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Karl Jackson

Senior Associate

Heritage Plaza
1111 Bagby Street
Suite 2100
Houston, TX 77002
T 713.634.9038
karl.jackson@nelsonmullins.com
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Karl is a member of the firm’s Tax and Tax Controversy Teams. He focuses his practice on the tax aspects of domestic mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, financing arrangements, and other business transactions.

Karl regularly advises clients on federal income tax issues arising in complex transactional matters, including deals in the medical, real...

Karl is a member of the firm’s Tax and Tax Controversy Teams. He focuses his practice on the tax aspects of domestic mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, financing arrangements, and other business transactions.

Karl regularly advises clients on federal income tax issues arising in complex transactional matters, including deals in the medical, real estate, energy, retail, and closely held business sectors. His work includes tax structuring, entity formation and restructuring, tax diligence, purchase agreement review, financing-related tax matters, and practical guidance on tax risks that arise before, during, and after a transaction.

Karl also assists clients with tax controversy and compliance matters, including federal tax audits, reporting obligations, penalty exposure, and interactions with taxing authorities. He brings a practical, business-focused approach to helping clients evaluate tax issues in a way that supports both legal compliance and commercial objectives.

Before joining Nelson Mullins in 2024, Karl gained experience advising clients on corporate tax, transactional tax, and tax controversy matters in both large-firm and public accounting environments.

estate, energy, retail, and closely held business sectors. His work includes tax structuring, entity formation and restructuring, tax diligence, purchase agreement review, financing-related tax matters, and practical guidance on tax risks that arise before, during, and after a transaction.

Karl also assists clients with tax controversy and compliance matters, including federal tax audits, reporting obligations, penalty exposure, and interactions with taxing authorities. He brings a practical, business-focused approach to helping clients evaluate tax issues in a way that supports both legal compliance and commercial objectives.

Before joining Nelson Mullins in 2024, Karl gained experience advising clients on corporate tax, transactional tax, and tax controversy matters in both large-firm and public accounting environments.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Represented a privately held retail group in connection with an approximately $240 million acquisition, including tax structuring, transaction documents, lending documents, and post-closing tax matters.
  • Advised on the refinancing of an approximately $180 million credit facility, including tax issues related to debt proceeds, distributions, partner basis, and related funds flow considerations.
  • Assisted with federal tax reporting and compliance matters involving significant Form 8300 filings, penalty exposure analysis, and related tax controversy strategy.
  • Advised on the tax treatment of nonliquidating partnership distributions, partner basis, debt allocations, and related contributions in connection with a complex multi-entity restructuring.
  • Represented a taxpayer in a Texas franchise tax audit that resulted in a no-change outcome.
  • Advised on the decanting of a significant estate into a Nevada trust, including trust modification, fiduciary, and tax considerations.
  • Advised an artificial intelligence tax preparation company regarding client consent requirements under Sections 7216 and 6713.
  • Assisted with tax issues arising from shareholder redemption planning, including Section 1014 basis step-up considerations and sale or exchange treatment under Section 302.
  • Advised on tax abatement and economic development incentive matters, including project investment, job creation, compliance, and local government submission requirements.
  • Assisted clients with tax aspects of real estate, medical, energy, and retail transactions, including entity structuring, financing arrangements, and transaction tax diligence.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Associate and special counsel, Houston office of national law firm (2022—2024)
  • Tax attorney, Houston-based business consulting firm (2020—2022)
  • Senior associate, Houston office of national accounting firm (2019—2020)
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Represented a privately held retail group in connection with an approximately $240 million acquisition, including tax structuring, transaction documents, lending documents, and post-closing tax matters.
  • Advised on the refinancing of an approximately $180 million credit facility, including tax issues related to debt proceeds, distributions, partner basis, and related funds flow considerations.
  • Assisted with federal tax reporting and compliance matters involving significant Form 8300 filings, penalty exposure analysis, and related tax controversy strategy.
  • Advised on the tax treatment of nonliquidating partnership distributions, partner basis, debt allocations, and related contributions in connection with a complex multi-entity restructuring.
  • Represented a taxpayer in a Texas franchise tax audit that resulted in a no-change outcome.
  • Advised on the decanting of a significant estate into a Nevada trust, including trust modification, fiduciary, and tax considerations.
  • Advised an artificial intelligence tax preparation company regarding client consent requirements under Sections 7216 and 6713.
  • Assisted with tax issues arising from shareholder redemption planning, including Section 1014 basis step-up considerations and sale or exchange treatment under Section 302.
  • Advised on tax abatement and economic development incentive matters, including project investment, job creation, compliance, and local government submission requirements.
  • Assisted clients with tax aspects of real estate, medical, energy, and retail transactions, including entity structuring, financing arrangements, and transaction tax diligence.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Associate and special counsel, Houston office of national law firm (2022—2024)
  • Tax attorney, Houston-based business consulting firm (2020—2022)
  • Senior associate, Houston office of national accounting firm (2019—2020)

Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Real Estate Law (2025 - 2027)

Professional Activities

  • Tax Section Texas Bar Association
  • Tax Section Houston Bar Association
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (2026)

Community

  • Volunteer, IRS Tax Day at South Texas College of Law

Karl is a member of the firm’s Tax and Tax Controversy Teams. He focuses his practice on the tax aspects of domestic mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, financing arrangements, and other business transactions.

Karl regularly advises clients on federal income tax issues arising in complex transactional matters, including deals in the medical, real... estate, energy, retail, and closely held business sectors. His work includes tax structuring, entity formation and restructuring, tax diligence, purchase agreement review, financing-related tax matters, and practical guidance on tax risks that arise before, during, and after a transaction.

Karl also assists clients with tax controversy and compliance matters, including federal tax audits, reporting obligations, penalty exposure, and interactions with taxing authorities. He brings a practical, business-focused approach to helping clients evaluate tax issues in a way that supports both legal compliance and commercial objectives.

Before joining Nelson Mullins in 2024, Karl gained experience advising clients on corporate tax, transactional tax, and tax controversy matters in both large-firm and public accounting environments.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Represented a privately held retail group in connection with an approximately $240 million acquisition, including tax structuring, transaction documents, lending documents, and post-closing tax matters.
  • Advised on the refinancing of an approximately $180 million credit facility, including tax issues related to debt proceeds, distributions, partner basis, and related funds flow considerations.
  • Assisted with federal tax reporting and compliance matters involving significant Form 8300 filings, penalty exposure analysis, and related tax controversy strategy.
  • Advised on the tax treatment of nonliquidating partnership distributions, partner basis, debt allocations, and related contributions in connection with a complex multi-entity restructuring.
  • Represented a taxpayer in a Texas franchise tax audit that resulted in a no-change outcome.
  • Advised on the decanting of a significant estate into a Nevada trust, including trust modification, fiduciary, and tax considerations.
  • Advised an artificial intelligence tax preparation company regarding client consent requirements under Sections 7216 and 6713.
  • Assisted with tax issues arising from shareholder redemption planning, including Section 1014 basis step-up considerations and sale or exchange treatment under Section 302.
  • Advised on tax abatement and economic development incentive matters, including project investment, job creation, compliance, and local government submission requirements.
  • Assisted clients with tax aspects of real estate, medical, energy, and retail transactions, including entity structuring, financing arrangements, and transaction tax diligence.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Associate and special counsel, Houston office of national law firm (2022—2024)
  • Tax attorney, Houston-based business consulting firm (2020—2022)
  • Senior associate, Houston office of national accounting firm (2019—2020)

Education

  • University of Houston Law Center, JD/LLM
    • Board Member, Black Law Students Association
    • Editor, Consumer & Commercial Law Journal
    • Vice President, Board of Advocates
    • Awards: Tax Executives Institute Scholarship, Ira Shepard Tax Scholarship
  • Lindenwood University, BA, Accounting

Admissions

  • Texas, 2019

Practice Areas

Industries

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Real Estate Law (2025 - 2027)
  • Tax Section Texas Bar Association
  • Tax Section Houston Bar Association
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (2026)
  • Volunteer, IRS Tax Day at South Texas College of Law