Federal Tax Update/Accounting and Auditing Update (E1911899)

Margaret (“Peggy”) Gallagher, CPA, is in the Technical Resources department at WithumSmith+Brown’s Morristown office. Ms. Gallagher focuses her work on interpreting and applying technical accounting and auditing standards, and independence matters. With more than 25 years of accounting and auditing experience, her industry expertise includes manufacturing, distribution, construction, life sciences, real estate, non-profits and employee benefit plans. A frequent lecturer, she develops and presents accounting and auditing education classes for statewide audiences.

Ms. Gallagher is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) and serves on the NJCPA Accounting and Auditing Interest Group. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and a board member of Student/Partner -Alliance, Millburn, NJ. Ms. Gallagher received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fairfield University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She was awarded the 2013 NJ BIZ Best 50 Women in Business Award.

Edward Rigby is a Partner in the Tax Services Department of Prager Metis, a member of Prager Metis International Group. He has over 25 years of experience as a tax professional.

In his position as Tax Partner, Ed acts as a lead tax consultant and strategist to the firm’s clients. His responsibilities include directing, motivating, and managing firm tax department personnel, directing the business relationships with clients, and leading the firm’s business development initiatives.

Prior to joining the firm in January 2020, Ed held tax leadership positions with prominent New Jersey and New York accounting firms. He earned an impressive reputation among clients and fellow colleagues as being a highly successful negotiator and sophisticated tax strategist for leading companies and high wealth business executives. Ed also founded a successful corporate tax consulting firm which serviced privately owned companies in life sciences, manufacturing, and financial services industries. His past experience as a business owner helped him better understand and appreciate the necessity of having trusted business and financial advisors.

Edward has been recognized as being a trusted advisor to business executives in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, financial services, real estate development, global art and fashion industries. His areas of expertise include providing advice on mergers and acquisitions, international tax structuring and tax benefits for business investment, and research and development. He has also successfully negotiated financially impactful tax rulings with IRS and State taxing authorities. Ed’s clients not only benefit from tax savings resulting from sophisticated tax planning, but are also able to avoid problems associated with non-compliance with the ever increasing complexity of federal tax law and regulations.

Ed has authored numerous articles on behalf of the New Jersey Society of CPAs covering topics such as Opportunity Zone tax benefits, Section 199A deductions, and interest expense limitation rules. He has served as guest speaker at Monmouth University’s Real Estate Graduate program and presented tax-related education and training to law firms, bankers, and internal professional staff.