According to Tom, “I have helped a number of clients achieve their business goals by using creative legal and business strategies.” According to one client, “Tom’s responsiveness, availability and thoroughness are the best I have ever seen. Those things – his attention to detail and thoroughness – are what stand out.”

Thomas (Tom) McMahon, a tax lawyer with an active business and health care practice, is a partner in Lathrop GPM’s Business Transactions group. His approach is to get to know the client and the relevant issues, and then help to find the most efficient and effective solutions to meet the client’s overall objectives. He said, “I do not let issues languish. I try to address them as soon as possible and help the client meet their business and tax objectives.” Tom serves as a long-term partner to his clients. Many are nonprofits and small to mid-market companies that have been with Tom for 25 years or more.

Clients of all sizes rely on Tom for assistance with:

  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Negotiating and documenting agreements
  • Real estate transactions
  • Tax issues
  • Compliance issues

Tom represents health care clients, including physician practices associated with academic medical centers and health systems, manufacturers, plumbing/electrical/HVAC companies, real estate brokerages and nonprofit organizations, including hospital foundations. He also provides tax counsel to accountants and lawyers outside the firm.

Tom knows that tax issues can be major obstacles to a business or nonprofit’s long-term success. He helps guide clients through such critical matters as:

  • Nonprofit and foundation work
  • M&A, consolidations and ownership restructurings
  • Conversion of former government properties to other uses, utilizing rehabilitation tax credits
  • Private letter rulings from the IRS
  • Like-kind exchanges and other real estate transactions
  • State and local tax disputes

One client had this to say about Tom’s approach: “Tom always highlights what he sees going on in the market, whether it’s compliance or regulatory or industry trends. He does a really good job of offering me thoughts without pushing the issue.”

When asked…

Why did you become a lawyer?

I went to law school to be involved in business transactions. I enjoy helping clients meet their business and financial objectives.

What do you do outside of work?

My wife and I enjoy traveling whenever possible. We are both attorneys, and we enjoy seeing the world and different cultures. I am also an enthusiastic gardener. I developed my interest at an early age when I worked as a landscaper.

Areas of Focus

Services

Sectors

Experience

  • Negotiated and documented an Affiliation Agreement among a state university medical school, a multi-hospital health system and a physician medical practice client, as well as a Master Professional Services Agreement between the physician medical practice client and the health system.
  • Represented multiple plumbing/electrical/HVAC companies in sales to private equity firms.
  • Represented an agricultural equipment manufacturer in the redemption of a partnership interest from a multinational equipment manufacturer.

Credentials

Education

  • University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (LL.M., 1987)
  • Yale Law School (J.D., 1981)
  • Hofstra University (B.B.A., Finance, summa cum laude, 1978)

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Tax Court

Recognitions

  • Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®, 2003-2025
  • Named to Best of the United States, Lawyer Section, 2006
  • Selected for Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, 2005-2013
  • Selected for Best Attorneys Network Directory, 2005
  • Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
  • Listed in Who's Who in American Law
  • Martindale-Hubbell® "AV" Rating

Presentations

  • Speaker, 2001 Advanced Conference on Commercial Real Estate Purchases and Sales, The Seminar Group, 2001
  • Speaker, "Real Estate Law Practice in Ever Increasingly Interesting Times," Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 1997
  • Speaker, "Taxation of Limited Liability Companies & Partnerships," University of Missouri-Kansas City, 199

Publications

  • Author, "Coordinating Partners’ Profit and Loss Allocations with Economic Sharing Agreements," Journal of Partnership Taxation (W,G&L), Fall 1993, pp. 220-231

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association, Taxation Section, Subcommittee on Partnerships
  • American College of Tax Counsel
  • The Missouri Bar

Community Involvement

  • The Children's Mercy Hospital Planned Giving Counsel, Executive Committee
  • Children’s Mercy Hospital Foundation, Secretary
  • YMCA Invest in Youth Campaign, Major Gifts Campaigner, 1989-90
  • Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Centurions Class of 1989
  • Kansas City Soccer Foundation, Inc., Vice President and Director, 1985-86
  • Kansas City Spirit, Inc., Vice President and Member of Executive Committee, 1983-85