Faizan Syed Ahmed clerked for a federal appellate judge on the Sixth Circuit and a federal bankruptcy court judge, worked as a tax consultant at Plante & Moran during law school, and went on to complete CPA work at PwC Houston before founding his own firm in Lockport, Illinois. That sequence, moving from federal judicial chambers to a Big Four accounting firm to founding a practice that bridges law and accounting, shapes what Faizan Law Firm does. The firm handles tax representation, business transactions, estate planning, employment law, and CPA services under one roof, led by a principal who holds both an attorney license and a CPA credential.
www.faizanlawfirm.com/
1041 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441
Phone: 815-524-2058
Practice Areas
Business Transactions and Commercial Contracts
The firm handles entity formations, terminations, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, business succession planning, and commercial contracts. Business succession planning at a firm with both legal and accounting expertise covers not just the legal transfer of ownership but the tax consequences of how that transfer is structured.
IRS Representation
IRS representation covers the range of situations where a taxpayer faces collection action or dispute with the federal tax authority. The firm handles collections, federal tax lien resolution, wage garnishment, levy representation, innocent spouse relief, payroll tax liability resolution, offers in compromise, installment agreements, and penalty abatement. Having a CPA-attorney represent a client in IRS proceedings means the same person who understands the tax calculations is also qualified to advocate before the agency.
Estate Planning
The firm drafts wills, trusts, and estate plans for individuals and families, and it also prepares trust, estate, and gift tax returns. The tax preparation component is handled as part of the estate planning practice rather than being sent to a separate tax preparer.
Employment Law
The firm advises businesses and individuals on employment-related legal matters. Specific details about the scope of employment matters handled are not publicly elaborated beyond this category.
CPA Tax Services
Tax preparation and planning for individuals and small businesses covers individual returns, state and local tax compliance, oil and gas taxation, 1031 exchanges for real estate investors, and family office and outsourced CFO services. The 1031 exchange and family office offerings indicate the firm serves clients with real estate holdings and complex financial structures alongside its smaller business and individual client base.
Nonprofits and Tax-Exempt Organizations
The firm forms nonprofits and assists with compliance for tax-exempt organizations. This includes working through the IRS application process for 501(c)(3) status and advising on ongoing compliance requirements.
QuickBooks Setup and Bookkeeping
Beyond legal and tax services, the firm provides QuickBooks setup and bookkeeping services for business clients. This positions the firm as an operational resource for small businesses managing day-to-day financial records, not just a legal services provider.
Attorney and Staff Profiles
Faizan Syed Ahmed, JD, CPA
Faizan Syed Ahmed is the founder and CEO of the firm. He holds a JD and a CPA credential, with tax consulting experience at Plante & Moran LLP and accounting experience at PwC Houston. During law school he served as a judicial extern for the Hon. David McKeague of the US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, and the Hon. Walter Shapero of the US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan. He previously practiced at a nonprofit boutique law firm in Tarrant County and a mid-sized Fort Worth law firm. His specific law school is not publicly confirmed.
Beth Peter, JD, LLM (Tax)
Beth Peter holds a JD from Texas Tech University School of Law (May 2014) and a Master of Tax Law from SMU. She also holds an accounting degree and has been a CPA exam candidate. Her practice focuses on business matters, choice of entity, acquisitions, corporate governance, federal income tax planning, and estate planning.
Bonwin David, JD, LLM (Tax)
Bonwin David holds a JD and a Master of Tax Law. His practice focuses on business matters, tax planning, and estate planning.
Jenifer Connel
Jenifer Connel serves as a tax preparer at the firm.
Location and Service Area
The firm operates from Lockport, Illinois, in the greater Chicago region. Its client base includes individuals and small businesses in the Chicago area and surrounding communities.
Client Focus
Faizan Law Firm serves small business owners, individuals with tax disputes or IRS collections issues, clients planning their estates, real estate investors using 1031 exchanges, nonprofits, and individuals needing bookkeeping or tax preparation services.
The dual JD/CPA structure of the founding attorney and the LLM Tax credentials of two additional attorneys means the firm can handle matters that sit at the intersection of legal and tax advice, rather than requiring clients to engage a separate attorney and accountant. The firm claims over 1,000 satisfied clients and 800+ successful cases handled over 15 years of practice.
No specific free consultation or fee structure is publicly disclosed. Contact is available by phone at 815-524-2058, by email, or through the firm’s website contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the practical advantage of having a JD/CPA rather than just an attorney for IRS matters?
A CPA understands the underlying tax calculations and accounting records that drive an IRS dispute, while an attorney can advocate within the legal framework of tax procedure and negotiate with the agency. When those two credentials are in the same person, the representation addresses both the technical tax substance and the legal strategy without requiring coordination between two separate professionals.
Does the firm handle matters for clients outside Illinois?
The firm’s founding attorney has prior experience at Texas law firms and holds credentials relevant to federal practice. The website indicates services extending beyond Lockport to the broader Chicago region, and some services (IRS representation, for instance) can be handled at the federal level across jurisdictions. Prospective clients outside Illinois should inquire directly about whether their matter falls within the firm’s current geographic scope.
What is a 1031 exchange, and does the firm handle them?
A 1031 exchange allows real estate investors to defer capital gains taxes when selling investment property by reinvesting the proceeds into a like-kind property within specified time limits. The firm lists 1031 exchange work as part of its CPA tax services, serving real estate investors who need both the tax mechanics and legal structure of the transaction handled.
What does the outsourced CFO service involve?
The firm offers family office and outsourced CFO services, which typically involve ongoing financial oversight, bookkeeping, tax planning, and financial reporting for clients who need the functions of a finance department without a full-time hire. This is generally suited to small businesses or family wealth structures.
About the Firm
A JD/CPA founder, two attorneys each holding an LLM in Tax, and a practice that runs from QuickBooks setup through federal tax litigation: Faizan Law Firm covers a range that few practices attempt. The firm’s positioning in Lockport, Illinois for the greater Chicago market means clients who would otherwise need to retain a law firm for legal matters and a separate accounting firm for tax work can address both in one place. Inquiries can be directed to 815-524-2058 or through www.faizanlawfirm.com.