J. Alton Bivens

Columbia, South Carolina

J. Alton Bivens is a counselor and advisor at law. Alton's practice concentrates primarily in areas of law and planning that are common to us all at some stage in our lives. While Alton has distinguished himself by obtaining a Masters in Taxation Law from New York University and has received Certification as a Specialist in Taxation Law from the South Carolina Supreme Court, his law practice is much broader and universal than just taxation law. Alton's prior life and work in South Carolina in small business and in the field of tax preparation for individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies, has provided him with a broad and diverse base of experience that qualifies Alton to fill the role as a personal and small business counselor and advisor at law.

Alton's practice of law concentrates on those important times and transactions in life that we all need to be concerned about as individuals: the making of a last will and testament; the appointment of general and health care powers of attorney; the making of trusts for the protection of minor children, the elderly, persons with Special Needs; the administration of probate upon the death of a family member and the settlement of controversies that may arise in the process; representation for individual tax controversies before the IRS, the South Carolina Department of Revenue, or any local tax authority; and any variety of personal agreements or authorizations of a legal nature.

Alton's experience and academic foundation in taxation law provide Alton with the knowledge necessary for the preparation of the legal documents and agreements for the entire life-cycle of small business transactions, including: business formations and ownership structuring; management and operations; risk reduction and liability protection; business planning and sources of capital funding; key employee compensation incentives and retention; market growth and business expansion; tax planning and tax controversy resolution; business succession planning and implementation; and business sales or dissolutions.

Such includes documents and agreements for:

• Bylaws Operating Agreements Land & Asset Leases
• Stock Restrictions Transfer Restrictions Mergers & Acquisitions
• Stock Buy/Sell Non-Competition Entity Conversions
• Confidentiality Capital Funding Tax Planning & Controversies
• Trade Secrets Business Plans Entity Sales & Dissolutions
• Compensation Product Development Licensing & Market Restrictions
• Incorporations Organization of LLCs Asset Sales/Purchases

Areas of Practice:

• Federal, State, and Local Taxation Law
• Tax-Exempt and Charitable Organizations
• Corporate and Business Transaction Law and Succession Planning
• Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning
• Probate Administration and Controversy Resolution

Bar Admissions:

• South Carolina, 1995

Education:

• New York University School of Law, New York, New York, 1996
  • LLM in Taxation
• University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina, 1995
  • Juris Doctor
• Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, 1974
  • A.B. in Liberal Arts
  • Honors: Magna Cum Laude
  • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• South Carolina Bar Association, Sections on Taxation and Probate
  • Member
• Richland County Bar Association
  • Member

**Any results the law firm may have achieved in past cases does not imply or indicate that similar results may be had in your case. Outcome of litigation is dependent on many factual and legal circumstances that may differ in your particular case.