Tax Attorneys

Parent Q&A

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  • Hello, I need to find a tax attorney for a relatively simple situation (one prior years return was lost in mail and the next one was late because our tax preparer failed to file it). I have a small budget for legal services but it could be less than the IRS penalties. I’ve tried calling the IRS multiple times but their line keeps dropping. Thanks 

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  • Seeking experienced tax preparer: I am helping a friend clean up their complex and delinquent tax situation. I would welcome recommendations for a tax preparer familiar with as many of the following issues as possible: a US citizen living and working in the UK for more than ten years; delinquent on filing US tax forms; retirement income in both the US and the UK; a home owned in the UK; familiarity with academia and UC retirement systems a big plus. I am well aware that this is a situation that should have been dealt with many years ago, but I am hoping to help this friend deal with it now. Thank you.

    Jonathan Lee, a tax attorney in San Francisco, helped my resident-alien spouse resolve a thorny and long-neglected international tax situation.  You might actually end up needing more than one specialist to sort this all out, but I think Jonathan could at least get you started.  His number is (415) 685-0813.

  • Hi!  I need a lawyer to review a Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement that I have to sign (my husband is is the employee/Purchaser but I need to sign as well) but I see a section that makes me nervous and I feel it would be in my best interest to have an Attorney look at it before I sign.   I also need help with Estate planning/will.  Thank you so much for your help!!

    We used Jeff Levi at Wendel Rosen for estate planning with very good results.  My husband and I worked in large corporate law firms, but wanted our personal legal services to be handled outside of our respective employers.  Jeff has also been a good resource in finding attorneys within and outside of his firm for other legal matters not estate planning related.  

    I highly recommend Amanda Ewing-Rice at Atashi Rang.  She is very clear very thorough and very personable. She listened carefully and offered thoughtful pertinent advice. 

    I like Reece Halpern at Halpern Law Office on Solano ave. in Berkeley.  I've used him for estate planning and referred clients to him, and everyone has been very happy with the results.

    Hi, I’m not sure about the estate planning but the tax ninja (taxninja.com) is an excellent tax attorney who advised us on a restricted stock purchase and has been very helpful to us financially in general.

Archived Q&A and Reviews



Someone to prepare tax returns

August 2008

Help! We're looking for someone in the Berkeley/Albany/El Cerrito area who can prepare our 2007 tax returns. Our paperwork should be relatively straight forward; we just need someone we can trust and who may be able to provide tax advice. All the previous postings from BPN are outdated or the contacts are not accpeting new clients. Better late than never


We've been using John Stephenson on Fairmount Ave in El Cerrito for years now. We started with him on the recommedation of a friend, and I cannot sing his praises enough. John can handle all sorts of tax troubles, and he's a ceramicist as well, so he has a wonderful artistic balance to his personality. Another thing that has been really important for us is that he has always, always gotten our tax returns to us by the date that I said I needed it. Ana


I have used Monika Hengesbach, owner of Decision Financial Services, since 2003 and have been very pleased. (She even makes house calls!) Their number is 925-756-7815. Greg

[editor note] reviews also received for Accountants


July 2008

We have just finished a lengthy IRS audit and received a settlement offer in the mail that far exceeds what we were expecting to owe the IRS. We are now in the process of seeking the advice of a tax attorney and can not find any recommendations. We would love any recommendations for a great attorney in the greater bay area. anon


Try Kristin Pace at Fitzgerald, Abbott & Beardsley at 1221 Broadway in Oakland. She helped a lot when the IRS wanted so much of my mom's estate. Tax attorneys cost a bundle, but I'd rather see the money go to them than to the IRS... a nony-mouse


Oct 2003

Re: financial planner for family finances & taxes


To the person looking for a Financial Advisor/Accountant (and anyone else ''looking'') - I'd like to highly recommend that you contact John Griffin. I've known John for about six years. He has a broad range of experience in tax, business, and estate planning. He is a member of the California Bar Association, has a Masters in Taxation, and experience on his own as well as four years experience with Big Five accounting firms (KPMG, Deloitte & Touche). What's more, he's ''real people'' - I'm sure you'll feel very comfortable working with him. John can be contacted at:
Law Office of John H. Griffin 1160 Brickyard Cove Road, Suite 200 Point Richmond, CA 94802 510 439-4123 Office john AT jhgriffinlaw.com
Happy Planning!!! Leslie


From: Andrea (10/98)

We felt very comfortable with and have used Rebecca Walden of Tierney, Walden and Watson several times. She was highly recommended to us by someone we trust and who had worked for a large law firm for many years so was familiar with that world. The number for their offices (San Francisco - worth the drive) is 415-974-1900.