Jason Galek
Senior Associate
Location:
Annapolis Office
Phone: 202-618-1873
Fax: 888-235-8405
Email: Contact Us
Jason advises and represents clients with federal and California tax-related disputes before taxing authorities, such the Internal Revenue Service and California Franchise Tax Board, for tax audits, negotiating settlements, representing clients in administrative appeals, and clients with tax matters in federal or California court. Jason also advises and represents clients on tax planning, compliance, and strategies to resolve and avoid tax disputes and mitigate actual and potential tax liability, including international tax consequences.
Jason is certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in tax law and has an LL.M. in Taxation from Golden Gate University School of Law. Jason served as an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University School of Law and is a former member of the California Lawyers Association Taxation Section Executive Committee. Jason frequently speaks on tax matters. He also volunteers with the Justice and Diversity Center of the San Francisco Bar Association and with other legal pro bono organizations.
Jason is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and has been selected by Thomson Reuters as a Super Lawyer in Taxation for Northern California since 2019. Jason has also been recognized by the Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco as an Outstanding Volunteer from 2015 to 2020.
Jason lives in Northern California with his wife, three sons, and two cats.
Bar Admissions
- California (239638), Certified Legal Specialist Taxation Law (State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization)
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. District Court (Northern, Eastern, Central & Southern Districts of California)
Areas of Practice
- Tax
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, Taxation Section
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Taxation Section
- California Lawyers Association, Taxation Section
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Taxation Section
- San Francisco Tax Club.
Education
- Golden Gate University School of Law, LL.M. Taxation
- University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D.
- University of California, Berkeley, B.A., English Literature.
Awards and Honors
- Super Lawyers, 2019 – 2023 Northern California, Taxation.
- Outstanding Volunteer, 2015 – 2020, Bar Association of San Francisco Justice and Diversity Center, San Francisco, California.
Pro Bono Activities
- Volunteer Attorney – The Justice and Diversity Center, The Bar Association of San Francisco (April 2015 – Present): Day of Docket Clinic at U.S. Tax Court to assist unrepresented petitioners through the Justice and Diversity Center resolve the case with the IRS
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic volunteer to assist low income taxpayers resolve tax matters with the IRS. - Member – California Lawyers Association Governance Committee (March 2020 – Present): The governance committee makes recommendations to the Board of Representatives about governance issues facing California Lawyers Association as such issues arise.
- Member – California Lawyers Association Access to Justice (A2J) Committee (September 2020 – September 2021): California Lawyers Association Access to Justice (A2J) Committee has the purpose to share best practices and opportunities for CLA members to volunteer on A2J projects, pro bono opportunities and other work on priorities identified by CLA and the California Lawyers Foundation.
- Member – Rotary Club of Calgary, Canada (January 2021 – Jul 2021).
- Executive Committee – California Lawyers Association Taxation Section (September 2017 – September 2020): The Taxation Section of the California Lawyers Association has approximately 3,000 members and is California’s only statewide tax bar association. The Taxation Section enhances the practice of taxation law and influences tax policy and legislation through its publications, events, programs, and participation of its members. Jason served as Chair of the D.C. Delegation Subcommittee for 2019 and 2020, and as Vice Chair in 2018.
- Executive Committee – Bay Area Young Tax Lawyers California Lawyers Association (September 2014 – December 2016): Bay Area Young Tax Lawyers (BAYTL) is one of several local committees of the Taxation Section of the California Bar (subsequently California Lawyers Association) established especially for tax practitioners with less than 10 years of practice experience. Through organizing CLE and networking events, the BAYTL Executive Committee assists attorneys in the first 10 years of practice learn the fundamentals of tax practice.
- Executive Committee – Barristers Club Board of Directors, The Bar Association of San Francisco (January 2014 – December 2016): Served as Treasurer from December 2015 to December 2016. The Barrister Board’s mission is a commitment to professional growth, community service and serving as an advocate for the members of the San Francisco Barristers Club. The Board of Directors determines the Club’s mission, sets policy and procedures to fulfill the Club’s mission, and supports the membership in fulfilling the Club’s mission.
- Chair – Barristers Club Taxation Section, The Bar Association of San Francisco (February 2012 – February 2014): Served as Chair from February 2013 to February 2014
- Vice-Chair from February 2012 to February 2013. The Taxation Section of the Barrister Club seeks to help lawyers and others learn the fundamentals of tax practice, including tax controversy, compliance and transactional tax practice through CLE presentations and networking events. Guest speakers include experienced governmental and private sector tax practitioners, accountants, professors, and other tax professionals.
Published Works
- Severable Water Rights As IRC § 170 Charitable Deduction Property, Tax Notes State (June 20, 2022)
- A Taxonomy of Tax Professionals, Canadian Accountant (March 30, 2021)
- Quick Point, California’s Efforts to Adopt “First Time Abate” Penalty Relief, California Tax Lawyer (Volume 26, Number 3, 2017)
- Interview: Sharyn Fisk, California Tax Procedure Journal (June 1, 2017)
- Provisions of the Affordable Care Act Mandate in a Nutshell, San Francisco Attorney Magazine (December 2015)
- Incorporeal Punishment: Corporate Suspension and Forfeiture for Tax Noncompliance, Contra Costa Lawyer, Tax Edition, Vol. 28, Number 2 (March 2015)
Speaking Engagements
- Tax Bootcamp, California Lawyers Association Taxation Section Annual Meeting, November 2022.
- Moodys Tax University, Calgary, Canada, November 2021 (Not affiliated with Moody’s Investors Service).
- Real Estate Taxation (LLM 326), Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, California, January 2016 to May 2021.
- Update on International Tax Compliance, California Lawyers Association Annual Conference, October 2019.
- Ethical and Professional Responsibilities in Maintaining a Tax Practice, California Young Tax Lawyers Sixth Annual Conference, May 2019.
- Maximizing Tax Benefits in Employment Settlements for Plaintiffs and Defendants, Marin County Bar Association Employment Section, November 2017.
- Bridging the Gap Between California and Federal Controversy Practice, East Bay Tax Club, October 2017.
- To W2 or Not To W2, Perils & Solutions Arising From Misclassification of Employees, San Francisco Bar Association, August 2017.
- Bridging the Gap Between California and Federal Controversy Practice, California State Bar Taxation Section, Tax Procedure & Litigation Committee, March 2017.
- Introduction to Tax Controversy Training, A Training for Attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents: Bar Association of San Francisco Justice and Diversity Center, December 2016.
- Everything You Want to Know About Tax Controversy Law But Are Afraid to Ask, Bay Area Young Tax Lawyers, November 2016.
- The Affordable Care Act for the Solo/Small Firm Practitioner, San Francisco Tax Club, September 2016.
- Tax and Other Issues Impacting Individuals and Small Businesses Post-Disaster – Tax and Other Issues Impacting Individuals and Small Businesses Post-Disaster, Practising Law Institute, April 2016.
- The Affordable Care Act for the Solo/Small Firm Practitioner, Bar Association of San Francisco, January 2016.
- Affordable Care Act Penalties and Exemptions, Navigating the Mandate: Bay Area Young Tax Lawyers, Golden Gate University, March 2015.
- Affordable Care Act Penalties and Exemptions, Navigating the Mandate, Bay Area Young Tax Lawyers, Golden Gate University, March 2015.
- KALW 91.7 FM “Your Legal Rights”, Affordable Care Act exemptions and penalties for 2015, January 2015.
- The Tax Man Cometh: Dealing with Tax Notices and Audits
- Using Litigation and Bankruptcy to Your Advantage, Panelist, Contra Costa County Bar Association 20th Annual MCLE Spectacular November 2014.
- NASBTS 35th Annual Meeting: Roundtable discussion on professionalism and pro bono for tax lawyers at the National Association of State Bar Tax Sections 35th Annual Meeting, October 2014.
- KALW 91.7 FM “Your Legal Rights”: Discussion of year-end tax tips for 2014, October 22, 2014.
- Removing Tax Penalties Through Reasonable Cause Abatement: Contra Costa County Bar Association, June 2014.
- You Might Be a Tax Return Preparer, If . . .: Golden Gate University, January 2014.
