Wayne D. Roberts

Wayne Roberts is the co-chair of Bodman’s Business Tax Group. His practice is focused on corporate, business and individual tax planning and federal, state and local tax controversies.

He has been a recognized state and local tax (SALT) lawyer for more than 20 years. During that time, he has been involved in a majority of the significant legislative, administrative and case law developments that have taken place in Michigan taxation.

His broad tax practice includes all aspects of federal and state tax planning, structuring, and tax litigation. He has represented both closely-held and publicly traded companies in transactional tax matters, including mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and dispositions. He has also represented numerous businesses and individuals in tax disputes with the IRS, the Michigan Department of Treasury and revenue departments in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee, New York, California and several other state and local taxing jurisdictions.

Wayne was a founding member of the task force that created the Michigan Tax Conference, an annual event that is the largest tax conference in the state of Michigan for local state and national tax professionals. Before becoming an attorney, He worked as a CPA with international public accounting firms, focusing on federal, state, local, and international tax.

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

• Michigan Association of CPAs, Thomas M. Hoatlin Award, 2024
• Grand Rapids Business Journal Notable West Michigan Lawyers, 2023
• Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
• The Best Lawyers in America 2013-2025, Litigation and Controversy—Tax,  Tax Law
• The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year,” Litigation and Controversy—Tax
• The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year,” Tax Law
• The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year,” Litigation and Controversy—Tax
• The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year,” Tax Law
• The Best Lawyers in America 2017 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year,” Litigation and Controversy—Tax
• The Best Lawyers in America 2017 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year,” Tax Law
• The Best Lawyers in America 2014 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year,” Tax Law
• Michigan Super Lawyers 2013-2014, 2017-2024, Tax
• Grand Rapids Magazine Top Lawyers 2019, 2021-2024, Tax Law
• State Bar of Michigan—Taxation Section, L. Hart Wright Service Award, 2015

Civic, Cultural, and Community Activities

• Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Tax Committee
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Tax Committee (Chair, January 2021-present)

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
  • Taxation Section (1999-present; Administrative Procedure Committee, Vice Chair and past Secretary, 2003-2005; Current Developments Subcommittee, 2005; State and Local Tax Committee)
• State Bar of Michigan
  • Taxation Section (2002-present; Chair, 2012-2013; Council member and officer, 2006-2015)
• Grand Rapids Bar Association
  • Business and Taxation Section
• Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (1992-present)
• National Association of State Bar Tax Sections
  • Executive Committee (2013-present; Vice Chair, 2014-2015; Chair, 2016-2018)
• State Bar of Michigan Foundation, Fellow (2012-present)

Publications (Representative)

• Co-author, “Governor Whitmer Restructures the Michigan Tax Tribunal by Executive Order,” Bodman Tax Law Update (January 18, 2024)
• Co-author, “A Year-End Reminder: Potentially Overlooked Reporting Requirements,” Bodman Tax Law Update (December 28, 2023)
• Co-author, “Michigan Flow-Through Entity Tax Election Deadline Approaching,” Bodman Tax Law Update (December 21, 2023)
• Co-Author (with Jay B. Long and Erin M. Haney), “Traps for the Unwary: Latent Tax Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions,” Michigan Business Law Journal (2023)
• Co-Author (with Jay B. Long), “State Tax Alternative Apportionment: A ‘New’ Tax Consideration for Multistate Businesses,” Michigan Bar Journal (November 2020) 
• Co-Author (with Darren J. Burmania), Honigman v City of Detroit: Service Providers Owe City Income Tax in the City in Which Work is Done, Vol. 51 Issue 1 MI Tax L. 3 (2020)
• Real Property Taxes in Michigan (ICLE 2010, 2015, 2018, 2020) “Real Estate Transfer Taxes in Michigan” (Chapter Author)
• Co-Contributing Author, Guidebook to Michigan Taxes (CCH, 2012-2019)
• “Michigan Tax Matters: Four Recent Legislative Developments Address Tax Questions Important to All Attorneys,” Michigan Bar Journal , Volume 95, No. 5 (May, 2016)
• “Transitioning to the Michigan Corporate Income Tax: Out With the Old and In With the New,” Michigan Bar Journal , Volume 91, No. 7 (July, 2012)
• “State Taxation of a Mobile Workforce,” Michigan Tax Lawyer (2015)
• “Rebirth of the Michigan Corporate Income Tax,” State Tax Notes , Volume 60, No. 11 (June 13, 2011)
• Co-Author, Practical Guidebook to the Michigan Business Tax (CCH, 2010)
• “Michigan Business Tax Update,” Michigan Bar Journal , Volume 88, No. 12 (December, 2009)
  

Academic Appointments

• Walsh College, adjunct professor
• Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, adjunct professor

Pro Bono

• State Bar of Michigan 2024 A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll

Related News

• 11/11/2024Wayne Roberts Receives Thomas M. Hoatlin Award from MICPA
• 11/01/202417 Bodman Attorneys Included in 2024 Grand Rapids Top Lawyers List
• 08/19/2024Nine Bodman PLC Attorneys Named 2025 Lawyers of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America
• 08/15/202472 Bodman PLC Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2025
• 08/12/202458 Bodman Attorneys Listed in Michigan Super Lawyers 2024