Dobbins Tax Lawyers

Principal Owner
Jack E. Stephens J.D., LL.M. has been practicing law in San Diego since 1990, helping thousands of taxpayers reduce taxes and homeowners protect their property with Trust strategies. Jack Stephens has been designated as Top Lawyer by San Diego Magazine, Best of the Bar, and Avvo on a consistent basis. He has received annual awards including the AV Preeminent Attorney Rating by Martindell-Hubbell, representing the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. As an active contributor to continuing education in Estate Planning, Jack Stephens has authored and edited quarterly newsletters, pamphlets, and contributed articles to the...

Kevin G. Staker, the principal attorney in the firm, received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah College of Law, and his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation degree from New York University School of Law. Kevin is the founder of the Planned Giving Council of Ventura County. Kevin has three times been a member of the Board of the Ventura County Bar Association, and was the chair of its annual dinner committee 14 of 15 years. Kevin Staker is a member of the Board, and was President for 2016 and the latter part of 2022, of Ventura...

Daniel W. Layton is a former Federal tax prosecutor and trial attorney for the IRS. His practice as a tax attorney is dedicated to handling all aspects of tax controversy, including audits, collection, international tax, and criminal tax defense. Mr. Layton has extensive experience and insight from his time in the government sector, which greatly benefits his clients. As a former Federal tax prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, in the Tax Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, and a former IRS trial attorney in San Jose, he has litigated a wide variety of civil...

Pedram Ben-Cohen is an Attorney-at-Law and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who specializes in civil and criminal tax controversy and litigation. Mr. Ben-Cohen is also a Certified Taxation Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Attorneys who are certified as tax specialists have taken and passed a bar exam in taxation, demonstrated at least 5 years of high level experience in tax, fulfilled ongoing education requirements, and been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work.

Mr. Ben-Cohen represents clients in civil and criminal tax matters, including voluntary disclosures, offshore matters, audits,...

Dennis Sandoval, paralyzed in a 1992 car accident, turns personal adversity into advocacy in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. California's sole attorney certified in estate planning, elder law, and taxation, Dennis earned distinctions like Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) and Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP). His financial expertise, including Enrolled Agent, CFP, and RFC designations, enriches his estate planning, elder law, and tax controversy practice. For seventeen years, Dennis directed education for the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA), contributing to NAELA and the National Elder Law Foundation. In 2014, he became a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law...

I provide Tax and Bankruptcy Law representation for individuals and businesses throughout California. For 45 years, I have been dedicated to bringing peace of mind to clients with financial issues. I help clients identify all of their options to make an informed decision based on their specific situation. Rest assured, there are legal and effective options to assist you with your tax and debt problems. I have previously served as an arbitrator and Judge Pro Tem in San Diego.

Beginning in 1972, Michael commenced his career as an Attorney/Advisor for the Department of Treasury, Tax Legislative Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, whereby he served as a liaison with the House Ways & Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation for the United States Congress. After working for the IRS for many years, he decided to use that knowledge to help businesses and individuals with tax problems. Throughout his professional journey, Michael has successfully represented over 1700 clients in various tax-related matters before the IRS, including tax audits, complex tax resolutions, Offers in Compromise, installment agreements, lien and...

Call (310) 208-6200 to see if you qualify for a consult with Dennis Brager, first 15 minutes FREE. Mr. Brager is a California State Bar Certified Tax Specialist and a former Senior Trial Attorney for the Internal Revenue Service's Office of Chief Counsel. In addition to representing the IRS in the United States Tax Court, he advised the Service on complex civil and criminal tax issues. Mr. Brager's attorney firm of 15 attorneys and support staff is based in West Los Angeles. He has been featured every year from 2008-2023 as a Super Lawyer in the field of Tax by Los...

"I love my work. I get to make a real difference to help people maintain their businesses and livelihoods. A file is more than just paper, it is my client's hard work and often a significant portion of their lives. I enjoy working with my clients to empower them to take control of their tax, estate planning and business issues." Frank Huerta Jr. Esq. Frank Huerta Jr. has 19 years of experience as an attorney and law clerk working in government and tax law issues. He has a successful record of representing taxpayers before the IRS, Franchise Tax Board, Board Of...

With four decades of experience, I am dedicated to Estate Planning, Tax, and Business Law representation, with an emphasis on wealth transfer and business succession planning. I offer clients throughout the Los Angeles area, custom plans to address their personal and business needs.

In addition to extensive experience, I am a Certified Specialist in Taxation, and have degrees in Accounting and Business Administration. With knowledgeable and skilled advocacy, I address the unique concerns and objectives of my clients. I am committed to comprehensive representation leading to the best possible outcomes.

Visit my website for more information, and contact me to see how...

California Attorney David L. Crockett has been providing comprehensive legal representation for over 40 years in the areas of Trust and Estate Litigation, Trust and Probate Administration, and Estate Planning including preparation of Wills and Trusts. As these areas all overlap, his experience with the courts and litigation has given him unique insight in the preparation of wills and trusts. Mr. Crockett is dedicated to the careful preparation of documents to meet the specific needs of his clients.

As a Licensed Certified Public Accountant and Real Estate Broker, Mr. Crockett prepares all types of estate, trust and real estate documents including...

We’re proud that our law firm is local and we offer our exceptional legal services to SoCal, Riverside, San Bernardino and Palm Springs California. With Our sensitivity coupled with Our aggressive approach to Probate matters and Our wealth of knowledge when it comes to Estate Planning, Our extensive experience with ALL Legal Tax Issues and Our first hand knowledge and real world experience as Business owners has allowed us to call southern California home for many years.

Handling the legal issues that arise after the death of a friend or loved one can be very challenging. If a family member has...

Martin Neumann is a trusted Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer Planning, Charitable Planning & Family Foundations, and Estate & Trust Administration attorney. He is committed to exceptional service and representation for individuals and families in the Los Angeles area.

With nearly 40 years of experience, Martin is skilled at assisting his clients with their estate planning and trust administration objectives. In addition to extensive experience, he brings patience and empathy to every case. Martin's priority is effectively meeting his clients' goals for their families, loved ones and charitable causes.

Visit Martin's website for more information and to schedule a consultation.

The Law Office of Matthew J. Tuller is a boutique estate planning and trust settlement law firm that serves Marin County and the greater San Francisco Bay Area by providing a diverse clientele with highly customized planning & settlement solutions. Founding Partner Matthew J. Tuller, Esq. focuses on developing substantive, meaningful relationships with each client. We believe that there is no higher compliment than when an existing client or allied professional refers someone they care for to our firm. Going above and beyond to provide services that people want and need produces happy clients, which gives us both satisfaction and...

I am a dedicated and skilled estate planning and tax law attorney with more than 40 years of experience. My firm delivers expert advice to clients in the Southern California area.

My areas of practice include estate planning, wills, probate, trusts, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and tax law.

Whatever your estate planning or tax issue is, I will work tirelessly and help you through every step of your case.

Mr. Yoo's practice focuses on tax and bankruptcy litigation. He has represented clients in both criminal and civil cases against the California Franchise Tax Board, State Board of Equalization and Employment Development Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He has handled matters including IRS and sales tax audits, tax fraud investigations, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) and innocent spouse claims. Mr. Yoo also represents debtors and creditors in Chapter 7, 11 & 13 bankruptcy proceedings, including tax bankruptcy cases.

Gene Takagi is the managing attorney of NEO Law Group, contributing publisher of the Nonprofit Law Blog, and a part-time lecturer at Columbia University. At NEO, Gene has represented over 800 nonprofit organizations on corporate, tax, and charitable trust law matters. Gene is a popular writer on nonprofit legal topics and has been published by The New York Times, The Nonprofit Quarterly, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Nonprofit Times, Taxation of Exempts, EO Tax Journal, and ALI-ABA. He is also a popular speaker who has presented at conferences for Independent Sector, BoardSource, NAAG/National Association of State Charity Officials, CalNonprofits, the...

Attorney John Martin advises individuals, families, and businesses in the areas of legacy planning, wealth preservation, estate & business succession planning, and estate administration. Our law firm focuses exclusively on legacy planning, wealth preservation, estate and business succession planning, and estate administration. Our trust and estate planning services enable clients to protect their spouse's or child's s inheritance from creditors and predators, maximize control over their assets during their lifetime, benefit charities, and effectively transition their business to the next generation. Through an ongoing client maintenance program, we provide peace of mind that a client's goals will not...

With four decades of legal experience, I provide counsel for Business, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Tax, Intellectual Property, Entertainment & Sports, and Hospitality Law matters. Based in Southern California, I represent clients as outside general counsel throughout the world. I am dedicated to delivering legal expertise and experience focused on the best possible outcomes.

Highly accomplished and respected by peers, I have been honored as the 2018 Southern California Lawyer of the Year for Closely-Held Companies & Family Businesses Law, and the 2019 Southern California Lawyer of the Year for Trusts and Estates.

Outside of work, I am committed to giving...

Mr. Bardwell’s practice focuses on all aspects of wealth transfer planning, including estate planning, charitable planning, business succession planning and post-death administration.

Mr. Bardwell routinely assists individuals and families in efficiently minimizing estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes through the creation of wills, trusts, business entities and charitable organizations and the use of gifts, sales and other wealth-transfer strategies. He works closely with each client's team of advisors, including accountants, investment advisors and insurance agents, to ensure the client's personal planning and wealth preservation goals are accomplished in a coordinated manner. In addition, he advises clients on estate and trust administration,...

CPA AND TAX ATTORNEY ON YOUR SIDE Jayson Aquino "Atty Jay" can do both. There are some tax attorneys do not have an adequate background in accounting and lack the proficiency to thoroughly offer bookkeeping services. Alternately, certain certified public accountants (CPAs) may not be familiar with how to resolve a person’s unpaid back taxes, tax lien or tax levy. As a CPA and licensed tax attorney, Jayson has helped individuals and businesses throughout Huntington Beach and Orange County with a wide range of tax matters. Jayson takes pride in offering affordable rates. Many clients have found that his rates are competitive and even...

Tax Attorney Shawn Spaulding has dedicated his professional career to protecting the rights of taxpayers. After spending several tax seasons working in the legal department of the largest tax preparation company in the United States Shawn went on to pursue his LL.M (Master of Laws Degree) in Taxation at the University Of San Diego School Of Law. While completing the advanced tax program Shawn provided tax resolution services to the underserved community through the school’s clinic.

Shawn has accomplished high marks throughout his academic career graduating with honors in both his Bachelors (BSBA) and Juris Doctor (Law Degree) programs. He continued...

With over six years of working in tax law under his belt, Mitchell Smith has represented clients in the U.S. Tax Court where he resolved numerous tax controversies at the audit and appellate levels of the IRS. He has also negotiated favorable settlements of high-dollar-tax deficiencies as well as secured tax-exempt status for new organizations and advised existing exempt organizations. At Zecca Ross & Smith Law Firm P.C., Mitchell Smith continues to excel in his career. His expertise extends to real estate taxation, federal and state worker classification reviews, foreign bank account disclosures and collection matters including Offers in Compromise and...

Marty Burbank is the expert in Elder Law, Veteran's Benefits and Asset Protection for Medical and Dental Practices. Our team is located in Fullerton, the heart of North Orange County. This proximity allows us to reach a broad spectrum of clients. Marty Burbank provides the same planning and legal power of the larger firms, yet in a personalized setting. We utilize the latest in technology to create and store documents for all our clients. Every client receives services that are customized to their specific needs. We never use templates. Since 2002 Marty Burbank has focused his practice...

Jeffrey Geida is an accomplished California attorney. He represents clients with legal matters such as Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer and Business Succession Planning. Additionally, he has experience in Estate and Trust Administration for beneficiaries and fiduciaries. Jeff is dedicated to providing an interactive approach and creative solutions to assist you in achieving the best possible outcomes.

Jeff received his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law. The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization has recognized him as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law....

My practice encompasses a wide variety of tax matters for businesses and individuals including partnership, corporate and individual taxation issues, international tax planning, entity formation, and mergers and acquisitions. I have represented clients in the real estate, entertainment, and healthcare industries. I structure transactions to optimize tax results, including tax-deferred Section 1031 real property exchanges. I draft and negotiate partnership and limited liability company operating agreements, and other contracts relating to the formation, sale, merger, acquisition, and liquidation of companies. I also handle executive compensation matters, including non-qualified deferred compensation plan and stock...

Mitchell A. Port is an attorney in Los Angeles who represents individuals, families, and businesses offering services in probate, trust administration, estate planning and IRS tax controversies.

In addition to administering a decedent's estate as well as identifying and distributing assets to beneficiaries, Mitch also offers services for other issues that may require the attention of a probate court, including the following:

Lost wills

Will contests

The removal of executors and trustees

Petitions for probate

Trust administration

Probate litigation

Other legal matters that must go through the California
probate court, including conservatorships
(a court proceeding for incapacitated and incompetent adults)
and guardianships (a court proceeding for...

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. In undergraduate school, I became fascinated about taxes. This led me to graduating Chapman Law School with an emphasis in tax in 2013. Initially, I worked in workers compensation but decided to eventually pursue my interests in tax law. I have been representing taxpayers for many years. My experience in workers compensation and helping injured workers obtain the benefits they deserve has given me a unique perspective of what it takes to help those that are disadvantaged. I continue to bring this perspective and sense of duty when representing taxpayers before the...

Alexander Kugelman is an attorney concentrating on tax controversies, domestic and international tax compliance, and tax collection defense. Mr. Kugelman counsels and represents individuals, small businesses, and estates.

His experience includes four years of federal government court experience at the U.S. Tax Court and a U.S. District Court. That background blends substantive tax law knowledge with administrative and litigation experience. This unique combination differs from that of an accountant or a general practitioner attorney.

Kugelman Law was created as an alternative to overpriced law firms and disreputable tax resolution companies.

Alexander was motivated to start his firm while working at the U.S. Tax...

What makes me unique is that I am both a Business Owner and a Corporate & Business Law Attorney. I actually started my first business at age 8 when I launched “Dan’s Bird Farm.” As the owner of the Kehr Business Law PC, I provide business, corporate general counsel, technology, Internet, e-commerce and tax law, as well as trust, will, estate and succession planning legal services. I founded, managed and have run my own law firm for over 17 years. My experience as a business owner makes me uniquely suited to approach legal representation from the business owner’s perspective. I...

For 35 years, Howard Borenstein has provided trusted legal counsel for clients with Estate Planning, Probate and Tax Law needs. He is dedicated to resolving legal matters for individuals and businesses throughout Southern California.

Demonstrating his knowledge and skill, Howard has been Certified as a Taxation Law Specialist by The State Bar of California. He is committed to finding solutions for legal issues in an efficient and effective manner.

Outside of work, Howard is an active participant in the local community. In addition to working with the San Antonio Community Hospital and Harold W. Harris Foundation Trust, he is involved with the...

Michael Malter is an accomplished California attorney, advocating for clients in Bankruptcy, Business, Intellectual Property, Landlord Tenant, Real Estate and Tax Law matters. With over 40 years of experience, he has been recognized as a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law by the California State Bar. Michael is committed to providing comprehensive and personalized representation focused on attaining the best possible outcomes.

Michael, a native of Long Island, New York, has been a resident of California since 1977. He currently lives in Saratoga with his two daughters and labradoodles. Outside of work, Michael can be found hiking and traveling. Additionally, he deems...

Brad Cohen's practice emphasizes business planning related to complex corporate and partnership transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financing and business succession planning, income tax planning, and estate tax planning, all on an integrated basis.

He is a member of JMBM’s Trusts & Estates Group which is recognized by U.S. News & World Report / Best Law Firms® with a National First Tier ranking in Trusts & Estates Law.

Brad is best known for his business and tax advice related to the motion picture, television, music, emerging media and sports industries. One of the focuses of his practice is coordinating the...

Jonathan Forster has been an Attorney at Weinstock Manion since 2002. He creates and carries out strategies for multi-generational estate planning, business transactions such as pre-liquidity event planning for sales of closely-held businesses and real estate, and business succession planning. Jonathan works with corporate attorneys, investment bankers and financial planners to pursue the best possible outcomes. He is dedicated to minimizing estate taxes while achieving clients' personal, charitable and business goals.

Jonathan teaches Estate Planning at UCLA Extension. Additional speaking engagements include topics such as "Tax Planning: Passing Your Real Property Without it Being Reassessed," "Pre-Liquidity Event Estate Planning and...

Janet L. Brewer is the principal of the Law Office of Janet L. Brewer, which has its headquarters in Los Altos, California. Janet serves clients throughout the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. She is certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as an estate planning and probate specialist – one of fewer than 100 practicing in Santa Clara County and fewer than 1,100 practicing in California (out of over 250,000 lawyers statewide). Janet has deep experience with complex estate planning situations. In her international estate planning practice, she helps non-resident aliens, visa holders, “green card” holders and other international...

Maggie Mouradian focuses on comprehensive estate and gift tax planning for high net worth individuals and families. Whether drafting basic estate planning documents, such as revocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney and advance health care directives, or resolving complex wealth transfer plans, Maggie pays careful attention to both the legal impact of estate planning documents as well as the practical family impact. As a result of her strong foundation of tax knowledge, Maggie skillfully advises clients with regard to their charitable objectives and has experience in creating and administering private foundations.

Before joining Weinstock Manion, Maggie was an associate in the...

Shadi is a dedicated attorney with a passion for assisting clients. Known for her meticulous attention to detail, she has built a strong reputation as a reliable professional. Her comprehensive knowledge and experience enable her to handle virtually all tax-related issues, including tax resolution, penalty abatement, audits, and audit reconsiderations. She takes great pride in being a true advocate for the taxpayers she represents, striving to protect their rights and provide them with the best possible outcomes.

Beth Acevedo applies a broad background in estate planning, estate and trust administration and tax law to develop customized, multi-generational estate plans for high net worth individuals and families. Through the careful crafting of trusts, wills, powers of attorney and health care directives, Beth identifies and addresses potential conflicts before they occur while maintaining the clients' interpersonal and wealth transfer goals. Beth's compassionate and detailed approach to estate and trust administration matters brings beneficiaries and fiduciaries peace of mind during what can be an emotionally stressful time.

Beth has an Executive LL.M. in Taxation from New York University. While in law...

Oxnard estate planning attorney Eric Ridley loves helping families and small businesses in Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo and Santa Barbara counties protect their assets through estate planning, Family Asset Protection & Medi-Cal planning. I help seniors preserve their self-determination and their dignity, along with their assets. Attorney Eric Ridley always gives free consultations, and answers his own phone. Agressive and compassionate, Eric Ridley serves clients in Ventura, Santa Clarita, Port Hueneme and all points in between. https://www.ridleylawoffices.com