Biography

Ali Andrews is an experienced Tax attorney with a primary focus on negotiating tax incentive agreements, obtaining sales tax exemptions for data centers and handling state and local tax disputes, from audits and administrative proceedings to litigation in district courts, appellate courts, and the Texas Supreme Court. She also assists clients with state and local tax planning and compliance in areas that include sales and use taxes, franchise taxes, property taxes, unemployment taxes, mixed beverage taxes, and hotel occupancy taxes. Ali also provides litigation expertise involving enforcement of tax agreements, sovereign immunity, administrative remedies, discovery disputes, trial procedure and agency rulemaking.

Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Ali served as Chief of the Tax Litigation Division of the Office of the Texas Attorney General. In this role, Ali oversaw all litigation related to state taxes and unemployment issues for the State of Texas. She provided counsel to the Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Texas Workforce Commission on a wide range of matters, including litigation strategies, policy development, rulemaking, and legislation. Additionally, Ali represented the State of Texas in negotiations and interactions with other states.

Data Centers Practice Experience

• Negotiate valuable tax abatement agreements for data center developments and expansions for Fortune 100 technology clients and renewable energy projects representing several billion dollars in new Texas investments.
• Advise energy project companies and developers on sales and use tax, franchise tax and property tax implications and maximization of benefits under property tax value limitations and tax abatements and local government grants under Chapters 312, 313, 380, 381 and the JETI Act.
• Represent developers of utility-scale solar and wind power projects in drafting and negotiating state and local property tax incentives on projects in counties across Texas.
• Advise clients on sales, acquisitions, and mergers with respect to Texas franchise tax implications, preservation of state and local incentives, traditional and economic nexus diligence post-Wayfair, transfer taxes, occasional sale exemptions, and successor liability.
• Planning and compliance with respect to Texas sales tax on services, including bundled “data processing” transactions.

Education

B.A., magna cum laude, Saint Edward’s University

• Nonfiction and Poetry Editor/Contributor for SEU Literary Journal, Sorin Oak Review
• Technical and Formatting Editor/Contributor, Handbook of Experiential Learning
• Contributor, SEU Admissions Bulletin

J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law

• Notes Editor, Hastings Law Journal

Bar Admissions

Texas