LaVonne D. Lawson
Counsel
LaVonne D. Lawson is Counsel with Leech Tishman and a member of the firm’s Tax Group as well as the Estates & Trusts Practice Group. LaVonne counsels small businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups, as well as large businesses and established companies, in state, federal, and international tax matters. She focuses her practice on tax reporting and compliance, tax controversy and litigation, and estate planning.
LaVonne previously served as a Senior Attorney with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Office of Chief Counsel, where she counseled revenue agents and revenue officers, represented the IRS in the U.S. Tax Court, and advised Department of Justice Attorneys and Assistant U.S. Attorneys in tax cases outside of the Tax Court.
LaVonne regularly counsels clients on numerous statutes and regulations regarding substantive and procedural tax issues. She has significant experience representing clients in a variety of federal and California state tax controversy and litigation matters.
LaVonne also has experience advising clients on international tax reporting and compliance, and assists businesses and individuals in compliance matters involving offshore assets and account reporting.
Prior to joining Leech Tishman, LaVonne was owner of the Law Office of LaVonne Lawson, where she represented businesses and individuals in federal and California state tax matters.
Academics
J.D., Duke University School of Law
M.B.A., Duke University Fuqua School of Business
B.A. in Economics, English, Stanford University
Admissions
California
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Professional Memberships
Beverly Hills Bar Association (Member; Immediate-Past President)
Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member; Former Member, Board of Trustees)
State Bar of California (Member; Former Member, Taxation Section Executive Committee; Former Chair, Taxation Section Tax Procedure and Litigation Committee)
Experience
Law Office of LaVonne Lawson
Pillsbury Winthrop
Office of Chief Counsel, IRS
Community Involvement
Rotary Villa Esperanza Services (Former Board Member)