Attorneys

Mr. Irtz graduated in 1973 from the University of Louisville Law School. He received his undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University where he had an emphasis in Accounting and Business. Mr. Irtz served as an IRS attorney during the period 1974-1978 and has been in private law practice since that time.

Mr. Irtz is a member of the Kentucky Bar, the Fayette County Bar and the American Bar Association. He is a past chair and currently secretary of the Tax Section of the Kentucky Bar Association. He was a founder of the Bluegrass Estate Planning Council and was its charter president. In addition to practicing before all the Courts within the Commonwealth of Kentucky, he has also been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America; U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit; United States District Courts, Eastern District of Kentucky and the Western District of Kentucky; United States Tax Court; the United States Court of Federal Claims and the California Superior Court. He has also defended tax practitioners before the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.

Mr. Irtz has been a speaker to the Kentucky Bar Association, the University of Kentucky Law School Estate Planning Seminar, the University of Kentucky Agricultural Law Seminar, the University of Louisville Estate Planning Seminar, the Northern Kentucky Society of CPA's, the Louisville Estate Planning Council, the Madison County Estate Planning Council, the Bluegrass Estate Planning Council, the Lexington Society of MBA's, and the Fayette County Bar Association, in addition to numerous seminars throughout Kentucky. He has also taught Estate Planning at Eastern Kentucky University.

Mr. Irtz was the attorney for three important tax decisions. The first resulted in the invalidation of the occupational tax for the City of Lexington (Commonwealth v. Leigh). The second resulted in the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus against the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet (Commonwealth v. Hall) and is a reported decision. The third resulted in a jury judgment against the Internal Revenue Service (United States v. Hubbard). He successfully defended Blackstone Mining Company which resulted in a Judgment against Travelers Insurance Company which was ordered by the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Mr. Irtz has served as Special Commissioner of the Bourbon Circuit Court for the determination certain financial transactions, and the tax consequences of those transactions, to which the parties could not agree and for which the Court sought outside assistance.

Mr. Irtz has assisted other counsel, CPA’s and other tax professionals in their representation of their clients. He has also qualified and testified as an Expert witness in court cases.

Mr. Irtz has completed the training as a Mediator as administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and is currently listed as an approved civil mediator on the AOC's web site.

Mr. Irtz holds several copyrights for publications relating to estate planning and taxation.

Mr. Irtz is a member of the Board of Governors for the Shrine Medical Center, Lexington Unit. He is a past president of the Bluegrass Breakfast Lions Club and the Bluegrass Estate Planning Council. He is a Past Master of Devotion Lodge # 160 F&AM and is also a member of Lexington Lodge #1, F&AM. He is a member of the Lexington Lions Club, where he was formerly its Treasurer. He is a member of Okeika Temple where he has held a number of offices. He is a member of the Special Forces Association, the National Pathfinder Association, the Reserve Officer's Association and Association of the Century. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Central Kentucky Youth Music Society and the University of Kentucky College of Allied Health.

Mr. Irtz earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America. He is named in Top Lawyers in Kentucky, Who's Who in American Law, Outstanding Young Man in America, was awarded Lion of the Year for his Lions Club and named a Melvin Jones Fellow by Lions Club International, and was awarded the Bluegrass 4-H Council, Service Award.

Mr. Irtz served in the United States Army where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served in Vietnam as a Platoon Leader and as a Pathfinder Detachment Commander. In addition to his Infantry service he has served in the Army's Military Intelligence and the Special Forces. He is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He is Special Forces and Pathfinder qualified. He has received many military awards, including Combat Infantryman's Badge; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Commendation Medal and Parachutist Badge and numerous other awards.