Keith Swirsky is chairman of the firm’s Business Aviation Group and Tax Group. With more than 36 years of private law practice experience, Keith has marshaled extensive knowledge of federal aviation tax, commercial law, and regulatory issues. Today, GKG Law is one of the leading practices in the world, primarily devoted to aircraft acquisitions and sales, federal and state taxation, federal and state tax audits and financing. Keith, who is ranked globally as a Chambers High Net Worth top lawyer for private aircraft, counsels on a wide variety of aviation matters, including tax efficient structures, business terms, and documentation pertinent to purchases and sales (both new and used), external management arrangements, financing, and fractional operations.
As a result of the magnitude of his practice, Keith has now planned and structured over 4,000 aircraft transactions. He is also committed to providing continuing education to aviation professionals, industry participants, and clients, and has written over 100 topical articles, and presented at over 100 seminars and webinars.
Keith is also a founding member of the Tax Committee for the National Business Aircraft Association. He is past Chairman of the Federal Tax Working Group, past Chairman of the Transactions Working Group, past Chairman of the Associate Members of the National Aircraft Resale Association, past Chairman of the Virginia State Bar Divisional Taxation Section and participates as a member in numerous other industry trade associations. Keith has also been a law school guest lecturer, teaching Aviation Taxation matters. He is frequently published in AvBuyer Magazine.
Averaging three aircraft closings per week for many years, Keith participates in and oversees a multitude of various projects. His capabilities include:
- purchase and sale negotiations and documentation;
- development of aircraft ownership and operating structures;
- comprehensive federal income and excise taxation;
- comprehensive state sales and use tax taxation;
- personal use of corporate aircraft;
- IRS & FAA audits and enforcement actions;
- acquisition financing and leasing; and
- creation of business plans and financial modeling.
Keith is committed to staffing every project to accommodate the timing of a deal and provides quick turnaround of Offer Letters and Purchase Agreements, without sacrificing good lawyering. He believes in practical solutions, not solely legal analysis, and is adept at providing risk/reward advice. Keith understands his clients’ business objectives and advises on the reasonableness of commercial terms. As a result, he excels at solution-oriented representation where the parties can reach amicable agreements.
Education
- Georgetown University (Master of Laws in Taxation, 1988)
- Georgetown University (Juris Doctor, with distinction, 1984)
- Cornell University (B.S., with honors, 1981)
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Honors and Publications
- Ranked in the Chambers High Net Worth 2020 and 2019 guides for Private Aircraft – Global-wide
- Named to the 2020 Washington, DC Super Lawyers list for Aviation and Aerospace
Civic & Professional Activities
- Founding Member, Past Chairman of the Transactions Working Group, Past Chairman of the Federal Tax Working Group, Tax Committee, National Business Aviation Association
- Past Chairman, Associate Member Committee, National Aircraft Resale Association
- Member, National Aircraft Finance Association
- Past Co-chairman, North American Section of Taxation, Interlaw
- Past Chairman, Section of Taxation, Fairfax County, Virginia Bar Association