Joseph E. Hunt IV

Member

Direct 781-697-2272
Fax 781-622-5933
Waltham, MA

An experienced member of the Firm’s Corporate and Tax Practice Groups, Joe advises clients throughout all stages of the business life cycle from initial concept and entity formation through ultimate exit, providing counsel to privately held startup, emerging growth, and middle-market companies across multiple industries, with particular focus on technology and life sciences companies. Joe’s transactional practice focuses on guiding his clients through a wide range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, venture capital financings, and complex tax structuring matters.

Joe’s experience includes a strong background in matters of U.S. federal taxation, which allows him to advise his clients on multifaceted tax issues arising in the course of mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations, structuring equity compensation for service providers in corporations and partnerships, and corporate governance.

Joe maintains a robust pro bono practice advising charitable and non-profit organizations with respect to entity formation and corporate governance, and routinely guides clients through the process of applying for tax-exempt status with the IRS. For more than a decade Joe has partnered with Low Income Taxpayer Clinics to assist low-income taxpayers resolve tax disputes with the IRS.

Prior to joining Morse, Joe worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Transaction Services group of a Big Four advisory firm based in Boston, where he focused on advising private equity and multinational corporate clients throughout the merger and acquisition life cycle with experience in both buy-side and sell-side transactions with a particular emphasis on software, life sciences, and technology industries.

Outside of the office, Joe is an adjunct faculty member at Boston University School of Law, where he teaches “Federal Income Taxation II” in the Fall and “Life Cycle of a Business Venture” in the Spring. While a student at Boston University School of Law, Joe was honored at graduation with the Ernest M. Haddad Award which is presented annually to the graduating student in the Graduate Tax Program who best exhibits overall capability, taking into consideration academic achievement, character, and potential to serve the public interest.

Affiliations

American Bar Association, Teaching Taxation Committee

Boston Bar Association

Speaking Engagements

Judge, Law Student Tax Exchange, American Bar Association

Speaker, Taxation of Equity Based Arrangements for LLCs: Capital and Profits Interest Transfers, Appreciation Rights, Strafford

Speaker, Lunch and Learn: Considerations for Managing a Business: from Corporate to Tax to Employment, Scroobious

Speaker, Structuring Profits Interests as Incentive Compensation for Key Employees and Service Providers, Strafford

Speaker, COVID-19 Series: SBA Loan & CARES Act For Gym Owners, TRIIB Webinars

Speaker, Partner Profits Interests: IRS Safe Harbor, Migrating From Employee to Partner, Ensuring Capital Gains Treatment, Strafford

Guest Lecturer, Common Tax Issues, Startup Law Clinic, Boston University School of Law

Panelist, 7th Annual International Tax Update, M. Robinson & Company

Speaker, 2018 Tax Reform: Life Sciences Update

Speaker, Tax Reform, Tax Clinic at St. Thomas University School of Law

Panelist, Tax Reform Roundtable – Corporations, Boston University School of Law

Outside the office

Joe is an adjunct lecturer in the Graduate Tax Program at Boston University School of Law, having taught there since 2018. He currently teaches Federal Income Taxation II and Life Cycle of a Business Venture – two courses that focus on tax principles that apply to the acquisition, holding and disposition of tangible and intangible property and tax issues frequently encountered by startups and founders at various stages of the business life cycle.

A New England transplant native to Oklahoma, Joe is a die-hard fan of the University of Oklahoma’s athletic programs and firmly believes that football is best played on Saturdays; during the fall you’ll find him cheering on the Sooners and supporting the OU Club of Boston. Despite this hometown loyalty, Joe has also adopted all of the Boston professional sports teams as his own and enjoys skiing, golfing, traveling, and spending quality time with his family.

Joe lives in Medfield with his wife and three children and is active in his hometown community, serving as a member of Medfield’s Affordable Housing Trust.

Education
  • Boston University School of Law, LL.M. (Taxation)
  • St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • University of Oklahoma, B.A.
Admissions
  • Massachusetts Bar
  • New York Bar
  • United States Tax Court
Practice Areas
Industries
Recognition
  • MA Rising Stars, 2022, 2023