The program will provide guidance to young lawyers entering the field of tax litigation practice. The panel will provide a roadmap on how to navigate the procedural rules when representing clients in tax matters, and best practices for lawyers. The program will start off covering the main types of IRS examinations, how to proceed with each type of examination, statute of limitation issues, and the closing of each type of exam. Upon the conclusion of the IRS exam, the next portion of the program will cover the appeals process for unagreed cases. The program will also review proceeding to Tax Court for unagreed cases where Notice of Deficiency has been issued. The panel will share tips on exam strategies, how to proceed with 5th amendment issues, and ethical considerations.

Opening remarks by Natascha Fastabend and Keith Long, YTL Co-Chairs and then a Message from the Chair from Laura Buckley, Tax Section Executive Committee Chair

Grab a coffee or stretch your legs!

When providing a client with a comprehensive strategy to resolve their tax issues, there are times that your client may be better off going into bankruptcy. This presentation will discuss bankruptcy considerations from a tax controversy practitioner’s perspective and how such a tool can be helpful to your clients. This presentation will provide an introduction into what analysis is needed to determine whether bankruptcy may be a better option for your client or when it may not be an option for your client. Timing is key in this area and it is important to understand common pitfalls in this area.

See if you need a refresh on your beverage. Remember to stay hydrated.

This presentation will take real life examples of tax practitioners behaving badly, who have run afoul of various legal and ethical rules, and dissect what they did wrong and why. Circular 230, ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the California Rules of Professional Rules of Professional Conduct will be discussed. This presentation is a must for any practitioner wanting to keep their law or accounting license.

Ani Galyan is an attorney and is a certified tax specialist by the State Bar of California.  In addition, Ani is a certified public accountant admitted to practice in California.  She also holds a Masters in Tax Law (LL.M).  Ani focuses her practice in the area of tax law for federal, state and local tax compliance, tax disputes, and tax crimes. Additional, she focuses part of her practice on tax matters for the cannabis industry in California. She has advised clients on cryptocurrency reporting obligations and navigating the complex reporting requirements for cryptocurrency investors. Ani serves on the Board of Directors for California CPA Society-Los Angeles Chapter, and co-chair of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood CalCPA Discussion Group. She is a founding member of Armenian American CPA Society.  Ani is a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and other organizations relating to the field of taxation and banking. Ani was recognized as Southern California Lawyers “Rising Star” in 2016 through 2018. She was a CalCPA Women to Watch Nominee finalist in 2015 and 2017. Prior to starting Galyan Law, Ani gained expertise in the area of international taxation with a boutique tax firm in Los Angeles. She has experience as a Graduate Student Assistant with the State Board of Equalization’s Appeals Division. where she drafted Decision and Recommendation on sales tax matters. Ani obtained a B.S. degree in 2005 from USC in Accounting, a JD, Cum Laude, from Loyola Law School in 2012 and an LLM with Highest Distinction from Loyola Law School in 2012. Ani is also the Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County Young Tax Lawyers Chapter.

Jonathan T. Amitrano has extensive background in federal and state tax controversy and is a Certified Specialist in taxation law by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Jonathan also has significant experience representing both individuals and businesses before various taxing agencies including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the Employment Development Department (EDD), and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). He has successfully handled tax audits, collection matters, trust fund cases, successor in interest assessments, offshore disclosure cases, domestic disclosure cases, and civil appeals hearings for all types of taxpayers. He regularly represents clients before the Office of Tax Appeals, U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals. Outside of the civil arena, he has handled a variety of criminal tax matters, at both the federal and state level. Jonathan has been instrumental in protecting his clients, their businesses, and their livelihoods. Jonathan is a Professor at the Dale E. Fowler Chapman School of Law, where he teaches Federal Tax Research and Writing. He previously served as the Chair of the California Lawyers Association Young Tax Lawyers Committee and as Vice Chair of the California Lawyers Association Tax Procedure and Litigation committee.

Lisa O. Nelson joined the Law Offices of A. Lavar Taylor in 2013 and becoming the firm’s first partner in 2016.  Lisa is a Certified Tax Law Specialist in California and has devoted her practice to advocating for her clients in tax controversy matters. Lisa specializes in handling income tax audits, collection matters, international compliance matter, payroll tax matters, and analysis of discharge of taxes through bankruptcy, sales tax audits, worker classification audits, and administrative hearings. She also has extensive background in representing individuals and small business owners from all walks of life and industries before the Internal Revenue Service, Franchise Tax Board, Employment Development Department, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and the newly implemented Office of Tax Appeals.  

Lisa works tirelessly with her clients to develop an optimum strategy in efficiently resolving their tax disputes. Lisa is also dedicated to giving back to the legal community and is a founding tax lecturer of the UCI’s Inaugural Graduate Tax Program.  She also was a Professor at the Dale E. Fowler Chapman School of Law-Chapman University, where she taught Federal Income Tax Research to budding attorneys.  Additionally, Lisa has served as the Chair of the California State Bar Income and Other Taxes Section, as well as the Orange County Bar Association Taxation Section, where she was integral in providing education seminars to tax professionals.

McLaughlin focuses his practice on all aspects of Federal and California tax law, with a special emphasis on representing taxpayers in civil and criminal tax litigation and controversy cases. Originally from Colorado, Kevan attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. There he double majored in Political Science and Economics with a Special International Emphasis.

After his undergraduate, Kevan moved to San Francisco, California to attend the Golden Gate University School of Law. While in law school he specialized in tax law, earning a Specialization Certificate in Tax Law with distinction. Kevan also served as the Executive Articles Editor of the Golden Gate University Law Review and co-authored an article published in its thirty-eighth volume. Kevan was a teaching assistant to a leading scholar in the area of comparative Constitutional law, and was recognized for a variety of other achievements including a Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Constitutional Law. Kevan was a Dean’s List student for five semesters and graduated at the top of his law school class.

Upon graduating from law school, Kevan moved to San Diego, California to attend the Graduate Tax Law Program at the University of San Diego School of Law. There he earned his Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M), the highest educational degree in tax law, and received a Graduate Law Merit Scholarship.

As a San Diego tax attorney, Kevan has worked with the California State Board of Equalization Taxpayer Appeals Assistance Program, the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, and the San Diego County Bar Association’s U.S. Tax Court Pro Bono Program.

In 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013, Kevan was recognized by the San Diego Daily Transcript’s annual peer nomination program as one of only a handful of top young attorneys throughout San Diego County. The San Diego Metropolitan Magazine listed him as a top San Diego tax attorney in 2011 and 2012, and the San Diego Business Journal has listed him in its Best of the Bar award in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Kevan has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer and Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Kevan has held a leadership position within the Young Tax Lawyers of the California State Bar Tax Section, is a past Co-Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Taxation Section, and past Editor of the California Journal of Tax Litigation.  He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association Taxation Section.

Ms. Price received her undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky. In addition to graduating magna cum laude, she also was awarded membership into the Golden Key National Honor Society and Phi Beta Kappa. Ms. Price received her law degree from the University of Kansas in 1998 where she was a founding member of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. She received her LL.M. in taxation with honors from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, California, in 2004. Ms. Price is a member of the American College of Tax Counsel and is a recognized expert on the subject of tax treatment of welfare benefit and defined benefit plans. Ms. Price is admitted to practice in the States of Indiana and Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, U.S. Tax Court, and the United States Supreme Court.

She is an advisor to the Executive Committee of the Bay Area Young Tax Lawyers and past Chair of the Young Tax Lawyers, a standing committee of the Taxation Section of the California Lawyers Association. She is currently serving her second terms as a public member of the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section of the California Lawyers Association. She is a frequent presenter on tax controversy practice and procedure for the Bay Area Young Tax Lawyers, Palo Alto Bar Association, the San Francisco Bar Association, the California Lawyers Association and National Business Institute, Inc. She focuses her practice on the areas of tax planning and controversy, business planning and estate planning. Adria is the bonus mom to a daughter applying to law school, who despite her efforts, does not think tax is cool. She is also the referee/taxi driver/short order cook to four little boys who are the reason she has not slept in 9 years.