2024 Benjamin Miller Award Recipient: Richard J. Ayoob

Richard J. Ayoob is a partner in the Glendale, California law firm of Ajalat, Polley, Ayoob, Matarese & Broege which limits its practice to matters involving state and local taxation.  Mr. Ayoob received his B.S. degree from the University of Southern California, and his J.D. degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.  He has served as Chairman of the State and Local Tax Committees of the Taxation Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and of the Taxation Section of the California State Bar, and as a member of the State Bar Taxation Section Executive Committee.  Mr. Ayoob served on the Board of Governors of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, has appeared at numerous of the Institute’s symposia and its Annual Conference, and has received the Institute’s Distinguished Service Award.

In addition to publishing many articles and being a speaker on matters relating to state and local taxes, Mr. Ayoob has authored a chapter on California state and local taxes for the Matthew Bender treatise, entitled California Closely Held Corporations., He has taught a course on state and local taxes in the Masters of Taxation program at the University of Southern California.  Mr. Ayoob has also served under special appointment to advisory groups for the California State Board of Equalization and the California Franchise Tax Board.

Richard has participated in a number of charitable activities including the Board of Directors, Glendale Education Foundation (2004-2010), Member, Notre Dame High School Board of Directors (1992-98), and the St. Francis High School Board of Directors (2013 – current).

Additionally, he has served in numerous capacities on the national, regional, and local level of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, Those positions include:  Board of Directors, St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Cathedral of Los Angeles 1981-89; 1991-94 (Vice-Chair 1986-88, Secretary 1982-85, 1988-89). President, Western Region Society of Orthodox Youth, Organizations 1978-80, Treasurer, North American Council of the Society of Orthodox Youth Organizations 1980-82, Council on Missions and Evangelism, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, 1999-2004, and the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Board of Trustees, 2015-current.