Holtz, Slavett, Drabkin & Warner, APLC is very proud to announce that four of our principals were named as 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers in Tax Law.  David Holtz, Gary Slavett, Igor Drabkin and Michele Weiss were recognized among the best tax attorneys who have achieved a high degree of professional achievement and peer recognition. In addition, Richard Gano and Kevin Oveisi were named as Rising Stars in the field of law in the same 2026 Super Lawyers edition.

Each year, no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the region are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.  Super Lawyers selects attorneys using peer nominations and evaluations combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, and selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. We’re honored that David, Gary, Igor, Michele, Richard and Kevin were recognized as best of the best tax lawyers!

In a fireside chat format, Michele will lead the panelists to discuss settlement procedures for the FTB and CDTFA. The panelists will explore and explain best practices and timing for taxpayers to request settlement for their tax disputes. The panelists will provide insights and practical tips for practitioners who represent taxpayers in California income, sales tax, and other California tax disputes, from the perspective of the FTB and CDTFA.

If you want additional information about settlement options for California tax disputes, you can reach out to Michele at mweiss@hsdwtaxlaw.com and 310-550-6200. Michele has over 25 years of experience handling federal, state, and local tax disputes.

Michele, Sebastian and Jimeel will discuss valuation issues in transfer pricing, estate and gift matters, and non-cash charitable contributions. They will analyze lessons learned from tax opinions involving valuation issues. They will also give practical tips on working with experts including handling communications with experts, privilege issues, motions in limine to exclude experts, and  working with experts at trial.

Michele has extensive experience working with experts in tax matters both during administrative proceedings and at trial. If you have questions about working with experts in a tax matter, you can contact Michele at  mweiss@hsdwtaxlaw.com or 310-550-6200. Michele is a former IRS Counsel attorney with over 25 years of experience in tax controversy matters including audits, litigation, and collection matters with federal, state, and local taxing authorities.

Holtz, Slavett, Drabkin & Warner,  A Professional Law Corporation

Holtz, Slavett, Drabkin & Warner, APLC is a tax controversy and tax litigation law firm consisting of former IRS attorneys.  For the past 20 years, our firm has helped thousands of clients resolve issues with the Internal Revenue Service and state tax agencies, including audits, administrative appeals, tax litigation, criminal tax, and tax collection defense.  Our firm has nine former IRS attorneys who have significant trial and administrative experience both inside and outside the government, which gives our firm a comprehensive understanding of the internal workings of governmental tax agencies.  Our attorneys have the highest level of educational and professional tax backgrounds, including Tax LL.M.s from leading law schools, experience with big four accounting firms, and expertise as tax professors.

To schedule a consultation, please contact us at (310) 550-6200 (Los Angeles office) or (949) 999-6606 (Orange County office).  You can visit our website at www.hsdwtaxlaw.com to learn more about our firm.

The panel will explore how recent opinions including Loper Bright and Jarkesy offer new avenues for taxpayers to explore when pursuing their tax cases. Moreover, the panel will explain how taxpayers can challenge “normal” courses of action in their tax cases to find new and better ways to succeed in their tax disputes.

For more information on how to navigate success in tax disputes, you can contact Michele at 310-550-6200 x16 or mweiss@hsdwtaxlaw.com.

FBAR remains a complicated reporting obligation and the IRS will cross-reference FBAR information with other tax filings, as well as information disclosures from other sources such as foreign financial institutions. This makes failure to accurately report assets on the FBAR potentially very costly for U.S. taxpayers, even with the extension provisions of the new regulations.

The program will discuss the FBAR filing requirements, potential willful and non-willful penalties, procedures for dealing with the FBAR issues and penalties, and provide update on the new enforcement and court developments.

Igor Drabkin is a principal at Holtz, Slavett, Drabkin & Warner and a California State Bar Certified Tax Law Specialist. A former Senior Trial Attorney with the IRS and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Igor has extensive experience handling complex tax controversies, audits, criminal investigations, and international tax enforcement. He has litigated cases in federal, state, and bankruptcy courts and frequently speaks on tax litigation, FBAR penalties, and procedural issues. A former adjunct professor at Golden Gate University’s Graduate School of Taxation, Igor brings both practical and academic insight to his continuing education courses. Igor received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law. Igor received his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the California State University, Northridge. Igor is fluent in Russian.

Kevin Oveisi is a former IRS Senior Trial Attorney who has experience practicing in all aspects of tax controversy including income tax, estate tax, gift tax, employment tax, collection issues, penalties, and litigation in the U.S. Tax.  Court.  At the IRS, Kevin was a Senior Trial Attorney with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, Small Business Self-Employed Division, in Manhattan and Laguna Niguel.  As an IRS attorney, he represented the IRS in over 400 cases before the U.S. Tax Court, including the most complex cases.

Holtz, Slavett, Drabkin & Warner, APLC is a tax controversy and tax litigation law firm consisting of former IRS trial attorneys.  We represent taxpayers in all aspects of tax disputes with the IRS and state tax authorities.  To schedule a consultation, please contact us at (949) 999-6606.

The panel will cover practical insights on navigating IRS examinations, responding to notices and summonses, pursuing administrative remedies, and litigating in the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Courts, and the Court of Federal Claims.

Kevin Oveisi is a former IRS Senior Trial Attorney who has experience practicing in all aspects of tax controversy including income tax, estate tax, gift tax, employment tax, collection issues, penalties, and litigation in the U.S. Tax.  Court.  At the IRS, Kevin was a Senior Trial Attorney with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, Small Business Self-Employed Division, in Manhattan and Laguna Niguel.  As an IRS attorney, he represented the IRS in over 400 cases before the U.S. Tax Court, including the most complex cases.

Holtz, Slavett, Drabkin & Warner, APLC is a tax controversy and tax litigation law firm consisting of former IRS trial attorneys.  We represent taxpayers in all aspects of tax disputes with the IRS and state tax authorities.  To schedule a consultation, please contact us at (949) 999-6606.

Michele and Shannon Post, Director at Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A., Wilmington, DE, will present together on a panel entitled “Tax Controversy – A Review of the Administrative and Judicial Processes Involved in Disputed Issues with the Internal Revenue Service.” They will discuss best practices for approaching a tax audit, options for appeals and litigation, and how best to handle tax collection matters.

Michele focuses her practice on representing businesses, business owners, and individuals in tax controversy matters. She also provides tax counsel in civil litigation, family law, and labor law matters. Michele is a former IRS Counsel attorney and California State Bar certified specialist in taxation law. She uses her experience, skills, and expertise to help her clients obtain the very best possible resolution of their tax controversy matters. You can contact Michele at mweiss@hsdtaxlaw.com or 310-550-6200.

The conference provides an open forum for distinguished presenters and panelists, both from the government and private practice, to discuss, and often debate, sensitive tax practice issues with an engaged audience. The conference will be held on October 23, 2025, at the Beverly Hills Hotel. You can register for the conference following this llink.

Holtz, Slavett Drabkin & Warner, APLC is a tax controversy and tax litigation law firm consisting of former IRS attorneys.  We represent taxpayers in all aspects of tax disputes with the IRS and state tax authorities.  To schedule a consultation, please contact us at (310) 550-6200.

David J. Warner practices in all aspects of tax controversy including tax audits, collection defense, and tax litigation.  David regularly advises clients and accounts on international noncompliance issues.  Before joining Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin, David was a Senior Trial Attorney with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in Laguna Niguel for 9 years.  As an IRS attorney, he handled over 500 cases before the U.S. Tax Court, including the most complex international cases.  As is relevant to this presentation, David advised the local IRS Special Enforcement Program (SEP) and Large Business & International (LB&I) International Individual Compliance (IIC) revenue agents on complex domestic and international issues.  David was an Adjunct Professor of Law at University of California Irvine School of Law, Chapman University Fowler School of Law, and Loyola Law School, where he taught courses on tax practice and procedure, partnership tax, bankruptcy tax, and corporate tax.

Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin, APLC is a tax controversy and tax litigation law firm consisting of former IRS trial attorneys.  We represent taxpayers in all aspects of tax disputes with the IRS and state tax authorities.  To schedule a consultation, please contact David at (949) 999-6606.