Faculty Profile: Michael Cottone

Michael Cottone is an associate in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group. He focuses on representing clients in a range of tax disputes, including franchise, excise, sales and use, business, and property taxes. Beyond litigation, Michael assists clients by negotiating with taxing authorities, providing representation in formal administrative proceedings, challenging assessments through the informal conference process, filing claims for tax refunds, and requesting letter rulings. He has obtained several positive letter rulings from the Tennessee Department of Revenue, prepared and filed successful refund claims, litigated a variety of tax issues with positive results, successfully pursued administrative tax appeals, and secured tax savings and credits for his clients. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he teaches State and Local Taxation.

In addition, Michael assists clients with unclaimed property and escheatment issues and counsels electric membership corporations and other cooperative entities in connection with federal and state tax and broadband internet compliance issues. He also represents clients in a variety of complex disputes in federal and state courts, including class actions, multi-district litigation, and challenges to regulations and other agency actions.