Katrina Wessbecker
PEOPLE

Katrina Wessbecker

Of Counsel
wessbecker.katrina@dorsey.com

Overview

KATRINA HELPS CLIENTS SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE COMPLEX TAX LAWS AND PROCEDURES TO ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES IN TAX CONTROVERSY AND TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION MATTERS.

Katrina Wessbecker is aattorney focusing on tax controversy and tax-exempt organization matters. Katrina represents individuals and entities in all stages of U.S. federal and state and local tax controversies, including audits, administrative proceedings, litigation, collections, and refund or abatement requests. Katrina also advises tax-exempt and nonprofit organizations on a wide variety of issues occurring throughout an organization’s life cycle. She regularly counsels public charities, private foundations, and other organizations on formation and securing tax-exemption, governance, compliance with operational requirements, private foundation excise taxes, unrelated business income, and dissolution issues. Katrina has assisted business and tax-exempt clients with federal and state payroll tax matters as well.

Katrina was previously an associate in Dorsey’s Tax, Trusts and Estates department from 2012 through 2018. Prior to rejoining Dorsey, Katrina served as director of tax controversy at Best Buy where she represented the company in U.S. federal and state and local tax controversies and legislative matters involving income, sales, property, and payroll taxes. Katrina began her legal career clerking for the Honorable Mark V. Holmes at the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C.

Education & Admissions

University of Minnesota Law School (J.D., 2011), magna cum laude, Business Law Concentration, Order of the Coif, National Moot Court Competition Team, Legal Writing Instructor

University of Wisconsin - Madison (B.A., 2008), with distinction, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. Tax Court

Clerkships

  • United States Tax Court, Honorable Mark V. Holmes, 2011-2012

Experience

Tax Controversy. Katrina represents entities and individuals in all types of federal, state, and local tax disputes. She has successfully resolved disputes at the audit, administrative, and federal and state court levels. Her experience includes the following types of matters:

  • Federal and state individual income tax
  • State corporate income and franchise tax
  • Residency
  • State sales and use tax
  • Tribal tax
  • Federal and state criminal tax
  • Civil penalties
  • Collections, including lien or levy release

Tax-Exempt and Nonprofit Organizations. Katrina counsels public charities, private foundations, and other organizations on issues occurring throughout an organization’s life cycle, including:

  • Formation and tax-exemption
  • Private foundation excise taxes
  • Unrelated business income tax
  • Compliance with operational requirements
  • State property and sales tax exemptions
  • Governance issues
  • Dissolution process

Industries & Practices

  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Healthcare Transactions & Regulations
  • Indian & Alaska Native
  • Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations
  • Public-Private Partnerships
  • Tax
  • Tax Controversy & Litigation

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • American Bar Association, Tax Section
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Tax Section
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers
  • AchieveMpls, Graduation Coach, 2014-2015
  • Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee, 2022-2023

Accolades

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2013, 2023
Katrina Wessbecker