Reed Smith hires tax litigation partner

 In Akerman Senterfitt, Reed Smith

Reed Smith LLP has added a top California tax litigation partner to its expanding State Tax Group, which was already one of the largest in the nation[private] Dakessian, a former partner at Akerman Senterfitt, will be resident in Reed Smith’s Los Angeles office, effective immediately.

With the addition of Mr. Dakessian, Reed Smith’s State Tax Group comprises two dozen lawyers in the firm’s New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and San Francisco offices who represent clients in every state across the country. Michael McLoughlin and Aaron Young joined the State Tax Practice in Reed Smith’s New York office less than a month ago.

“From coast to coast, we have built and continue to expand our practice, which is second to none,” said Lee A. Zoeller, head of Reed Smith’s State Tax Group. “Marty is another important addition to this very talented group. An enthusiastic, focused and high-energy lawyer, he possesses a broad understanding of the business side of state tax law in California. This is a vital contribution, because more state tax cases are filed in California than in any other state. As our group’s fifth California member, Marty’s presence in Los Angeles expands our already deep West Coast state tax bench, and positions us well to serve our national clients in this important and active jurisdiction.”

Mr. Dakessian has significant experience in handling state and local tax controversies at the administrative and judicial levels, including corporate and personal income tax, sales and use tax, property tax, payroll tax, and business license taxes. A 1996 graduate of the Hastings College of Law at the University of California, he began his career in state tax law as clerk to the Honorable Dean Andal, a member the California State Board of Equalization, for whom he researched tax issues principally related to the telecommunications industry. Mr. Dakessian followed that clerkship with a stint as legal counsel to the Honorable Claude Parrish, another member of the California State Board of Equalization, for whom he developed case, regulation and policy recommendations on California franchise, and income tax, sales tax and property tax issues.

From 2001 until 2004, Mr. Dakessian was a member of a Big 4 accounting firm, where he represented numerous Fortune 500 companies in California franchise, income tax, sales tax, and property matters, and established himself as one of the state’s premiere tax practitioners. In 2004 he launched his own practice, focusing on state and local taxation, and earning a long record of high-profile victories before the State Board of Equalization. That year he also served as chair of the State and Local Tax Committee of the Taxation Section of the California State Bar.

“I am really pleased to be working with Reed Smith’s premier state tax practice,” Mr. Dakessian said. “I look forward to providing additional experience in California-related matters to the firm’s clients and working with the team on the West Coast.”

Mr. Dakessian has published articles in numerous periodicals, including the Multistate Journal of Taxation and Incentives and CCH’s State Tax Review. He has also presented to the California CPA Society and the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, and has served as a guest lecturer on state and local taxation at the University of California, Los Angeles, and California State University, Los Angeles. He is also an instructor for Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) on sales and franchise tax issues.

Mr. Dakessian is certified by the State Board of Equalization as a Property Tax Appraiser.

“Marty is a tremendous addition to our Southern California team,” said Abe Colman, Managing Partner of Reed Smith’s Los Angeles office. “He has concentrated on California state tax law his entire career and brings a wealth of knowledge and an outstanding record of administrative and trial success, not only to the State Tax Group, but also to this office, and to the firm as a whole. I am delighted to welcome him to Reed Smith.” [/private]

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