John B. Burns is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker Donelson. He regularly handles controversies and other tax issues for clients at the local, state, federal and international levels. Mr. Burns has helped numerous clients obtain property tax incentives (PILOTs), and he has successfully litigated and resolved tax incentive compliance disputes. Mr. Burns has represented several airlines in obtaining property tax abatements and reductions and litigated cases involving the taxability of aircraft leasing methods. He also handles tax issues relative to U.S. taxation of multinational transactions, as well as the establishment of joint ventures between U.S. and foreign companies. Most recently Mr. Burns litigated and resolved a property tax dispute which resulted in a refund for the client.  He regularly represents clients before the Tennessee Department of Revenue, the Tennessee Attorney General's Office and the IRS.

Mr. Burns also handles a wide variety of estate planning issues, including estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and business succession planning.

Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Burns served as a Staff Attorney to the Tennessee Court of Appeals in Jackson, Tennessee from 1993 to 2000. In this role, he managed all appeals to the Court.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Editorial Board – "State and Local Tax Lawyer," American Bar Association
• Presenter – "Recent Developments in Tennessee Taxation," a yearly update for Chattanooga Tax Practitioners, Chattanooga, Tennessee (2004 – 2008) 

2009 

• Presenter – "Special Needs Trusts," Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, Nashville, Tennessee (August 28, 2009)
• Presenter – "Impact of Federal Stimulus Legislation on the States," Southeastern Association of Tax Administrators, Biloxi, MS (June 29, 2009)
• Author – "Hidden Tennessee Income Tax Can be Trap for Unwary," Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry Business Insider (March/April 2009)

2008

• Presenter – "Tennessee Tax Issues," Montgomery County Bar Association, Clarksville, TN (December 11, 2008)
• Presenter – State and Local Tax Roadshow, Baker Donelson Seminar, Jackson, MS (November 10, 2008); Birmingham, AL (November 11, 2008)
• Presenter – "Advanced Sales and Use Tax in Tennessee," Lorman Education Services, Chattanooga, TN (September 17, 2008)
• Presenter – "Regional Tax Update," Council on State Taxation, Memphis, TN (June 17, 2008)

2007

• Presenter – "Essential Skills for Drafting LLC Agreements," National Business Institute, Memphis, TN (September 25, 2007)

2006

• Presenter – "Legislative Update for Tennessee and Surrounding States," Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, Franklin, TN (November 2006)
• Presenter – "Is an LLC Right for You," National Business Institute, Memphis, TN (September 21, 2006)
• Presenter – "Tax Considerations of Judgments and Settlements," Baker Donelson Seminar, Memphis, TN (August 2, 2006)

2005

• Presenter – "Legislative Update for Tennessee and Surrounding States," Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, Franklin, TN (November 2005)
• Presenter –  "Recent Developments in Tennessee Taxation," Memphis Bar Association, Memphis, TN (October 13, 2005)
• Presenter – "Who’s Your Client (and Other Ethical Dilemmas)," Tennessee Bar Association, Memphis, TN (March 29, 2005)

2004

• Presenter – "Tax Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Tennessee," National Business Institute, Memphis, TN (May 20, 2004)
• Presenter – Taxes Facing an Estate (2004)

2003

• Presenter – "Split Dollar Life Insurance Regulations," Memphis Estate Planning Council, Memphis, TN (October 28, 2003)

Professional Honors & Activities

• Member – American, Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations
• Member – State and Local Tax Executive Committee of the American Bar Association
• Member – Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law Class of 2008
• Fellow to Bangladesh (2000) – Rotary Foundation
• International Committee Chair (2004-2005) – Rotary Club of Memphis
• Member – NEXUS Memphis (2007)

Admissions

• Tennessee, 1990
• U.S. District Court for the Middle and Western Districts of Tennessee
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Tax Court

Education

• University of Florida, LL.M. in Taxation, 2001
• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 1990, cum laude
• University of Mississippi, B.A., 1986, cum laude