Updated: March 18, 2021

Taxation Section

The Taxation Section provides current information on federal and state tax issues that directly affect practitioners in Washington. It gives new attorneys with an interest in tax law an opportunity to meet and discuss mutual areas of concern with established practitioners. The section assists in proposing and commenting on legislation and administrative rules affecting federal and state tax practice.

Through its website, list serve, and events throughout the year, the Taxation Section provides practical up-to-date information regarding the sections committees, activities, and other tax resources.

In accordance with the section's bylaws, and with the exception of law students, an individual must be an active member of the bar to join the Taxation Section.

Annual Report  |  Budget  |  Bylaws

Join Now

 

Shape Your Section for the Future: Apply Today to Become a Section Leader

Application Deadline is April 16, 2021

The following section executive committee positions are open for applications: 

  • Treasurer: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • At-Large Member (three positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • CLE Committee Co-Chair (two positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • Communications Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • DOR Liaison Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • Estate and Gift Tax Committee Co-Chair (two positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • International Tax Committee Co-Chair (two positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • IRS Liaison Co-Chair (IRS Office of Chief Counsel): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • IRS Liaison Co-Chair (Private Practice): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • Legislative Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • Pro Bono Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • Scholarship Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • State and Local Tax Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • Transaction Tax Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • Young Lawyer Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be a current section member and should be eligible to vote in accordance with the section’s bylaws.

Application Process: Click here to complete the online application for open executive committee positions. The Section has requested that each applicant submit a statement of interest with your application. This document can be uploaded with your online application (PDF format only). Please be advised that application materials may be posted on this website for public viewing.

Nomination Process: There will be a nominating committee comprised of the Immediate Past Chair, current Chair, and Chair-elect. The nominating committee will compile a list of nominees.

Alternate Nomination Process: A section member may self-nominate or be nominated by someone else during a meeting (remote meetings allowed for COVID-19 compliance) within the nomination timeline. The Nominating Committee will inform the nominee of consideration.

Elections Process: All voting members of the section will receive an electronic ballot sent to their email in June 2021. Visit this webpage in early June for election updates and voting instructions.

Questions? 
For more information about the Section, its executive committee roles, and elections process, please review the Section’s bylaws. You may also contact any member of the current Section Executive Committee or email sections@wsba.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

The WSBA Taxation Section’s Pro Bono Committee has identified the following volunteer opportunities:

  • January/February: In preparation for the Feb. 16, 2021, tax court calendar, John Clynch at the University of Washington School of Law’s Federal Tax Clinic is requesting volunteers to review a pro se taxpayer’s case and provide assistance by working with the taxpayer and IRS Counsel toward a resolution other than trial, if possible. Please call Clynch at 206-685-6805 or send him an email at clyncher@uw.edu as soon as possible.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 16: You may be able to assist a pro se taxpayer with their tax matter at the February Tax Court. The Tax Court starts at 9:30 am in a Zoom.gov video session,. Interested in signing up? Please send an email to the Pro Bono Chair Jennifer Gellner at jennifer@gellnerlawgroup.com as soon as possible to meet the Court's deadline.  
  • March: In preparation for the April 5, 2021 Tax Court Calendar, John Clynch at the University of Washington School of Law’s Federal Tax Clinic is requesting volunteers to review a pro se taxpayer’s case and provide assistance by working with the taxpayer and IRS Counsel toward a resolution other than trial, if possible. Please call John Clynch at 206-685-6805 or send him an email at clyncher@uw.edu.  
  • Monday, April 5: You might be able to assist a pro se taxpayer with their tax matter at the Tax Court, starting at 9:30 am, in a Zoom.gov Tax Court video session. Please send an email to the Pro Bono Chair Jennifer Gellner at jennifer@gellnerlawgroup.com.

If you have any questions about the opportunities above or would otherwise like to get involved with the Pro Bono Committee, please contact Jennifer Gellner at 425-235-5535 or jennifer@gellnerlawgroup.com.

Newsletters

Winter 2017-2018  â”‚  Spring 2017  â”‚  Winter 2016-2017

Archived issues are available to section members upon request. To request an issue, please email sections@wsba.org.

Executive Committee

Chair: Brett Durbin

Chair-Elect: Claire Taylor

Secretary:  Kristi Richards 

Treasurer: Sam Barnes  

Immediate Past President:   George Munro

At-Large Members:
Darek Jarski (2020-2021)
Robert Mahon (2020-2021)
Sandra Veliz (2020-2021)

Board of Governors Liaison*: Peter "P.J." Grabicki

Young Lawyer Liaison*: vacant

*Nonvoting member

Committee Chairs

CLE Co-Chairs: Alison Warden & 
Jason Harn

DOR Liaison Chair: Dan Jensen

Estate and Gift Tax Interim Co-Chairs: Cat Connell & Reed Jones

International Tax Interim Co-Chairs: Tuan Ngo & Al Mullins

IRS Liaison Co-Chairs: William Richard (IRS Office of Chief Counsel) & Tyler Jones - Interim (Private Practice)

Legislative Chair: Brett Durbin

Communications  Chair: Rich Johnson 

Pro Bono Chair: Jennifer Gellner

Scholarship Chair: Jill Fairchild

State and Local Tax Chair: Aaron Johnson

Transactional Tax Chair: Dana Romans

Young Lawyer Committee Chair: Megan Lowe

Learn more about the Committees.

The WSBA Taxation Section Executive Committee generally conducts meetings on the third Friday of each month, 8–9 a.m. Please contact committee member for specific details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.

Join Our List Serve

To join the section list serve and for general section questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org. For more information and to get involved with the section, please contact section Chair Brett Durbin.