Kelvin is a business and tax lawyer who saves clients money by minimizing their tax exposure and finding solutions to their Ohio and multi-state tax issues. He advises on taxes implicated in multi-state transactions and has resolved Ohio state income tax, sales tax, commercial activity tax, pass-through entity tax, municipal income tax, and property tax appeals. Kelvin helps his clients manage interactions with taxing authorities and get the most from the involvement of expert witnesses and consultants in tax and unclaimed property audits and controversies. He has secured significant refunds in Ohio sales tax proceedings, as well as in real property tax exemption and valuation disputes. Kelvin has helped tax-exempt organizations obtain and preserve federal tax-exempt status by advising them on joint ventures, combinations, restructuring, compensation procedures, charitable activities, and financial assistance policies. He has also helped these organizations receive tax-exempt bond financing.
Credentials
Education
Florida A&M University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2002)
- Political Science
Bar admissions
Court admissions
- U.S. Tax Court
Affiliations and memberships
- American Bar Association Section of Taxation
- Co-chair of the State and Local Tax Committee’s Task Force on the Multistate Tax Commission’s Project on the State Taxation of Partnerships
- State and Local Tax Committee Pass-through Entity Tax Subcommittee co-chair
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Taxation Law Committee, chair (2014 – 2016)
- Taxation Law Committee, Executive Council and Income Tax Subcommittee chair
- Paul J. Hartman State and Local Tax Forum, Advisory Board Member
- NYU State and Local Tax Institute, Advisory Board
- John Mercer Langston Bar Association
- Finance and Fundraising Committee, co-chair (2012 – 2014)
- Bloomberg Tax State Tax Advisory Board
Distinctions
- Best Lawyers®
- Tax Law (2022,2024)
Career Highlights
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Counseled Client through Strategic Acquisition of School Transportation Company
We counseled our client, a privatized school transportation company, during its acquisition of an Illinois-based student transportation service provider for special needs students and their families. This acquisition, a logical next step, extended our client’s market presence in Illinois and strengthened its commitment to developing and implementing best practices for transporting special education students. Our team of attorneys performed extensive diligence in preparation of closing, which touched on a multitude of different areas unique to the transaction, such as state and local taxes, and specific to our client’s industry, including regulatory requirements. We diligently worked together with seller’s counsel to achieve a desired result for our respective clients.
Publications
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Special Commentary: State Tax Treatment of Investment Partnerships
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New Law Will Radically Change Ohio Property Tax Appeals
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VAS Holdings and the Battle Over Taxing Non-Unitary Capital Gains
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The MTC Undertakes an Ambitious Study of Partnership Taxation
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Senate Bill 57 Offers Property Tax Reduction Opportunity
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Time is Running Out to Contest your 2020 Property Tax Value in Ohio
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Ohio Supreme Court Hands Down Win for Ohio CAT Taxpayers in Defender Security Case
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Taxpayer Appeals Loss in Rare Constitutional Challenge to Composite Return Statute
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IRS Offers Guidance on Implementing Elective Employee Social Security Tax Deferral
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CARES Act Offers Social Security Tax Deferral and Tax Credit for Certain Employers Hurt by the COVID-19 Pandemic
News
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260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch
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250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch
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Dinsmore Partner Quoted in Bloomberg Tax on Ohio Supreme Court’s Review of Commercial Activity Tax Cases
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200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”
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Dinsmore Tax Attorney to Bloomberg: Multistate Tax Group Needs Expertise to Form Digital Definitions
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Dinsmore’s Kelvin Lawrence Talks SALT Workarounds with Bloomberg Tax
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Dinsmore’s Corporate Team Closes Two Substantial Deals for Clients in March
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2023 Best Lawyers® List Recognizes 190 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys
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Dinsmore Partner Kelvin Lawrence Discusses N.J. Partnership Filing Fees
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Best Lawyers® Recognizes 191 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys
Events
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The Ohio Tax Conference
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NYU School of Professional Studies Institute on State and Local Taxation
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The Paul J. Hartman State and Local Tax Forum
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NYU School of Professional Studies Institute on State and Local Taxation
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The Paul J. Hartman State and Local Tax Forum
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Multistate Tax Issues for Pass-Through Entities: State Recognition Rules, Taxation of S Corps and Partnerships
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Learning from the 2022 Survey of State Tax Departments — Treatment of Pass-Through Entities
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The Ohio State and Local Tax Conference
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WATCH: Tax Considerations in Selling or Merging Your Business
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Dinsmore’s Annual Continuing Legal Education Seminar
