A member of the Firm’s Corporate and Tax Practice Groups, Joe advises clients spanning a variety of different industries throughout all stages of their business life cycle, with a particular focus in mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity finance, corporate and tax structuring and startups.
Joe advises charitable and non-profit organizations with respect to organization and application for tax-exempt status, and provides counsel to privately-held emerging and middle-market companies on entity formation, corporate governance, and general tax matters, with an emphasis on choosing the right form of business entity, the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations, and tax considerations of equity compensation for corporations and partnerships.
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 serves as an adjunct faculty member at Boston University School of Law, where he teaches “Life Cycle of a Business Venture,” a course that analyzes tax issues encountered by businesses at all stages of their life cycles. 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.
Speaking Engagements
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
Publications
Small Business Administration Modifies Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance, COVID-19 Alert
U.S. Treasury Releases Interim Rules on Paycheck Protection Program - What You Need to Know, COVID-19 Alert
SBA Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), COVID-19 Alert
A Plain Language Guide to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ("CARES") Act, COVID-19 Alert
State and Federal COVID-19 Small Business Loan Programs, COVID-19 Alert
Tax Alert: South Dakota v. Wayfair
Summary of Significant Changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
Outside the office
During the academic year, Joe is an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate Tax Program at Boston University School of Law assisting with tax law courses for J.D. and LL.M. students. A native of Oklahoma and a die-hard University of Oklahoma football fan, on Fall Saturdays Joe can be found cheering on the Sooners. Outside of football season, Joe enjoys skiing, golfing, and traveling. He also volunteers at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans.
News & Events
- COVID-19 Alert
COVID-19 Relief Law Decoded: What Clients Need To Know Now
January 12, 2021 - COVID-19 Resource Collection
Coronavirus Updates
January 8, 2021 - Morse Announces 2021 Attorney Elevations
January 1, 2021 - COVID-19 Alert
Massachusetts Extends Administrative Tax Relief for Small Businesses
September 18, 2020 - COVID-19 Alert
IRS Issues Guidance on President’s Payroll Tax Memo
August 31, 2020
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
- Corporate
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Startups & Emerging Companies
- Tax Planning for Business Transactions
- Taxation
- Venture Capital