Former Committee Member
  • American College of Tax Counsel, Fellow
  • American College of Trust and Estates Counsel, Fellow
  • Baton Rouge Area Foundation Advisory Committee, Former Committee Member
  • Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Former Committee Member
  • Estate Planning Council of Northeast Louisiana, President (1975–1976)
  • Forever LSU Steering Committee for the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, Former Committee Member
  • Fourth Judicial District Bar Association, President (1976–1977)
  • Louisiana State Bar Association, Section of Taxation
  • Louisiana State Law Institute, Committee on Trust Code Continuous Revision
  • Louisiana State University Foundation Planned Giving Professional Advisory Committee, Former Committee Member
  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center Annual Estate Planning Seminar, Chairman, Planning Committee
  • Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University Alumni Board of Trustees
Baton Rouge
Suite 800
445 North Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
D: 225.248.2070
F: 225.248.3070
Emailjblackman@joneswalker.com

Education

  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
    JD, 1969
    Associate Editor, Louisiana Law Review; Order of the Coif; Omicron Delta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi
  • Louisiana State University
    BA, 1966

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana

Court Admissions

  • US Supreme Court
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
  • US Tax Court

Related Practices

  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Corporate
  • Employee Benefits
  • Estate Planning & Administration
  • Executive Compensation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Tax
  • Tax & Fiduciary Litigation
  • Transactional Tax (Federal & International)
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