Former Head of IRS Exempt Orgs Division Marcus S. Owens and Tax-Exempt Partner Diara M. Holmes Join Loeb & Loeb in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 16, 2015) – Loeb & Loeb LLP announced today that Diara M. Holmes and Marcus S. Owens, former director of the IRS Exempt Organizations Division, have joined the firm’s nationally-recognized Charitable Giving and Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice as partners in the Washington, D.C. office. The pair will expand Loeb's tax-exempt organizations practice as they counsel some of the nation’s most prominent nonprofit organizations on transactional planning, tax controversy, investigations and governance matters.

“With 25 years of government service, including 10 years as director of the EO Division, Marc brings unrivaled depth to our tax and exempt organizations practice areas. His distinguished background, together with Diara’s extensive experience advising nonprofits in private practice in New York, California and D.C., will be invaluable as we continue to address the unique challenges facing our nonprofit clients,” said Leah Bishop, co-chair of Loeb & Loeb’s Trusts and Estates Department and Charitable Giving and Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice.

Mr. Owens and Ms. Holmes previously practiced together for over a decade at Caplin & Drysdale.  Their clients include the full range of charities and private foundations, issue advocacy organizations and trade associations, religious organizations, colleges and universities, and foreign charities and their U.S. affiliates.

Mr. Owens and Ms. Holmes represent tax-exempt clients before the IRS, Congress, state attorneys general and other regulatory bodies in complex audits and investigations. Together, they co-chair the ABA Tax Section’s EO Subcommittee on Audits and Appeals. Mr. Owens is frequently called upon to serve as an expert witness on complex matters of nonprofit law and is a sought after speaker and media commentator on tax and policy issues touching exempt organizations. Ms. Holmes is also a frequent speaker on nonprofit tax and governance issues. She also serves on the board of directors of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation.

“We are thrilled to join a team that shares our commitment to serving the nonprofit sector’s diverse and evolving needs," said Ms. Holmes. "For example, I’m excited to work with our Loeb colleagues across disciplines--including tax, corporate, digital media and intellectual property—to advise our large public charity clients on creative revenue-generating strategies, including corporate sponsorships and cause marketing."

“Loeb & Loeb is indeed a great strategic fit for us,” added Mr. Owens. “There is wonderful practice synergy and a collaborative spirit at the firm, which will allow us to offer our nonprofit clients a truly wholistic legal services platform."

“Marc and Diara are two of the foremost experts in the exempt organizations field. They will be perfect complements to our firm’s existing strengths advising high-net-worth individuals and nonprofit organizations out of our D.C., New York and L.A. offices,” said Loeb & Loeb Chairman Michael D. Beck. “Their addition underscores our commitment to attracting the highest level of legal talent to serve our clients within the firm’s core areas of focus.”

Loeb & Loeb’s Charitable Giving and Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice advises the full spectrum of tax-exempt organizations on issues such as executive compensation, regulatory compliance, tax, corporate transactions, fundraising/grantmaking, advocacy, governance, intellectual property and litigation. The national practice is composed of more than 20 attorneys and professionals focused on exempt organizations and related donor issues, along with an expanded team of subject matter specialists spanning transactional and litigation areas.

About Loeb & Loeb LLP
Loeb & Loeb is a multiservice law firm with more than 300 attorneys focusing on select practice areas, rather than endeavoring to be all things to all clients. The firm is recognized as a leading law firm in the areas of capital markets; corporate; media and entertainment; intellectual property; litigation; real estate; technology; and tax and wealth services. Loeb & Loeb has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Nashville, Washington, DC, and Beijing, as well as an affiliate office in Hong Kong.