--- title: 2026 Houston Tax & Business Planning Seminar | Chamberlain Hrdlicka description: Attend Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s 49th Annual Houston Tax & Business Planning Seminar for updates on tax law, business transactions, and practical strategies. --- [![Chamberlain Hrdlicka full color logo](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CHWWA_logo_full%20color.png?width=2116&height=319&name=CHWWA_logo_full%20color.png "Chamberlain Hrdlicka full color logo")](http://www.chamberlainlaw.com) # 49th Annual Houston Tax & Business Planning Seminar  **Online registration is now closed.** To register, please contact Meg Grossman at **[meg.grossman@chamberlainlaw.com](mailto:meg.grossman@chamberlainlaw.com).** Walk-ins are also welcome at the seminar.  Join Chamberlain Hrdlicka for an essential event dedicated to tax professionals, accountants, and business advisors looking to stay ahead in an ever-evolving tax landscape. This full-day seminar will cover the latest developments in federal, state and international tax law and business transactions. With insightful presentations, practical strategies, and valuable networking opportunities, this seminar is designed to provide attendees with actionable takeaways to better serve their clients and businesses. We look forward to welcoming you for another year of engaging discussion.  ### Date - Time - Location Thursday, October 29, 2026 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.  **The Houstonian Hotel** 111 N Post Oak Ln Houston, TX 77024 ### Cost $150.00 - Digital Materials Only $225.00 - Digital + Print Materials $175.00 per person for Walk-In Registration (if space allows). For attendees that prefer, a hard copy binder is available for $75.00 per binder. \*\*All costs include food and refreshments ### CLE Credits Texas CLE: 5.0 Credit Hours Texas CPE: 6.0 Credit Hours ![atbps landing page header image (2)-1](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/atbps%20landing%20page%20header%20image%20(2)-1.png?width=320&height=400&name=atbps%20landing%20page%20header%20image%20(2)-1.png "atbps landing page header image (2)-1") ## Keynote Speaker # Dan Potter, Ph.D. Director, Houston Population Research Center Kinder Research Institute for Urban Research at Rice University   Dan Potter directs the survey work for the Houston Population Research Center at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. This includes overseeing the Greater Houston Community Panel (GHCP), the Kinder Houston Area Survey, the Asian American Community Study, and the Houston LOVE Survey. These studies get done with a wonderful team of colleagues who take surveys from start to finish in service to better understanding the values, attitudes, and experiences of the people and their lives in the Houston region. ## Event Agenda & Presentation Details Use the "+" signs to expand the boxes and learn more about each presentation. 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Registration Stop by the check-in tables to pick up your seminar badge and materials. 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Luncheon Keynote Presentation **The Economy, Housing Affordability, Disaster Preparedness, and the Importance of Social Connections: Findings from the Greater Houston Community Panel, *Dan Potter, Ph.D.*** The Houston area is one of the fastest growing metro regions in the country over the last two decades, and a key to its growth has been the economic opportunities the region provides. Over the past year, Houston-area residents have become increasingly alarmed about the economy, which poses a risk to the Houston region's continued growth. Other risks to the Houston area include an increasingly unaffordable housing market as well as severe weather and natural disasters. In the face of these risks, one way the Houston area can continue to grow and prosper is by improving its investments in social connectedness. Doing so will help improve people's wealth, health, and sense of safety. 1:05 p.m. - 2:05 p.m. - Presentations 1A and 1B ##### **Presentation 1A** **Beware of the Odyssey and Siren's Call: Self-Employment Tax Traps and Potential Workarounds for Businesses,** ***Habeeb "Hobbs" Gnaim*** Under federal tax law, the owner of a single-member LLC and a partner in an entity taxed as a partnership cannot be reported as a W-2 employee of that same entity. Many businesses rush to make an S corporation election to alleviate this issue. This presentation will explore this common scenario and discuss why an S corporation election may not be the best long-term solution. It will also cover various workarounds for owners of these entities that want to be reported as a W-2 employee, strategies for incentivizing key employees without making them owners of the entity, an overview of self-employment tax issues, and recent court decisions that might further complicate these matters for business owners. ##### **Presentation 1B** **Generation Skipping Tax (GST) for Dummies , *Christine Borrett*** Reporting GST allocations on 709s and 706s; Funding, Splitting, and Terminating Trusts—the basics. 2:10 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. - Presentations 2A and 2B ##### **Presentation 2A** **Coming in from the Cold: Options for Non-Compliant Taxpayers, *Larry A. Campagna and Alissa Gipson*** Non-filers and other non-compliant taxpayers have a number of potential pathways to resolve their issues with the IRS. This presentation will discuss: the newly revised voluntary disclosure program, streamlined filing procedures, qualified amended returns, and other corrective measures. The focus will be on recent enforcement trends and practical considerations for the strategic decisions applicable to a taxpayer's specific facts and exposure.  ##### **Presentation 2B** **An Update on the International Tax Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill for 2026 and Beyond, *Sebastien N. Chain*** Back by popular demand, this presentation will provide an update on the international tax provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill ("OB3") that will affect 2026 tax reporting.  This session will cover developments since last year's program and discuss practical planning points and lessons from the first year. 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m. Presentations 3A and 3B ##### **Presentation 3A** **From LOI to K-1 in a Private Equity Sale: What Tax Advisors Should Know Before (and After) Closing, *Umair Karowadia and*** ***John D. Fields*** When a private equity letter of intent lands, the client's CPA or other tax advisor is usually the first call. Depending on the deal, the LOI may call for rollover equity, an earnout, or a seller note, and, if the target is an S corporation, a pre-closing F reorganization, each of which carries tax consequences that are easy to miss at the LOI stage. This session walks through the tax life cycle of a lower-middle-market PE transaction from the tax advisor's perspective. Along the way, we look at why buyers insist on an F reorganization for S corporation targets, how the structure shifts when the target is a pass-through or a C corporation, when a rollover is actually tax-deferred rather than a disguised sale, and how earnouts and seller notes are taxed. We also flag the traps hidden in holding company operating agreements and the post-closing compliance the tax advisor inherits once the deal closes. You will leave better equipped to spot these issues at the LOI stage, when there is still time to do something about them. ##### **Presentation 3B** **Texas Sales and Use and Franchise Tax Updates, *Bryan J. Dotson and Zachary Milliken***  This session discusses recent developments in the Texas sales and use and franchise taxes. The discussion will cover key legislative changes, recent court decisions, and amendments to Texas Comptroller regulations. 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Presentations 4A and 4B ##### **Presentation 4A** **When the Trust No Longer Fits: Navigating the Tax Consequences of Trust Modifications and Commutations, *Brett T. Berly and Tyler Williams*** Sometimes a trust may continue even after its intended purpose has been fulfilled. Or, changes in family circumstances, tax law, asset composition, or beneficiary needs may make an existing trust structure inefficient, impractical, or no longer aligned with its original purpose. Trust commutations (early terminations) and modifications may offer valuable flexibility when such issues arise, but they may also produce significant—and sometimes unexpected—federal tax consequences. This presentation will examine the potential income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax implications from modifying or commuting irrevocable trusts. We will also highlight recent developments and key planning considerations practitioners should evaluate before restructuring or terminating a trust. ##### **Presentation 4B** **Top Employee Benefit Issues in Retirement and Welfare Plans for Plan Sponsors, *Joshua A. Sutin*** This presentation offers plan sponsors a comprehensive update on the most pressing legal and regulatory developments affecting employee benefit plans in 2026. The session covers welfare plan issues including ACA affordability requirements, COBRA compliance litigation, mental health parity rules and NQTL comparative analysis obligations, HIPAA updates, and emerging gender and family planning coverage disputes, alongside qualified retirement plan topics such as recent ERISA fiduciary duty litigation, 401(k) fee and forfeiture account class actions, SECURE 2.0 mandatory and optional plan amendments, and best practices for fiduciary committees. Drawing on recent case law, DOL and IRS guidance, and regulatory updates, the presentation equips plan sponsors, HR professionals, and their advisors with practical strategies to manage compliance risk and strengthen plan governance in a rapidly evolving benefits landscape. 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Networking Reception Stick around after the seminar to unwind and connect! Join us for light bites, drinks, and great conversation as you network with fellow attendees, speakers, and colleagues. It's the perfect way to cap off the day, share takeaways, and build new connections.  --- ## Our Presenters ![hobbs](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/hobbs.jpeg?width=292&height=389&name=hobbs.jpeg) ### Habeeb "Hobbs" Gnaim Chair, Business Services and Tax Planning Practice Groups  [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-habeeb_hobbs_gnaim.html) ![borrett](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/borrett.jpeg?width=292&height=389&name=borrett.jpeg) ### Christine Borrett Senior Counsel  Trusts & Estates [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-christine_borrett.html) ![campagna](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/campagna.jpeg?width=292&height=389&name=campagna.jpeg) ### Larry A. Campagna Shareholder Tax Controversy [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-larry_campagna.html) ![gipson](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gipson.jpeg?width=292&height=389&name=gipson.jpeg) ### Alissa Gipson Senior Counsel Tax Controversy [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-alissa_gipson.html) ![chain](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/chain.jpeg?width=292&height=389&name=chain.jpeg) ### Sebastien N. Chain Shareholder International Tax [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-sebastien_chain.html) ![Umair Karowadia](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Umair%20Karowadia.jpeg?width=292&height=389&name=Umair%20Karowadia.jpeg) ### Umair Karowadia Senior Associate Tax Planning [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-umair_karowadia.html) ![zachary millikan-1](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/zachary%20millikan-1.jpeg?width=292&height=393&name=zachary%20millikan-1.jpeg) ### Zachary Milliken Associate Tax Controversy [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-zachary_milliken.html) ![brettberly-1](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/brettberly-1.jpeg?width=268&height=365&name=brettberly-1.jpeg) ### Brett T. Berly Chair, Trusts & Estates Practice Group [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-brett_berly.html) ![fields](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/fields.jpeg?width=292&height=389&name=fields.jpeg) ### John D. Fields Associate Tax Planning [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-john_fields.html) ![bryanjdotson](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bryanjdotson.jpeg?width=292&height=388&name=bryanjdotson.jpeg) ### Bryan J. Dotson Shareholder State and Local Tax [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-bryan_dotson.html) ![Untitled design (33)-1](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(33)-1.png?width=1459&height=2000&name=Untitled%20design%20(33)-1.png) ### Tyler Williams Associate Trusts & Estates [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-tyler_williams.html) ![Untitled design (31)](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(31).png?width=1465&height=2000&name=Untitled%20design%20(31).png) ### Joshua A. Sutin Shareholder Employee Benefits [View Bio](https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/people-joshua_sutin.html) ## Ready to join us? **Online registration is now closed.** To register or for any questions, please contact Meg Grossman at **[mailto:meg.grossman@chamberlainlaw.com](mailto:meg.grossman@chamberlainlaw.com)[meg.grossman@chamberlainlaw.com](mailto:meg.grossman@chamberlainlaw.com).** [![Chamberlain Hrdlicka full color logo](https://info.chamberlainlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CHWWA_logo_full%20color.png?width=2116&height=319&name=CHWWA_logo_full%20color.png "Chamberlain Hrdlicka full color logo")](http://www.chamberlainlaw.com) © 2026. 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