Christopher

D.  Speer

Shareholder
500 N. Akard Street, Suite 4000
Dallas, TX 75201-6605

Overview

Chris practices tax law in the Corporate & Securities section of the Dallas office. Chris’ goal is to produce tax efficient results for his clients on a timely, “user friendly” and cost effective basis. Chris represents entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to publicly traded companies. Chris’ clients include businesses in a multitude of industries, including health care, insurance, manufacturing, media services, professional services, real estate, restaurant and software development and services, among others.

Chris has practiced tax law in multiple sophisticated environments providing him with a breadth of experience that allows him to better service client needs. Chris started his career in the business tax section of a prominent Dallas, Texas-based law firm. He then joined a “Big Four” accounting firm as a Senior Manager in its national corporate tax practice. Seeking a more entrepreneurial environment, Chris then started a private law firm focused on business and tax law which he transitioned into Munsch Hardt in 2007.

Regular representations include:

  • Structure of purchase, sale, restructuring, reorganization and joint venture transactions. Transaction types include third party and internal taxable and tax free transactions involving ‘C’ corporations, consolidated groups, ‘S’ corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and transactions involving real estate. 
  • Design and implementation of incentive compensation arrangements for key employees and service providers, including incentive and non-qualified stock option plans, “profits interest” plans for limited liability companies and limited partnerships, phantom equity plans, and other cash incentive bonus plans.
  • IRC Section 409A compliance review for employment agreements, severance agreements and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements.
  • Choice of entity analysis and implementation to maximize tax efficiencies.
  • Negotiation and drafting of limited liability company and limited partnership agreements.
  • Administrative resolution of federal and state tax controversies.
  • Outsource general counsel services.

Chris and his wife, Angie, have twins, Colton and Sophia.

Education

Admission

Achievements

  • D CEO – Dallas 500 (2024)
  • D Magazine – Best Lawyers in Dallas – Tax (2013, 2015-2019, 2023-2024)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®, Peer Review Rated™
  • Thomson Reuters – Texas Super Lawyers (2006)
  • Woodward/White, Inc. – Best Lawyers in America, Tax Law (2020-2025)
  • Memberships

    • American Bar Association, Tax Section
    • Dallas Bar Association, Tax Section
    • State Bar of Texas, Taxation Section

Overview

Chris practices tax law in the Corporate & Securities section of the Dallas office. Chris’ goal is to produce tax efficient results for his clients on a timely, “user friendly” and cost effective basis. Chris represents entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to publicly traded companies. Chris’ clients include businesses in a multitude of industries, including health care, insurance, manufacturing, media services, professional services, real estate, restaurant and software development and services, among others.

Chris has practiced tax law in multiple sophisticated environments providing him with a breadth of experience that allows him to better service client needs. Chris started his career in the business tax section of a prominent Dallas, Texas-based law firm. He then joined a “Big Four” accounting firm as a Senior Manager in its national corporate tax practice. Seeking a more entrepreneurial environment, Chris then started a private law firm focused on business and tax law which he transitioned into Munsch Hardt in 2007.

Regular representations include:

  • Structure of purchase, sale, restructuring, reorganization and joint venture transactions. Transaction types include third party and internal taxable and tax free transactions involving ‘C’ corporations, consolidated groups, ‘S’ corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and transactions involving real estate. 
  • Design and implementation of incentive compensation arrangements for key employees and service providers, including incentive and non-qualified stock option plans, “profits interest” plans for limited liability companies and limited partnerships, phantom equity plans, and other cash incentive bonus plans.
  • IRC Section 409A compliance review for employment agreements, severance agreements and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements.
  • Choice of entity analysis and implementation to maximize tax efficiencies.
  • Negotiation and drafting of limited liability company and limited partnership agreements.
  • Administrative resolution of federal and state tax controversies.
  • Outsource general counsel services.

Chris and his wife, Angie, have twins, Colton and Sophia.

Experience

  • Award Winning Tax Counsel

    Represented the selling shareholders in the sale of 100% of the membership interests of the nation’s largest online used auto retailer to a strategic buyer. The purchase price

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  • Award Winning Tax Counsel

    Represented the selling shareholder in the sale of an Oklahoma-based provider of oil and gas equipment and services organized as an ‘S’ corporation to a private equity firm.

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  • Energy Tax Counsel

    Represented an energy management and technologies company in adoption and implementation of a “profits interest” equity incentive arrangement for key employees

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