Best Tax Lawyer in Alaska

Christy Lee

Christy Lee

Tax Audit Lawyer

Christy’s convictions concerning all things tax stem from her childhood years when her life was completely disrupted. At nine years of age, while playing an intense game of Monopoly with her four siblings and parents, Christy answered her front door, and two IRS agents invited themselves into her living room. There, without much introduction or explanation, they proceeded to threaten to levy and to auction all of her family’s possessions for unpaid taxes.

Lacking sound legal advice about the devastating mess they found themselves in, Christy’s parents then agreed to pay not just 100% of all the debt the IRS assessed against the company, but all interest and penalties as well. Throughout the next 4 long years, the family strictly adhered to an installment agreement. But in the end, Christy’s parents were forced to sell their home, so that all proceeds could be applied to the IRS debt, whose steadily accruing penalties and interest meant that the principal never disappeared. The family moved out of state to start over, leaving behind the company Christy’s parents had worked so hard to build and life as Christy had always known it.

Even then, the repercussions of not thoroughly understanding the tax code haunted the family. All totaled, the final amount Christy’s parents paid to the IRS was approximately double the original amount owed. Christy remains convinced that the outcome for her entire family would have been very different if her parents had had a passionate, skilled tax attorney on their side.

This certainty about the value of knowing one’s rights as a taxpayer would eventually launch Christy on her path toward sitting for the Texas and Alaska Bars. However, Christy did not form this goal consciously and concretely for many years following the family’s move, perhaps because, as her parents had been, Christy was fairly unaware that tax lawyers even existed, much less that they could offer extreme relief to stressed families. Christy went on to get her high school diploma at St. Thomas Aquinas and to major in Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. Later, at the University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine, she earned a Master of Science in Public Health. For years, she then worked in Texas as a Guardianship Specialist/Investigator with Adult Protective Services.

But despite these endeavors, Christy remained privately haunted by the fear and intimidation she had experienced as a child at the hands of the IRS agents. And, now older and much more conscious of her rights as a taxpayer, she returned to school once again, this time earning a Juris Doctor at Texas Tech University School of Law and a Master of Laws in Taxation at the University of Florida – Levin College of Law.

After working for a couple of years at a local law firm in Anchorage, Christy realized that her clients would benefit from a highly individualized approach.  Christy then opened her own practice, first in Anchorage, then in Texas, bringing to her clients’ complicated issues a professional, but fresh and personable attitude toward conflict tax resolution.

Christy’s practice quickly evolved into a full-service tax boutique that assists clients from all over the United States with their tax-related issues.

When Christy is not busy researching and solving legal matters and training the assistant office manager, Toby, you might track her down while she is obsessively following tennis matches, dreaming about mushing dogs in the Iditarod, and noshing on eggs, no matter how they are cooked. As a last resort, bribes of Diet Mountain Dew and white cake are also famous for securing appointments with Christy.

Steven T. O'Hara

Tax Audit Lawyer

Honors

Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, 1997- Present

2023 Lawyer of the Year, Corporate Law-Anchorage, Alaska, Best Lawyers in America

2016 Lawyer of the Year, Trusts & Estates Law-Anchorage, Alaska, Best Lawyers in America

2013 Lawyer of the Year, Tax Law-Anchorage, Alaska, Best Lawyers in America

Selected 30 consecutive years to Best Lawyers in America, including for Tax Law, Trusts and Estates Law, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Trusts and Estates, 1993 – Present

Practice Areas

Steve has a career-long passion for serving private clients. He also sets aside time to serve as an expert witness. And he’s available as a mediator in select cases as well as a lawyering coach. 

 Steve’s work includes:

 

  • Accounting Reports in Trusts and Estates
  • Business Formation and Governance
  • Business Succession Planning
  • Business Valuation
  • Buy-Sell Agreements/Shareholder Agreements
  • Buying and Selling Businesses/Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Charitable Planning
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Commercial Transactions
  • Complex Estate Structures
  • Corporate Law
  • Endowment Funds
  • Estate Administration
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Tax Return Preparation and Audits
  • Estates and Trusts Litigation
  • Expert Opinions
  • Family Foundations
  • Fiduciary Law
  • Generation-Skipping Tax Return Preparation and Audits
  • Gift Tax Return Preparation and Audits
  • Life Insurance Due Diligence
  • LLC Law
  • Mediation
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Partnership Law
  • Probate Law
  • Risk Management
  • Secured Transactions
  • Securities Regulation
  • Tax Compliance
  • Tax Law
  • Trust Administration
  • Trust Planning
  • Trust Reformation/Modification

 

Publications

 

  • Column, Estate Planning Corner, The Alaska Bar Rag (1989-Present)
  • Thinking Outside The Code, 116 (No. 8) Tax Notes 679 (August 20, 2007)
  • Working In A World With The GST Tax, 137 Trusts & Estates 47 (1998)
  • Using Ascertainable Standards for Distributions from Trusts, 10 The Audio Estate Planner (Summer 1994)
  • In Search of the Meaning of Income: Glenshaw Glass Revisited, 127 Trusts & Estates 50 (1988)
  • The Creation, Operation and Dissolution of a Limited Partnership in Alaska, 2 Alaska L. Rev. 271 (1985)
  • Worker Adjustment Assistance: The Failure & The Future, 5 Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business 394 (1983)
  • Boxing website: The Jim O’Hara Story: Boxing, Dignity & Street Smarts

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Having the best tax lawyer in Alaska can offer numerous benefits, including:

  1. Expertise in Tax Law: A top tax lawyer in Alaska would possess extensive knowledge and experience in tax laws and regulations at both the federal and state levels. This expertise ensures that you receive accurate advice tailored to your specific tax situation.

  2. Tax Planning: A skilled tax lawyer can help you develop effective tax planning strategies to minimize your tax liability legally. They can analyze your financial situation, identify potential tax-saving opportunities, and provide guidance on structuring transactions or investments to optimize tax benefits.

  3. Audit Representation: If you or your business is facing an IRS or state tax audit, having a top tax lawyer on your side can be invaluable. They can represent you during the audit process, communicate with tax authorities on your behalf, and work to resolve any issues or disputes that arise.

  4. Legal Compliance: Tax laws are complex and ever-changing. A knowledgeable tax lawyer can ensure that you remain compliant with all applicable tax laws and regulations, helping you avoid costly penalties or legal problems.

  5. Tax Dispute Resolution: In case of tax disputes or controversies, such as tax assessments, penalties, or enforcement actions, a skilled tax attorney can advocate for your interests and negotiate with tax authorities to reach a favorable resolution.

  6. Litigation Support: If tax matters escalate to litigation, having a top tax lawyer who is experienced in tax litigation can provide strong representation in court. They can effectively argue your case, present evidence, and navigate the legal process on your behalf.

  7. Business and Estate Planning: For business owners and individuals with complex financial affairs, a top tax lawyer can offer strategic advice on business structuring, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, estate planning, and other matters to optimize tax efficiency and protect assets.

  8. Peace of Mind: By entrusting your tax matters to a reputable tax attorney, you can have peace of mind knowing that your interests are being professionally represented, and you are taking proactive steps to manage your tax obligations effectively.

Overall, the benefits of having the best tax lawyer in Alaska extend beyond mere tax compliance—they encompass strategic planning, legal protection, and peace of mind in navigating complex tax matters.

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