Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer

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1 Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer Each year, the Tax Section recognizes one attorney as an Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer. Nominations are submitted by the Tax Section membership and final selection is made by the Council. Nominees must: be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas or an inactive member; have been licensed to practice law in Texas or another jurisdiction for at least ten years; and have devoted at least 75 percent of his or her law practice to taxation law. In selecting a winner, the Council considers a nominee s reputation for expertise and professionalism within the community of tax professionals specifically and the broader legal community; authorship of scholarly works relating to taxation law; significant participation in the State Bar of Texas, American Bar Association, local bar associations, or other legal organizations; significant contributions to the general welfare of the community; significant pro bono activities; reputation for ethics; mentorship of other tax professionals; experience on the bench relating to taxation law; experience in academia relating to taxation law; and other significant contributions or experience relating to taxation law Juan F. Vasquez (details pending) 2013 Ira B. Shepard At the time of selection as Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer, Ira Shepard was a Professor of Law with the University of Houston Law Center. He taught Federal Tax and Professional Responsivity. Professor Shepard joined the Law Center in Before his tenure at the Law Center, he taught at the University of Georgia School of Law and was a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina Law School. He received his baccalaureate degree from Harvard College in 1958 and his law degree from Harvard University in 1964, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Following graduation, he practiced in New York City with the firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. He has been the Special Advisor to the Southern Federal Tax Institute since He has chaired the Continuing Legal Education and Research Committee of the American Bar Association Tax Section and the planning committee for the University of Texas Tax Conference Emily Parker Emily A. Parker of Thompson & Knight L.L.P. was selected as our Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer for Parker is the ninth recipient of the award. 1

2 Parker has served the legal profession, government, her law firm and clients with distinction through a wide variety of roles. Parker earned her law degree with honors in 1973 from the Southern Methodist University School of Law (now known as SMU Dedman School of Law) and was selected as the school s Distinguished Alumni for Government Service. Parker has represented large corporate taxpayers in a number of landmark cases in the energy industry and the area of estate taxation. From 2002 to 2004, Parker served as Deputy Chief Counsel (Operations) and for almost a year served as Acting Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, where she had ultimate responsibility for all legal matters at the IRS and leadership of all of their 1,600 attorneys. During her career Parker has been recognized in a wide range of business and legal publications, including being named as 2012 Dallas Litigation & Controversy-Tax Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America. She has held numerous leadership positions for local, state, and national bar organizations, including most recently serving as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association s Section of Taxation. She has also served as a community volunteer for Dallas CASA, the Child Abuse Prevention Center, and Easter Seals of Dallas. Parker s career has been marked with a series of firsts. She was the first female attorney hired by Thompson & Knight, its first woman Partner, and its first woman Managing Partner. Please join me in congratulating Emily Parker as the first woman to be awarded the Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer! 2011 Stanley M. Johanson In 2011, Stanley M. Johanson, James A. Elkins Centennial Chair in Law and University Distinguished Teaching Professor of the University of Texas School of Law, was recognized as Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer. Professor Johanson joined the law faculty of the University of Texas School of Law in 1963 where he has taught thousands of students estate planning. He has won numerous awards over the years including the Treat Award for Excellence presented by the National College of Probate Judges and the endowed Massey Teaching Excellence Award at the University of Texas School of Law. In 2008, Professor Johanson was elected by the National Association of Estate Planning Councils to the Estate Planning Hall of Fame. His publications include Johanson s Texas Probate Code Annotated (2010 published annually); Gilbert s Law Summary on Wills (2002); Wills, Trusts & Estates (7th ed. 2005) (co-author; law school casebook adopted at over 120 American law schools). He is a member of the American Law Institute, American College of Tax Counsel, American College of Trust & Estate Counsel, and the International Academy of Trust and Estate Counsel Charles O. Galvin (deceased January 27, 2011) Charles O. Galvin was the 2011 Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer honoree. Galvin received his B.S. in Commerce from Southern Methodist University, an MBA and Juris Doctor from Northwestern University, Doctor of the Science of Law from Harvard, and honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Capital University and SMU. He practiced law with the Dallas firm of Leachman, Matthews, and Gardere and most recently was of counsel to the Dallas law firm, Haynes and Boone, LLP. 2

3 He was professor of law at SMU from and Dean of the Law School from Dr. Galvin was also the Centennial Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University from , and thereafter Centennial Professor Emeritus. He also served as Executive in Residence, Vanderbilt, Overall in his career, Dr. Galvin taught at the law schools of Michigan, Harvard, Duke, Pepperdine, Kansas, Texas as well as the Business Schools of Northwestern University and SMU. He was a Distinguished Professor of Law, Emeritus, SMU Law School. Dr. Galvin had been a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Order of the Coif, and the Phi Delta Theta Social Fraternity. Further honors include: the Intellectual Leadership award from the National Council of Catholic Men; the Equal Justice Award of Legal services of North Texas; the John Rogers award from the Southwestern Legal Foundation; Dr. Galvin membership in professional organizations incudes the State Bar of Texas; Texas Bar Foundation; Texas Supreme Court Historical Society; Dallas Bar Association; Dallas Bar Foundation; American Bar Association; American Bar Foundation; American Law Institute; American Judicature Society, United States Supreme Court Historical Society; American Tax Policy Institute; Southwestern Legal Foundation; Section of Taxation of the American Bar Association; Texas Society of CPAs and the Dallas Chapter of CPAs; and the Philosophical Society of Texas. In public service, Galvin served on numerous commissions, committees, and advisory boards. He also served on numerous corporate and charitable boards Stanley L. Blend Stanley L. Blend is recognized as the 2009 Tax Section Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer. His career as a tax lawyer spans 40 years and is built on the principles of unwavering quality and service to the Tax Bar. Upon graduation from the University of Houston Law Center in 1967, Stanley served as a Staff Attorney in the Tax Court Litigation Division of the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service until While working for the Chief Counsel s Office, Stanley attended Georgetown University Law Center and earned his L.L.M. in In 1972, Stanley joined the firm that is now Oppenheimer, Blend, Harrison and Tate, Inc. (Oppenheimer + Blend) where he established a tax practice focused on providing the highest quality legal services to his clients. At Oppenheimer + Blend, Stanley has served as Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, and Practice Group Leader of the Property Exchange and Tax Groups. In addition to his law practice, Stanley takes great pride in his involvement with the Taxation sections of both the State Bar of Texas and the American Bar Association and believes service to the Tax Bar is a vitally important responsibility of every tax lawyer. Stanley has served as the Secretary ( ), Treasurer ( ) and Chair ( ) of the Section of Taxation of the State Bar of Texas. In addition, Stanley has served as both the Vice Chair ( ) and Chair ( ) of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation. He has also served as Council Director ( ) and is the past Chair of the Partnership Tax Committee, with the American Bar Association. 3

4 Stanley has been a member of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, the American College of Tax Counsel, and has served on the Editorial Board of The Practical Tax Lawyer. Stanley has been recognized by Woodward/White, Inc. as one of the Best Lawyers in America, by Texas Monthly Magazine as a Texas Super Lawyer and by Scene in SA Magazine as one of San Antonio s Best Tax Law Attorneys. Stanley is a frequent author and lecturer on all areas of tax law. Most importantly, Stanley is a friend and mentor to many Steve Salch (deceased February 28, 2010) Steven C. Salch was selected as the 2008 Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer. Salch graduated from Southern Methodist University and from the SMU School of Law. He practiced with Fulbright & Jaworski where he served as a Senior Partner, and then retired to Galveston to open his own practice. He was a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas, the Galveston County and Houston Bar Associations, and the American Law Institute (Life Member). He served as Vice-Chair of the American College of Tax Counsel, was a past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation, and is one of fewer than 1,500 lawyers selected to Best Lawyers in America for 25 consecutive years. He was also listed in Who's Who in the World and Texas Super Lawyers. Salch was a very active member of the community. He was a member of the Krewe of the Knights of Momus. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the UTMB Health System Advisory Board, the UTMB Development Board and President's Cabinet. He also served as an Advisory Director of the Grand 1894 Opera House, and was a member of the Galveston Historical Foundation Buford P. Berry In 2007, the Tax Section recognized Buford P. Berry as Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer. Berry s practice is focused on federal income taxation, with an emphasis on oil and gas taxation and tax litigation. He is a frequent speaker and writer on tax law topics. Distinctions/honors for Berry include: The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward/White Inc. (Tax Law); Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (Tax, Estate Planning & Probate); Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer Award, State Bar of Texas Section of Taxation; 2007 Barry s professional memberships and affiliations include: Member, American Bar Association; Past Chairman, Natural Resources Committee, Section of Taxation Past Chairman, Tax Section of the Southwestern Legal Foundation; Currently Secretary of the Advisory Board of the International Oil & Gas Educational Center Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, American Bar Foundation Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel 4

5 He has also served numerous civic and charitable organizations, including Dallas Citizens Counsel, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony, Goodwill Industries of Dallas, Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation, Annual U.S. Savings Bond Campaign, and Thompson & Knight Foundation Barry received his LL.B. from The University of Texas School of Law. Law school recognitions include Phi Delta Phi; Quizmaster; Order of the Coif; Chancellors; Associate Note Editor, Texas Law Review. He received his B.B.A. in Accounting, from The University of Texas at Austin Charles Hall (details pending) 2003 Vester T. Hughes, Jr. The first presentation of the Outstanding Tax Lawyer Award was made to Vester T. Hughes, Jr. at the 2003 Advanced Tax Course held in Dallas, Texas, on September 19, The selection of Vester Hughes sets a high standard for all future recipients. His career as a tax lawyer spans six decades during which he has been an important part of the local, state and national tax practice. Contrary to popular opinion, Mr. Hughes did not start life as the Tax Czar. He grew up in a small ranching community close to San Angelo. In 1949, he graduated from Rice with degrees in physics and math, and in 1952, graduated from Harvard Law School. Following graduation, Mr. Hughes served as the law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Tom Clark, and then after his judicial clerkship, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Mr. Hughes returned to Dallas after the war and started law practice as an associate with the law firm that would become Jackson Walker. He continued with that firm for 16 years until 1976 when he joined the law firm that would become the firm that bears his name, Hughes & Luce. Mr. Hughes is one of the world s top tax experts and his accomplishments are many. He has served as the Chairman of the Tax Section of the Texas State Bar; as member of the Council of the Taxation Section of the ABA; member of the Council of the American Law Institute; visiting professor of law at Southern Methodist University Law School; Institute Chairman of the Taxation Division of the Southwestern Legal Foundation. He is also the author of many tax publications and a frequent lecturer at tax institutes. Mr. Hughes is an active participant in a number of charities. He has served as a trustee of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children since 1967 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Diabetes foundation since Mr. Hughes has argued a number of cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, advised congressional committees and administrative agencies regarding tax laws, and represented public companies such as American Airlines and Electronic Data Systems. 5

6 With all that said, when thinking of words to describe Vester T. Hughes, Jr. and the values he has taught those that have followed him in practice, people choose such words as: ethical, and principled, a lawyer of integrity and character, and a friend and mentor to many. 6