Keith G. Swirsky
Keith Swirsky is president of GKG Law, P.C. and 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. The more current articles and webinars, including PowerPoint presentations, are archived here.
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
- Georgetown University (Master of Laws in Taxation, 1988)
- Georgetown University (Juris Doctor, with distinction, 1984)
- Cornell University (B.S., with honors, 1981)
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- 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
- 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
- Federal & State Tax Audit Defense
- Federal Income & Excise Tax Implications of Personal & Entertainment Use of Business Aircraft
- The A to Z of Tax Depreciation for Aircraft Owners: How to Maximize Deductions and More
- Business Aviation Update from Trusted Advisors: Separating Fact from Fiction
- Income Tax Considerations: Family Offices & Business Aircraft
- Options for Third-Party Aircraft Use & Carriage of Candidates for Elected Office
- Keith Swirsky Invited to Join Aero & Marine Tax Professionals Webinar
- Defending a Federal or State Tax Audit in Aviation and Other Industries
- Options for Allowing Third Parties to Use Your Aircraft: Income Tax, Excise Tax and Sales Tax Considerations
- GKG Law's Keith Swirsky Participates in AIN Webinar "Necessary Steps to a Successful Aircraft Transaction"
- Federal Income Tax Treatment of Personal Use of Aircraft
- GKG Law's Keith Swirsky Speaks at the 2019 NBAA Tax, Regulatory and Risk Management Conference
- Bonus Depreciation Update / TCJA Update Provisions
- GKG Law's Keith Swirsky Speaks at the NBAA Business Aircraft Finance, Registration & Legal Conference
- GKG Law's Keith Swirsky Featured Speaker at Satcom Direct's Connecting with Customers Event
- Options for Allowing Third Parties to Use Your Aircraft: Income Tax, Excise Tax and Sales Tax Considerations
- Federal Income Tax Treatment of Personal Use of Aircraft
- 2018 Bonus Depreciation Update
- GKG Law's Keith Swirsky Speaks at NBAA's Tax, Regulatory & Risk Management Conference
- GKG Law's Keith Swirsky Speaks at the 2018 NBAA Business Aviation Taxes Seminar
- Defending a Federal (IRS) Income Tax or Excise Tax Audit or a State Sales and Use Tax Audit
- Options for Allowing Third Parties to Use Your Aircraft - Income Tax, Excise Tax and Sales Tax Considerations
- Defending a Federal (IRS) Income Tax or Excise Tax Audit or a State Sales and Use Tax Audit/Federal Excise Tax Update
- Integrating Like-Kind Exchanges into an Aircraft Transaction
- Options for Allowing Third Parties to Use Your Aircraft - Income Tax, Excise Tax and Sales Tax Considerations
- Bonus Depreciation Update/Tax-Free Aircraft Exchanges under Code Section 1031
- New Developments in State Sales and Use Taxes on Aircraft Purchases (Including New York and Texas) and Key Sales and Use Tax Planning Tools
- Aircraft Ownership and Operations Planning
- Defending a Federal (IRS) Income Tax or Excise Tax Audit or a State Sales and Use Tax Audit
- Bonus Depreciation Update / Tax-Free Aircraft Exchanges under Code Section 1031
- Options for Allowing Third Parties to Use Your Aircraft: Income Tax, Excise Tax and Sales Tax Considerations
- Defending a Federal (IRS) Income Tax or Excise Tax Audit or a State Sales and Use Tax Audit
- Strategies for Tracking & Reporting Non-Business Use of Aircraft
- Tax-Free Exchanges Under IRC 1031 and Bonus Depreciation Updates
- Key Issues To Consider Concerning Selection and Use of an Aircraft Management Company/Federal Excise Tax Update
- AIRCRAFT TRANSACTIONS IN AN EVOLVING MARKET - STEPS FOR SUCCESS
- Key Issues To Consider Concerning Use of an Aircraft Management Company/Federal Excise Tax Update
- Unique Issues In Aircraft Purchase & Sale Transactions Involving a Non-U.S. Party/Tax-Free Aircraft Exchanges under Code Section
- A to Z of Conducting an Aircraft Transaction
- Planning to Minimize the Impact of the Rules on Personal Use of Business Aircraft
- Use of Special Purpose LLC or "S" Corporation to Own an Aircraft
- Conducting Aircraft Tax-Free Exchanges
- Bombardier Aviation Tax Law Seminar
- Life Cycle Cost Analysis; Large Cabin Class Aircraft Value - Current Trends; Federal Excise Tax Tips for the Unwary
- Navigating Multi-State Aircraft Use Tax Complexities
- The NBAA Convention Buzz on Bonus Depreciation
- The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Corporate Aviation and the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
- Jets and Taxes: 5 Things Business Jet Owners Need to Know about the New Tax Law
- Importing Used Business Aircraft: How to Deal with Commonly Encountered Issues. (Part 2 of 3)
- Importing Used Business Aircraft: How to Deal with Commonly Encountered Issues. (Part 3 of 3)
- Importing Used Business Aircraft: How to Deal with Commonly Encountered Issues. (Part 1 of 3)
- Chartering your Company Aircraft: Have you considered the Tax Issues? Part 3 of 3
- Chartering your Company Aircraft: Have you considered the Tax Issues? Part 2
- Chartering your Company Aircraft: Have you considered the Tax Issues?
- Acquiring a Business Aircraft 101 (Part 2)
- Acquiring a Business Aircraft 101 (Part 1)
- Part 91 or Part 135? It's a Board decision!
- New IRS Guidance: Aircraft Management Fees Subject to Transportation Excise Taxes
- Year-End Tax Planning For Aircraft Owners
- New Jersey Sales and Use Tax and Aircraft Charter Operations
- Tax Depreciation of Business Aircraft
- New Taxes Levied by the IRS on Corporate Aircraft Operations
- More Restrictions on Aircraft Related Tax Deductions May Be Ahead - Time to Return to the Horse and Buggy?
- Board of Directors Briefing Charge-Backs for Personal Use
- Should I Make My Aircraft Available to a Management Company for Charter
- Critical First Steps in Buying and Selling Aircraft
- Aircraft Martini Talk - Gossip That's Too Good to be True
- How Flight Cards Can Minimize The Impact of The Personal Use Disallowance Rules
- Two GKG Law Principals Recognized in 2020 Chambers and Partners Guides
- Six GKG Law Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers
- Keith Swirsky Quoted in NBAA Article About Immediate Expensing
- GKG Law’s Keith Swirsky Ranked as a Top Private Aircraft Lawyer by Chambers High Net Worth Guide
- NBAA Quotes GKG Law's Keith Swirsky in "Year-End Tax Planning Critical to Bonus Depreciation Eligibility"
- GKG Law's Keith Swirsky Speaks at NBAA's Tax, Regulatory & Risk Management Conference