Spotlight on North Carolina Corporate Tax Attorney Julie Bradlow

Our Spotlight series highlights the careers and lives of tax professionals across the globe. This week’s Spotlight is on Julie Bradlow, a partner and head of the tax practice at DarrowEverett LLP in Charlotte, N.C.

Bradlow, who also co-heads the firm’s government investigations practice, advises real estate investors and developers, technology companies, and other businesses about renewable energy. Before returning to private practice nine years ago, she was an in-house tax counsel at Goodrich Corp., an aerospace company, where she handled a wide variety of tax and employee benefits matters.

If you’re a fan of “Jeopardy!” you may have seen Bradlow on your TV—she was a contestant in 2017. She says she uses her interest in trivia and her ability to solve complex problems to help her clients overcome challenges.

What’s your official title and what does it mean? As a partner in my firm, I take the lead both in advising key clients of the firm on significant tax matters and in mentoring and developing younger lawyers. As a practice leader, I set the tone for my firm’s tax practice and ensure that we comply with the highest legal and ethical standards.

Free time: book, audiobook, or podcast? Podcast! I especially enjoy interviews, particularly with actors, musicians, and figures in the worlds of sports and business.

Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest? I particularly enjoy tax planning; it is satisfying to help clients achieve tax and business objectives simultaneously.

What’s the last movie or show that you watched and loved (DVD, Netflix, or in the theater)? I am currently rewatching the 1994 version of “Little Women” with Winona Ryder. While I’m closer to Marmee’s age than to Jo’s, I see new themes every time I watch the story or reread the book.

What college did you attend and what did you study? I attended Yale University, where I studied French literature. I also have a law degree from the University of Chicago, where I was an associate editor of the University of Chicago Law Review.

Go to pick-me-up: Coffee or tea? Coffee.

What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you? Don’t live above your means.

If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be? I would be a humor columnist, like Dave Barry.

If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax world—an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever—what would it be? I would lift the $10,000 cap on the federal deduction for state and local taxes. It disproportionately disadvantages residents of states with a higher income tax.

Favorite food, snack, or candy during tax season or other busy time? Anything chocolate. Unless it has nuts in it. Two great tastes don’t always taste great together. True story: The CFO at a former job loved those little Hershey’s Special Dark candy bars, so if we had a bag of Hershey miniatures in the office, those were reserved for him—unless he was away, in which case I would find a little pile of them in my inbox on occasion. Yes, I am old. I practiced for many years in the age of actual inboxes.

What tax news or move made the most impact on your practice or clients this past year? The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 had the greatest impact on our energy clients; it benefited manufacturers, installers, producers, and investors.

If you received a big tax refund check right now, what would you do with it? I would visit some of the US states that I haven’t yet seen. I’ve been to 38, so 12 to go!

You can find out more about Bradlow on LinkedIn.

You can learn more about Bradlow’s firm, DarrowEverett LLP, here.

If you’d like to recommend a tax pro to be featured, send your suggestion to rbaker@bloombergindustry.com with the subject: Spotlight. Please include the following information: tax professional’s name, title, email address, and geographic area (city/state/country).