gradient header image

The Taxation presents three prestigious annual awards during their Annual Meeting of the California Tax Bar & California Tax Policy Conference. The Benjamin F. Miller Award is presented to a recipient who is recognized as having outstanding achievement and contribution in the field of state and local taxation law. The Joanne M. Garvey award recognizes lifetime achievement in and contributions to tax. The V. Judson Klein award recognizes an outstanding tax attorney who is in midcareer.  The recipients are selected each year by the Taxation Section Executive Committee.

2023 Award Recipients

  • Erin M. Collins – Joanne Ann Garvey Award
  • Ciro M. Immordino – V. Judson Klein Award
  • Carley A. Roberts – Benjamin Miller Award

Benjamin F. Miller Award

The Benjamin F. Miller Award is presented on an annual basis by the Taxation Section to a recipient who is recognized as having outstanding achievement and contribution in the field of state and local taxation law. The recipient, who is selected by the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section, may be engaged in private practice, teaching, or government service in California. With respect to this award, the official statement of Taxation Section reads:

Benjamin F. Miller has been instrumental in leading California and the nation in the development of multistate taxation laws, regulations, and procedures throughout his 38-year career in the Legal Division at the Franchise Tax Board. He was the principal draftsperson of the Water’s –Edge legislation and the principal draftsperson and hearing officer on regulations involving the multijurisdictional taxation of numerous special industries, as well as the author of many scholarly articles. He authored briefs in significant California Appellate and Supreme Court cases, United States District Court of Appeals cases, and 11 United States Supreme Court cases, including Container Corporation of America v. Franchise Tax Board and Barclays Bank International, Ltd. v. Franchise Tax Board. He has been a key figure in numerous California Tax Policy Conferences, Multistate Tax Commission committees, Federation of Tax Administrators meetings, the University of California, Davis Summer Tax Institute, and various other multistate jurisdictional tax symposiums, and has served as a tax consultant for the Internal Revenue Service, United States Air Force, Prentice-Hall, and the states of New Mexico, Virginia, and New Hampshire. He appeared in an advisory capacity before the United States Congress and as primary spokesperson for the Franchise Tax Board before the California Legislature, and was an invitee of the European Economic Union to provide expert opinion on the possible adoption of a formulary apportionment system of assigning the income of multinational businesses among the countries in the European Economic Union. He has earned the universal respect and admiration of his colleagues at the Franchise Tax Board, the many professionals with whom he has worked from private accounting and legal firms, the Board of Equalization, the Office of the State Controller, the Department of Finance, the Multistate Tax Commission, and the California Legislature.

The Benjamin F. Miller Award was established in 2009. Click here for a list of past recipients.

Joanne M. Garvey Award

The Joanne M. Garvey Award is presented on an annual basis by the Taxation Section to a recipient who is a senior member of the California tax bar selected by the Executive Committee. With respect to this award, the official statement of Taxation Section reads:

Joanne M. Garvey was the founder of the Taxation Section. She was an exceptional California tax attorney who is loved, respected and missed by her colleagues. Throughout her long and distinguished career she served the Bar in many capacities of the federal, state and local level with unsurpassed dedication and enthusiasm.

In her name, the Taxation Section established the Joanne M. Garvey Award to recognize lifetime achievement and outstanding contribution in the field of tax law. The recipient, who is a senior member of the California tax bar selected by the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section, may be engaged in private practice, teaching or government service.

The Joanne M. Garvey Award was established in 1994. Click here for a list of past recipients.

V. Judson Klein Award

The V. Judson Klein Award is presented on an annual basis by the Taxation Section to a recipient in mid-career who is selected by the Executive Committee. With respect to this award, the official statement of the Taxation Section reads:

V. Judson Klein was an exceptional California attorney who died at the age of 42 on September 20, 1976, as a result of a tragic accident. He possessed a keen and imaginative intellect, a true passion for the law, and great personal integrity. He lived his life and practiced his profession with an intensity and enthusiasm equalled by few, and his memory will long be a source of inspiration to those who knew him.

Jud Klein was the first Chair of the Taxation Section. In his memory, the Taxation Section established the V. Judson Klein Award. This is a nonmonetary award given annually to a California attorney who exemplifies the qualities that caused Jud to be loved and respected by colleagues and clients alike. The recipient, who is selected by the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section, may be engaged in either private practice or government service in California.

Click here for a list of past recipients.

Forgot Password

Enter the email associated with you account. You will then receive a link in your inbox to reset your password.

Personal Information

Select Section(s)

CLA Membership is $99 and includes one section. Additional sections are $99 each.

Payment