2016 Annual Meeting of the California Tax Bar & California Tax Policy Conference Report

By Adria Price, Annual Meeting Chair and Jenna Lewis, California Tax Policy Conference Planning Chair

The 2016 Annual Meeting of the California Tax Bar and California Tax Policy Conference, held at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa on October 26-28, 2016, was a tremendous success. The almost 500 attendees, including approximately 150 representatives from local, state and federal governments, enjoyed 32 timely and informative educational programs consisting of three tracks – Tax Procedure and Litigation, State and Local Tax, and Estate and Gift Tax. There were many networking opportunities including the Meet the Speakers and Government Attendees Opening Reception and Young Tax Lawyers Networking Reception, including a VW photo bus provided by the University of San Francisco School of Law, LL.M. in Taxation Program.

Every year at the conference, three distinguished members of the profession are recognized for their contributions to the Taxation Section and to the practice of tax law. During the luncheon on Thursday, the V. Judson Klein Award was presented to Nathan Hochman, Partner, Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius, LLP, and the Joanne M. Garvey Award was presented to Hon. Marshall Whitley (Ret.), Professor & Director, Golden Gate University, LL.M. Tax & Estate Planning Programs in San Francisco. Chief Judge of the United States Tax Court, Hon. L. Paige Marvel, gave the keynote address at the luncheon, which reminded all attendees that every opportunity the profession has to offer is to be appreciated and makes us the practitioners, and people, we are today.

Charles Moll, Partner, Winston & Strawn, LLP, was honored at the luncheon on Friday as the recipient of the prestigious Benjamin F. Miller Award. Selvi Stanislaus, Executive Director, California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), gave the keynote address, providing fascinating insight into her background and how it has positively impacted her perspective. She also discussed current developments at FTB, highlighted some of the biggest compliance problems FTB sees, and reminded everyone of the value of teamwork.