Sutherland Adds Diann L. Smith to Tax Group

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP announces that Diann L. Smith is joining the firm as counsel in its State and Local Tax Group.

Ms. Smith comes to Sutherland after serving as general counsel for the Council on State Taxation (COST), a trade association representing approximately 600 of the largest businesses operating in the United States on state and local tax issues. Ms. Smith’s responsibilities at COST covered all aspects of state and local tax advocacy and education on behalf of the members’ state and local tax concerns.

While at COST, Diann testified before numerous government authorities and advocated the fair and nondiscriminatory taxation of multi-state businesses. Diann’s specific responsibilities at COST included writing amicus briefs, drafting legislation, commenting on proposed legislation and regulations, and acting as resource for COST members on state tax legal and procedural questions. Among her many accomplishments were spearheading the Unclaimed Property Task Force, drafting the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2006 (H.R. 6167) concerning state income tax withholding, and negotiating language for the Economic Development Act (S. 1066; H.R. 2471).

Prior to joining COST, Ms. Smith was an associate and then a partner in a New York law firm where she concentrated her practice on state and local tax issues, including corporate franchise and income tax, personal income tax, sales and use tax, and other excise taxes. Ms. Smith was an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center for the LL.M in Taxation program, and has worked with the New York Commissioner’s Taxpayer Advisory Group and the Connecticut Commissioner’s Business Users Group.

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm known for solving challenging business problems and resolving unique legal issues for many of the world’s largest companies. Founded in 1924, the firm has grown to more than 450 lawyers with offices in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, New York, Tallahassee and Washington. For further information about the firm, please visit www.sablaw.com.