Gary M. Harden

Gary M. Harden


Harden Law LLC

Recognized since 1995

Swanton, Ohio

Practice Areas

Litigation and Controversy - Tax

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Tax Law

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Tax Law
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Tax Law
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“Investing in client relationships enables a profit center approach to legal and financial services.”

A transactional tax lawyer with regular involvement in tax controversies for over 35 years, Gary M. Harden partners with clients and collaborating professionals on a national platform, designing and implementing value added business - tax strategy. His practice areas include mergers and acquisitions (M&A), syndications, finance and insurance; with niche areas in intellectual property tax, executive benefits, sports & entertainment tax, exempt organizations, captive insurance, and employee fraud and embezzlement investigations. He serves a broad range of business and nonprofit clients including service firms in the accounting, legal, financial and insurance professions, and as outside tax counsel to a virtual law firm serving the information technology (IT) sector internationally. Bar admissions include Ohio, the US Tax Court and US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Mr. Harden is a member of Eastman & Smith.

He is a regular speaker and author on topics involving taxation and business law, and taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Toledo Law School. His articles include a wide variety of topics such as FATCA and Ohio's Commercial Activity Tax, with some available by links on this website and to LinkedIn.

Mr. Harden earned a master’s degree in tax law (LL.M) from New York University, bachelor of business administration in accounting from the University of Notre Dame, and juris doctor (J.D.) from the University of Toledo College of Law. He is a graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School.

You may also find Mr. Harden instructing a merit badge, cantoring a Mass, backpacking the Rocky Mountains with a crew of young adults at BSA’s Philmont Scout Reservation, camping with his wife, cross country skiing the snowy trails of Northern Michigan or hiking through the woods of Oak Openings Metropark with his German Shepard, Andy.

EXPERIENCE
  • Restructured the sale of a significant private closely held corporation adding $600 million in value.
    • Diligenced and remediated family owned and service firms for acquisition by publicly traded companies.
      • Restructured as taxable the stalled acquisition of a two domestic corporations by a widely held foreign client intended as tax deferred (inversion), adding value for all parties.
        • Restructured the sale of a line of business to a publicly traded company as the sale of a patent portfolio, an eight figure deal, adding value for all parties.
          • Is currently defending a referred client in a Midco tax shelter.
            • Coordinates amnesty and voluntary disclosure for domestic taxpayers, expats and estates under the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, Streamlined Program, and Silent Disclosure; defended a referred US Person in an FBAR examination resulting in “no-change.”
              • Testified before US Treasury on the scope of IRC section 337(d) regulations on behalf of a nonprofit social club.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 2200 County Rd. E
    P. O. Box 86
    Swanton, OH 43558-9058
Education
  • University of Toledo, graduated 1980
  • University of Notre Dame, graduated 1977
Bar Admissions
  • Ohio, Ohio State Bar Association
Affiliations
  • National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) - Valuation Credentialing Board
  • Erie Shores Council BSA - General Counsel, Exec Board, Risk Mgt Chmn
  • Committee For Certification of Fed Tax Specialization - Member
  • Ohio State Bar Association - Member, Past Chair Fed Tax Committee
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. Tax Court

Harden Law LLC

Swanton, Ohio

1 The Best Lawyers in America® award

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Tax Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Tax Law, Toledo (2025)
  • Tax Law, Toledo (2023)
  • Tax Law, Toledo (2016)
  • Tax Law, Toledo (2013)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Litigation and Controversy - Tax
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Tax Law
Special Focus:
  • COVID-19
Awards:
  • American Red Cross National Certificate of Merit for saving a life

    BSA Heroism Award

Publications

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