When people and businesses are facing an overwhelming legal issue, trying to navigate the often-murky waters of the law – any law – is a daunting proposition.
To get peace of mind, and get clear, direct answers from an experienced legal professional, people seek Julia Martin’s counsel for sound guidance, knowledgeable counsel, and the reassurance that someone is “in their corner.”
Julia advises clients on a broad range of tax and business matters, from planning and compliance, through the audit process, to controversy and litigation. Julia’s practice focuses on corporate income, franchise, gross receipts, sales and use, and personal income taxes. Julia has significant experience advising individuals and businesses on New York State tax matters, having worked extensively on audits with the New York State Division of Taxation and Finance, as well as cases before the New York State Division of Tax Appeals, the New York State Tax Appeals Tribunal and the New York State Supreme Courts.
In particular, Julia focuses her practice on economic development tax credits such as New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP). Julia works with clients to understand the impact of the tax credits, analyzes project financial information and remedial alternatives to help clients seek the full allowable amount of available credits under applicable law, guides clients and their accountants through the process to claim the credits, and successfully navigates audits on those claims.
- Julia worked closely with a client to isolate costs eligible for a BCP tax credit worth nearly $21 million and guided the client through a year-long audit review that resulted in the client receiving the full amount of credit claimed, without a dollar of adjustment.
- Julia assisted with the negotiations of a settlement that granted the client nearly $3 million in additional tax credits and avoided the need to pursue more costly litigation.
- Julia prepared and submitted multiple requests for Advisory Opinions from the New York State Division of Taxation and Finance that obtained favorable results that informed the clients’ tax planning.
Julia’s experience also includes working with clients regarding retirement plans to ensure that they obtain or retain preferential tax treatment under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. She has also worked with employer-sponsored health and welfare plans on a number of issues, including those that arise from the Affordable Care Act, and has lectured on the effect of the ACA on employers.
Julia is a Member of the firm’s Board of Managers. She is member of the New York State Bar Association Environmental Law Section and the NYSBA Brownfields Task Force and Social Media Task Force. Julia is also a member of the Central New York Women’s Bar Association and previously served as President and Treasurer of that group. Julia serves on the Board of Trustees of Syracuse Stage and has worked on the Steering Committee for Syracuse Stage’s recently completed strategic plan. She also volunteers with the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County and as a coordinator for the Syracuse High School Theatre Awards.
Experience
- Julia served as a member of the project team responsible for filing appeals for New York State Empire Zone reinstatement.
- Julia assisted the organizing committee of the New York State Brownfield Coalition, a collaborative group of representatives from all phases of the industry whose objective is the education and sharing of ideas in how to successfully navigate the NYS Brownfield application process.
- Julia managed the submission of five employer-sponsored retirement plans for review by the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with the filing cycles established under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) and to maintain the plans’ “qualified” status for tax purposes.
- Julia assisted in the preparation of an employer-sponsored health and welfare benefit plan, including preparation of the plan document, summary plan description, and notices required by federal law.
- Julia successfully negotiated with the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board to reduce a client’s penalty by more than half.
- Julia resolved multiple clients’ New York State sales and use tax liabilities through Voluntary Disclosure and Compliance Program, allowing the clients to avoid expensive penalties associated with the taxes. She has also worked on IRS and NYS Offer in Compromise process, helping resolve clients’ tax liabilities for fractions of what they originally owed.
Affiliations
- Onondaga County Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Adjunct faculty at Cazenovia College – Sexuality, Gender and the Law class
- Syracuse Stage Guild Board of Directors, Vice President of Fundraising; Past Vice President of Public Relations
- University Neighborhood Preservation Association, past member
- Central New York Women’s Bar Association, Treasurer
- ACR Health, Member – Q Center Committee
Testimonials
You are not only a very knowledgeable and efficient lawyer but also kind and compassionate when dealing with life-changing situations for your clients. I would not have made it through the last couple of years without you and Paul.
Michele C. Coughlin
I speak for both David and myself when I say you were extremely helpful with all of our questions, explaining the complicated “legalese” in a way in which we understood well. You were accommodating to our schedule, meeting us at B&N as well as later business hours. You were prompt in your responses via email and mail, and very thorough and knowledgeable in your work. You and your staff also made us feel comfortable at your office as well.
Estate Planning Clients
Education
J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 2009
B.A., Syracuse University, 2006
Admissions
New York
