People

Overview

Matt Larsen represents clients in state and local tax planning, controversies, incentives and legislation in Texas and numerous other states. Mr. Larsen assists clients in structuring operations and transactions to reduce state and local taxes. He advises on real estate transactions, asset and stock sales, mergers, service transactions and development projects. He enables clients to reduce state and local taxes through restructurings and nexus-avoidance planning.

Mr. Larsen also represents clients in dealings and disputes with state and local tax authorities, including audits (both traditional and managed), administrative hearings, district and appellate court proceedings, refund claims, ruling requests, voluntary disclosure agreements and unclaimed property examinations. He assists clients with Texas ad valorem tax benefits, including city and county tax abatements, school district appraised value limitations and tax exemptions. He is also experienced with other local economic development grant and incentive programs.

Mr. Larsen has served as chair of the state and local tax committee of the State Bar of Texas, and as a member of the State Bar Tax Section's governing council. He has also been a member of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' Taxpayer Advisory Group, a select group of tax practitioners that advises the Comptroller regarding Texas tax issues. He was a principal drafter of comments submitted by the State Bar in response to legislation implementing the Texas margin tax and to administrative rules promulgated under the margin tax.

Mr. Larsen is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.), 2020-2021, and serves on the Law360 State Tax Editorial Advisory Board. He authors a bimonthly column for Law360 on Texas tax developments. He is a member of the Baker Botts Oil and Gas Mergers and Acquisitions team.

Admission & Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas, Past Chair of State and Local Tax Committee and Tax Section Council Member
  • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Taxpayer Advisory Group
  • Dallas Bar Association, Tax Section
  • Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, Sales Tax Committee
  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law 1996
    Armour Scholar
  • B.A., Economics, Brandeis University 1993
    magna cum laude

Experience

  • Secured estimated $700 million in property tax incentives for $8 billion Texas energy project
  • Secured estimated $150 million in property tax incentives for $1.5 billion Texas manufacturing project
  • Property, sales and income tax planning related to the development of numerous other capital-intensive projects in multiple states, including property tax abatements, appraised value limitation agreements and other economic development grants and incentives
  • State and local tax planning for $1.025 billion and $750 million acquisitions of oil and gas assets
  • State and local tax planning for $520 million sale of compression equipment
  • State and local tax planning for acquisition of 600,000 customer retail electric business
  • State and local tax planning in connection with numerous other large acquisitions and dispositions of oil and gas and other assets
  • Favorable Texas Supreme Court appeal of state franchise tax apportionment issues
  • Obtained a taxability determination and a favorable administrative settlement for a multinational insurance broker limiting the scope of Texas sales tax on insurance-related services
  • Sales, property and income tax planning and controversy matters in connection with acquisitions and dispositions of aircraft
  • Numerous organizational restructurings to mitigate the impact of the Texas franchise tax and other state and local taxes

Awards and Community

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.), 2020-2025

Selected to the Law360 State Tax Editorial Advisory Board, 2020-2023

Recommended in The Legal 500 U.S., 2013

Recognized as a "Texas Super Lawyer-Rising Star," (Thomson Reuters), 2005 & 2006