- Our Team
- > Jeffery R. Schaffart
Overview
Recognized by Chambers and Partners as a leading tax attorney, Jeff Schaffart solves complex tax and legal issues by providing timely, pragmatic advice to private equity sponsors, general counsel, management teams, and business owners. He chairs Koley Jessen’s Tax Practice Group.
When advising on corporate and partnership tax matters, Jeff helps clients defer, reduce, and eliminate taxes by structuring and implementing strategic transactions. He advises clients on tax-free rollovers of equity, taxable and tax-free mergers, stock and asset sales and acquisitions, restructurings, recapitalizations, reorganizations, spin-offs, and split-offs. Jeff also advises private equity clients on their structures and operations, with an emphasis on sales and acquisitions of portfolio companies.
Jeff helped design and implement Nebraska’s pass-through entity tax law, which has helped reduce many Nebraska business owners’ federal income tax burden. He is also currently advising on structuring, forming, and investing in qualified opportunity funds and the potential tax-deferral and exclusion benefits of reinvesting capital gains into qualified opportunity funds.
When advising clients on fund formation and capital raising activities, Jeff helps clients comply with their securities laws obligations. He advises clients on private offerings, registered public offerings under the Securities Act of 1933, and disclosure and reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Jeff has authored or co-authored over 30 articles and frequently speaks on tax matters. He has been recognized by Chambers and Partners for his work in Tax Law. The publication quoted clients as saying, "He has a very broad base of technical knowledge. I rely on and respect his opinion on technical matters," and "Jeff balances a clear and deep understanding of the law with practical advice as to actionable decisions."
Experience
Representative Matters
- Multiple clients in forming, structuring, and investing in qualified opportunity funds
- Recapitalization of Omaha Steaks by McCarthy Capital
- Omaha World-Herald Company in its sale to Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A) for $150 million
- Tenex Capital Management in the following transactions:
- acquisition of G2 Secure Staff
- acquisition of Orbus Exhibit & Display Group
- acquisition of Terryberry
- acquisition of Big Bolt
- acquisition of Auveco
- acquisition of Empire Auto Parts
- acquisition of Pugh Lubricants
- acquisition of Roscoe Medical
- acquisition of US Greenfiber
- Franchise FastLane in connection with its partnership with Southfield Capital
- C&A Industries in its sale to Medical Solutions
- SilverStone Group, Inc. in its sale to HUB International
- Tecumseh Farms LLC in its sale of Tecumseh Poultry LLC (Smart Chicken) to Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN)
- Global Industries, Inc. in sale to Ag Growth International, Inc. (TSX: AFN)
- ACI Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACIW) in the acquisition of Retail Decisions from Palamon Capital Partners for $205 million
- Clearview Capital, LLC in the sale of QC Supply, LLC to Charlesbank Capital Partners
- JBT Corporation (NYSE: JBT) in the acquisition of assets of Cooling & Applied Technology, Inc. for $90 million
- McCarthy Capital in the sale of Homecare Software Solutions, LLC d.b.a. HHA eXchange to Cressey & Company
- McCarthy Capital in its investment in Lateef Investment Management
- McCarthy Capital in the sale of Benaissance, LLC to WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX)
- Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV) in the sale of Heil Trailer International to American Industrial Partners for $220 million
- Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV) in its sale of Crenlo, LLC and Paladin Brands to KPS Capital Partners, LP for $290 million
- Sergeant’s Pet Care Products, Inc. in its sale to Perrigo, Inc. for $285 million
- Multiple clients in securing favorable private letter rulings under the IRS' pilot program for tax-free spin-offs and split-offs
- Multiple clients in private securities offerings
- Multiple clients in tax-free restructurings, spin-offs, and recapitalizations
Insights & Events
Publications
Speaking Engagements
News
Honors & Affiliations
Honors & Awards
Chambers USA, Tax, 2020-2024
Omaha Magazine Top Lawyers of Omaha, Tax Law, 2021
Community & Professional
Nebraska State Bar Association
Great Plains Federal Tax Institute, Director
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Douglas County, Director
Nebraska State Bar Association Taxation Section, Past Chair
Nebraska State Bar Association Securities Law Section, Past Chair
Child Saving Institute, Past Director
United Way of the Midlands, Past Community Investment Review Team Member
Represented numerous clients in Nebraska adoptions of foreign-born children on a pro bono basis
Education
J.D., Creighton University, 2001 (summa cum laude)
- Editorial Staff, Creighton Law Review, 2000-2001
- Faculty of Law Award for Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average in Graduating Class
B.A., University of Nebraska – Lincoln, 1997
- Political Science
- International Affairs
Admissions
- State of Nebraska