About Derek
Derek Swindall followed a steady academic path toward taxation and law. He earned a B.A. in Accounting from Wofford College in 2008, then completed a J.D. at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2010. He returned to the classroom later and added an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2017. Those qualifications supply both technical grounding and legal training.
After completing his law degree he built a practice in South Carolina. He is licensed to practice in that state. The combination of an accounting background and advanced tax study shaped the kinds of matters he takes on. He has worked on problems that require a blend of accounting judgment and legal analysis rather than purely courtroom advocacy.
Colleagues describe him as practical and detail-minded. He handles tax planning for businesses and individuals, prepares and reviews tax compliance work, and addresses assessments or audits when they arise. His LL.M. study emphasized federal tax principles, and his undergraduate work in accounting gives him a comfort with numbers that many lawyers lack. He uses both in day-to-day client work.
His career has included counseling businesses on transactional tax issues, helping small companies structure operations, and advising individuals on income tax matters. He also assists clients during administrative proceedings before tax authorities, working through information requests and negotiating resolutions. He prefers to address issues early to limit exposure, and he often works with accountants and advisers on integrated solutions.
Outside of client files, he has maintained ties to the academic side of tax law through continuing education. He pursues programs that keep him current on changes to tax statutes and regulations. That ongoing study feeds back into practice and helps when a particular case raises an uncommon point of law.
People who consult him tend to be business owners, financial professionals, and individuals facing complex tax questions. He explains options in straightforward terms and lays out probable outcomes. The work is technical. He makes it accessible.
He maintains his practice in South Carolina and continues to serve clients on tax matters that straddle accounting and legal issues. His practice currently centers on tax planning, compliance, and resolving tax disputes in South Carolina.
