Bruce M. Serchuk

Bruce M. Serchuk

Public Finance Law

4.0 (1 reviews)
Washington, District of Columbia
15+ years experience
Nixon Peabody LLP
Updated:

Contact Information

799 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20001-5327
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Bio

Bruce Serchuk focuses his practice on tax issues as they relate to debt securities, particularly tax-exempt bonds.What do you focus on? Public financeI advise clients regarding the tax aspects of tax-exempt bond transactions, acting primarily as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel. I have participated in a wide variety of bond transactions, including financings for governmental facilities, student loans, multifamily housing, stadiums and nonprofit hospitals, universities and cultural institutions. I also spend a significant amount of time working on IRS examinations and voluntary closing agreements.Government experienceMy time in government gave me the experience needed to provide accurate and practical advice to clients. Prior to joining the firm, I worked in the Office of Tax Policy at the Treasury Department, and the Office of the Chief Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service. At Treasury, I was an attorney-advisor responsible for drafting published guidance and providing advice regarding legislative issues relating to tax-exempt bonds. While at the IRS, I was the senior technician attorney in the Tax-Exempt Bond Branch, responsible for drafting published guidance and for drafting and reviewing private letter rulings and technical advice memoranda, including rulings regarding arbitrage, private activity bonds and mixed-use allocations.EnforcementWhile at the IRS, I provided advice in connection with various enforcement matters, negotiated closing agreements and trained IRS audit personnel. I draw upon these experiences and the contacts I made when clients are faced with IRS examinations or the need to self-correct violations through the IRS’ voluntary closing agreement program.What do you see on the horizon?I expect a continued emphasis on the IRS enforcement side of the public finance practice, with more and more time spent by issuers and their professionals on ensuring they are in compliance with the tax law. Bruce Serchuk focuses his practice on tax issues as they relate to debt securities, particularly tax-exempt bonds.What do you focus on? Public financeI advise clients regarding the tax aspects of tax-exempt bond transactions, acting primarily as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel. I have participated in a wide variety of bond transactions, including financings for governmental facilities, student loans, multifamily housing, stadiums and nonprofit hospitals, universities and cultural institutions. I also spend a significant amount of time working on IRS examinations and voluntary closing agreements.Government experienceMy time in government gave me the experience needed to provide accurate and practical advice to clients. Prior to joining the firm, I worked in the Office of Tax Policy at the Treasury Department, and the Office of the Chief Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service. At Treasury, I was an attorney-advisor responsible for drafting published guidance and providing advice regarding legislative issues relating to tax-exempt bonds. While at the IRS, I was the senior technician attorney in the Tax-Exempt Bond Branch, responsible for drafting published guidance and for drafting and reviewing private letter rulings and technical advice memoranda, including rulings regarding arbitrage, private activity bonds and mixed-use allocations.EnforcementWhile at the IRS, I provided advice in connection with various enforcement matters, negotiated closing agreements and trained IRS audit personnel. I draw upon these experiences and the contacts I made when clients are faced with IRS examinations or the need to self-correct violations through the IRS’ voluntary closing agreement program.What do you see on the horizon?I expect a continued emphasis on the IRS enforcement side of the public finance practice, with more and more time spent by issuers and their professionals on ensuring they are in compliance with the tax law. Bruce Serchuk focuses his practice on tax issues as they relate to debt securities, particularly tax-exempt bonds. What do you focus on? Public finance I advise clients regarding the tax aspects of tax-exempt bond transactions, acting primarily as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel. I have participated in a wide variety of bond transactions, including financings for governmental facilities, student loans, multifamily housing, stadiums and nonprofit hospitals, universities and cultural institutions. I also spend a significant amount of time working on IRS examinations and voluntary closing agreements. Government experience My time in government gave me the experience needed to provide accurate and practical advice to clients. Prior to joining the firm, I worked in the Office of Tax Policy at the Treasury Department, and the Office of the Chief Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service. At Treasury, I was an attorney-advisor responsible for drafting published guidance and providing advice regarding legislative issues relating to tax-exempt bonds. While at the IRS, I was the senior technician attorney in the Tax-Exempt Bond Branch, responsible for drafting published guidance and for drafting and reviewing private letter rulings and technical advice memoranda, including rulings regarding arbitrage, private activity bonds and mixed-use allocations. Enforcement While at the IRS, I provided advice in connection with various enforcement matters, negotiated closing agreements and trained IRS audit personnel. I draw upon these experiences and the contacts I made when clients are faced with IRS examinations or the need to self-correct violations through the IRS’ voluntary closing agreement program. What do you see on the horizon? I expect a continued emphasis on the IRS enforcement side of the public finance practice, with more and more time spent by issuers and their professionals on ensuring they are in compliance with the tax law.

Practice Areas

Public Finance Law

Awards & Recognition

  • Recognized: Public Finance Law
  • Practice Area: Economic Development Law
  • Practice Area: Municipal Law
  • Practice Area: Tax Law
  • Practice Area: Utilities Law

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010

Education

  • Lehigh University, BS

Reviews

M

Margaret Roberts

2 weeks ago

Expert Guidance on a Complex Municipal Bond Refinancing

Our municipality engaged Bruce Serchuk at Nixon Peabody to navigate the tax complexities of a major bond refinancing for a public infrastructure project. With over 15 years in public finance, his deep knowledge of tax-exempt securities and municipal law was immediately evident. Bruce provided clear, strategic advice on the tax aspects that was crucial for our economic development goals, and his recognition in Public Finance Law is well-deserved. He translated intricate IRS regulations into actionable steps for our team, ensuring we avoided potential pitfalls. The one area where we experienced a slight delay was in receiving written follow-ups to some of our more detailed inquiries, which at times slowed our internal review process. However, his direct counsel during calls was always precise and valuable. Overall, Bruce is a highly skilled attorney who delivers results in the nuanced world of public finance.

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