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The Villanova Law Tax Colloquium


Tax and the Sharing Economy


Sponsored by the John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship

February 16, 2018

On February 16, 2018, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law brings together leading tax scholars from across the country to examine and debate the complexities of tax and the sharing economy. The event is sponsored by the John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship.

As described by the World Economic Forum, a “sharing economy” focuses on the sharing of underutilized assets, monetized or not, in ways that improve efficiency, sustainability and community. Well-known examples include Airbnb, Uber and Lyft.

The gathering of renowned scholars is designed to foster free-flowing discussion and to encourage fresh perspectives on challenging issues. Colloquium participants, led by Villanova Law professors Les Book and Joy Sabino Mullane, include:

  • Shu-Yi Oei, Associate Professor, Boston College Law School
  • Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate
  • Gregg D. Polsky, Francis Shackelford Distinguished Professor in Taxation Law, University of Georgia School of Law
  • Diane M. Ring, Professor and Dr. Thomas F. Carney Distinguished Scholar, Boston College Law School
  • Manoj Viswanathan, Associate Professor of Law, UC Hastings College of Law

About Villanova Law’s Tax Program
Villanova Law offers a rich array of tax coursework through its JD and Graduate Tax programs. LLM courses are offered through the Graduate Tax Program, a joint program of the Law School and the Villanova School of Business in which lawyers and accountants learn with and from each other in integrated classes that allow for in-depth, interdisciplinary examinations of tax principles and policies.

A highlight of our JD offerings is the Federal Tax Clinic in which students advocate for low-income taxpayers in their disputes before the IRS and in Federal Court. Under the supervision of a full-time faculty member, student counselors work in teams to represent taxpayers in examinations, administrative appeals, collection matters and cases before the United States Tax Court and Federal District Courts.