Best Lawyers in America for Litigation and Controversy - Tax

Brian Williams’ practice includes estate planning, estate and trust litigation, estate and trust administration, federal and state tax, and corporate and business transactions and issues. He practiced for 6 years as an in house counsel for a publicly traded corporation before entering private practice with his present firm in 1986. Brian graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama in 1976, B.S. degree/accounting major. He obtained his J.D. degree in 1979 from Cumberland School of...

Louis Vlahos is an attorney at Rivkin Radler LLP in Uniondale, New York whose practice focuses on Tax Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation and Controversy - Tax, and Trusts and Estates. He advises businesses, individuals, and tax-exempt organizations on a wide range of federal and state tax matters, including corporate, individual, and partnership income taxation, as well as estate and gift taxation. His work includes tax planning, ruling requests, and rep...

Michael I. Sanders is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Tax Law. Michael I., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard J. Sapinski is a Member of the Sills Cummis & Gross White Collar and Corporate Investigations and Integrity Practice Groups. His practice involves white collar defense on both federal and state levels and civil and criminal tax litigation, as well as international tax reporting and compliance issues. Before entering private practice, he was employed by the IRS Office of the District Counsel as a Trial Attorney and later as a Special Trial Attorney (international) with the IRS Offi...

For the past 20 years, my practice has been focused on clients in transition who need assistance in acquisitions, debt restructuring, refinancing, workouts and turnarounds. I help companies and individuals expand, reorganize, buy, sell and liquidate. I regularly represent both healthy and troubled companies and the individuals who own and are employed by them. These solutions have included sales inside and outside of bankruptcy, refinancing, workouts and Chapter 11 reorganizations. I have sub...

Jessica Lynn Kirk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation and Controversy - Tax. Jessica Lynn, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jessica Lynn is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bradley R. Marsh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Tax Law. Bradley R., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bradley R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jennifer W. Karpchuk represents companies and individuals in various matters related to state and local taxation, with an emphasis on the minimization of state and local tax obligations. She has extensive experience handling state and local tax matters, including those related to: corporate income taxes, franchise taxes, gross receipts taxes, excise taxes, personal income taxes, sales and use taxes, business privilege taxes, and real estate taxes. Jennifer serves in a number of leadership rol...

Mark Westlake works with entrepreneurs, individuals and businesses to minimize their state and federal tax liabilities. In the area of business tax counseling, Mark advises clients to effectively organize and establish entities where tax burdens are a principal concern. He also represents these clients in structuring, negotiating, documenting and implementing transactions that are sensitive to tax ramifications. Mark is regularly called upon to resolve tax controversies of all sizes and level...

Mr. Fox is the managing partner of Ivins, Phillips & Barker. He was named in 2012 by the Washingtonian Magazine for the fourth straight year as one of the outstanding tax lawyers in Washington, D.C., in the Washington Post Magazine's list of Super Lawyers for the third straight year, and has been named in Best Lawyers in America in each of the last ten consecutive years. Although, during his 47 years with the firm, Mr. Fox devoted a substantial portion of his activities to international a...

George J. Nassar, Jr., concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate, tax planning and business transactions. He currently serves as Chair of the firm's Business, Tax and Estate Planning Practice Group. Mr. Nassar has over 30 years of experience in the practice of law. His areas of expertise include estate planning and formulation of sophisticated tax planning and wealth transfer techniques for clients with significant domestic and international holdings. He counsels clie...

Zhanna A. Ziering, a tax controversy and litigation attorney, is a founding member of Ziering & Esman PLLC. Ms. Ziering’s practice focuses on representing individual and entity clients in civil and criminal tax disputes with federal and state governments as well as in regulatory proceedings. She defends both individual and entity taxpayers before the U.S. Tax Court, federal and state courts, and administrative agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Justi...

Bill Backstrom is a partner and leader of the firm’s Tax Practice Group. For more than 35 years, he has focused on state and local tax matters in Louisiana and on a multistate basis. Bill provides comprehensive, practical, and solution-focused tax guidance to a broad range of business enterprises. Known for the quality of his counsel, his commitment to client service, and his ability to explain sophisticated issues in clear terms — particularly with respect to Louisiana’s hi...

Matthew B. Edwards is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Matthew B., who practices law in Greenville, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an ex...

Ikaika B. Rawlins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Real Estate Law. Ikaika B., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ikaika B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Luke T. Tashjian is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Luke Tashjian is an estate planning , tax , and corporate attorney. He advises his clients on estate planning, tax structuring, and transactional matters. He also represents individuals and businesses ranging from local brick and mortar businesses to multinational corporations in tax controversy matters at the state and feder...