Biography
Dick Tomeo is a retired partner and former chair of the firm's Tax Group who has a broad background in both federal and state tax matters, including transactional matters, the representation of clients before taxing agencies, and the representation of tax-exempt organizations such as health care institutions.
A significant portion of his practice focused on state and local tax issues. Dick regularly advised both domestic and foreign clients regarding the structure of operations in Connecticut and other states, with a view to minimizing the impact of state and local income, sales and use, ad valorem, and excise taxes. His efforts included advance planning with respect to the state and local tax considerations of the acquisitions of businesses, the structure of investments, and the identification and negotiation of special tax incentives in various jurisdictions.
His practice also involved advising domestic and foreign clients regarding the tax implications of complicated business structures and transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, cross-border transactions, and the use of various types of business organizations. Dick also had considerable experience over a 20 year span in drafting and working to secure adoption of tax legislation and in helping to shape tax regulations adopted at the state level.
Dick regularly represented clients before taxing agencies in audits and administrative litigation as well as in tax litigation. He successfully argued the case of Foodways National, Inc. v. Crystal before the Connecticut Supreme Court, establishing that amounts paid for storage space in a public warehouse constitute rent for purposes of corporate income tax apportionment. He successfully prosecuted the case of Steelcase, Inc. v. Crystal before the Supreme Court, establishing that the Connecticut sales and use tax could not properly be applied to drop shipment sales under the circumstances presented.
Dick has been a member of the editorial board of, and a frequent contributor to, the Journal of Multistate Taxation and a contributing author to the CCH Guidebook to Connecticut Taxes. He has also served as the senior topical editor for taxation for the Connecticut Bar Journal. Dick was selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2006 to 2012.