Aaron Records is an attorney in the firm’s Brownfields Practice Group and assists clients with an assortment of tax and business matters.
Aaron extensively guides clients and their accountants in preparing and filing tax credit claims through the Brownfield Credit Program (BCP), and can thoroughly defend claims through the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s (DTF) desk audit and full examination processes. Aaron successfully works with other brownfield redevelopment professionals, such as environmental counsel, engineers, and accounting departments, to maximize tax credits for his clients.
Experience
From Buffalo to New York City and all its five boroughs, Aaron has helped clients across New York state to:
- Generate over $200 million in BCP tax credits.
- Defend millions of dollars of BCP tax credits against routine DTF audits, such as:
- For a project based in Queens, getting his clients more than $6 million of tax credits, with less than 2% of the credits disallowed by DTF.
- For a project in New Rochelle, defended more than $2.7 million of claimed site preparation costs, with DTF allowing more than 99% of the claimed costs.
- For a project in Brooklyn, defended successfully more than $17.5 million of site preparation costs, with DTF disallowed less than 5% of costs claimed
- Contest DTF audit results through the Bureau of Consolidation and Mediation Services.
- Review operating agreements and other business documents to account of the BCP tax credits and ensure allocations are supported by New York and federal tax law principles.
- Apply for and receive Brownfield Opportunity Area Conformance Certificates from New York’s Department of State.
In addition to the BCP tax credits, Aaron has worked with clients on loan closings, general operation agreement drafting, and in reviewing other federal tax incentives, such as investment and production tax credits under the Inflation and Reduction Act of 2022. Aaron also frequently volunteers with the renter’s rights clinic for the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY.
Background
Born and raised in New England, Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Creative Writing from Colby-Sawyer College, where he was a Wesson Honors Scholar and a member of the Alpha Chi National Honors Society. Aaron spent one semester abroad as a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
Aaron received his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, where he served on the Pro Bono Advisory Board, contributed to the Syrian Accountability Project, and was the Editor-in-Chief of Impunity Watch and the Journal of Global Rights and Organizations. In addition, he assisted low-income taxpayers as a student attorney in the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. During law school, Aaron also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Thomas J. McAvoy in Binghamton, New York. After graduating from law school, Aaron worked as a tax associate in PwC’s New York City office assisting large clients with both income tax consulting and compliance services, as well as defending several audits of both large companies and high net worth individuals.
Aaron currently resides in downtown Syracuse.
Education
J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, May 2019
Honors: Journal of Global Rights and Organizations, Editor-in-Chief
Activities: Pro Bono Advisory Board, Student Director of Immigration Law Clinic
B.A. Philosophy & Creative Writing, Colby-Sawyer College, summa cum laude, May 2015
Honors: Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Alpha Chi National Honor Society
Study Abroad: Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (Fall 2013)
Admissions
New York
