J. Eric Butler is a Shareholder of the firm focusing his legal practice in the areas of federal and state taxation, tax controversy matters, white collar criminal defense, and estate planning/probate matters. Mr. Butler handles a large range of tax matters for clients across Tennessee as well as the Southeastern United States involving the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities, to include examinations of returns, collection of delinquent tax debts, criminal tax matters, international tax compliance and enforcement, and litigation of tax issues in both state and federal courts. Mr. Butler also frequently consults with other attorneys on civil and criminal tax issues impacting upon a particular case.
Mr. Butler is a native of Franklin County, Tennessee. In 2000, he received his Bachelor of Science degree, with honors, from Middle Tennessee State University. In 2004, Mr. Butler earned his J.D., with honors, from The University of Memphis School of Law. During law school, Mr. Butler served as Comments Editor for The University of Memphis Law Review and as a member of the law school's National Mock Trial team during his second and third years. Mr. Butler's student comment, Ellis v. Ellis: Survivorship Properties Remain Unaffected by the 120 Hour Provision of the Tennessee Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, 33 U. MEM. L. REV. 681 (2003), was selected for publication in the Spring 2003 volume of The University of Memphis Law Review. While attending law school, Mr. Butler served as a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Fraternity, received the CALI Award for academic achievement in Federal Courts, received the Dean's Distinguished Service Award, and received the Dean's Award for Best Appellate Brief.
Mr. Butler has been selected by his peers for inclusion in MidSouth Super Lawyers - Rising Stars (2012 - 2016) for his work in the fields of taxation, white collar criminal defense, and estate planning/probate. In addition, Mr. Butler has been selected by his peers as a Top Attorney" for 2010 through 2016 in the areas of Tax and Income Tax Resolution, as reported by Cityview Magazine.
Most recently, Mr. Butler received a three-year appointment (2013 through 2015) to the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, which is a federal advisory panel established in 2002 under the authority of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) is made up of volunteers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and is comprised of approximately 80 volunteer members appointed by the Treasury Department. TAP members are assigned to separate Project Committees and include at least one representative from each state. Mr. Butler has been assigned to the Tax Forms & Publications Project Committee, which works to provide feedback to IRS on tax filing season products and to author reports on how to improve tax forms and publications. During his last year with TAP, Mr. Butler served as the Vice-Chair of the Tax Forms & Publications Committee.
Mr. Butler has been admitted to practice before all courts in the State of Tennessee, the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Tennessee, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the American Bar Association (Tax Section).
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