About

Certified Tax Law Specialist

Meet Laura Buckley

Laura Buckley is a California Certified Tax Law specialist representing high-net-worth individuals, closely-held businesses, and non-profit entities in unique and complex tax matters including tax controversy, tax advice and planning, tax collection matters, property taxes, and bankruptcy tax issues.

Ms. Buckley has resolved issues before the Internal Revenue Service and state and local tax agencies, including the U.S. Tax Court, the California Franchise Tax Board, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the California State Board of Equalization, and the County Tax Assessor's Office.

Ms. Buckley has previously been an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, where she taught Advanced Business Planning for several years. She is the past Chair of the California Lawyers Association’s Taxation Section and a member of the America College of Tax Counsel.

Ms. Buckley was an IRS Chief Counsel attorney and a Special Assistant United States Attorney. In 2007, she was selected as National Chair for all IRS Counsel’s young attorneys for their continuing legal education. She also served as a full-time judicial extern to the Honorable Arthur L. Alarcon on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She formerly served as Chair of the Young Tax Lawyers for the State Bar of California Bar and Vice Chair of the Corporate and Pass-Through Committee. She is also a Past Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Tax Section. She is also Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association - Pro bono Tax Court Program. In 2023 and 2024 Laura was an Advisory Member to the Taxation Section Executive Committee.

Ms. Buckley lives and works in Point Loma, California. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her three children, Grace, Patrick, and Nathan, and her husband Matt. Matt was a member of the Navy Reserves and is a FedEx pilot.

“We are honored to navigate our clients through complex tax and business needs.”

What Makes Us Different

Specialized
Expertise

Cost Effective
Resolutions

Client-Focused

Multifaceted
Tax Experience

Proven
Track Record

Credentials

Education
  • LLM, Taxation, New York University (2017)
  • J.D., Southwestern University School of Law (summa cum laude) (2006)
  • B.A., Gordon College, History Major (1999)
Awards & Honors
  • Super Lawyers® (2015, 2016, 2024)
  • San Diego Metropolitan Magazine’s 40 Under 40
  • San Diego Business Journal “Leaders in Law” Award (2019)
  • The Best Lawyers in America (2024, 2025)
Certifications
  • Certified Specialist in Taxation Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Affiliations
  • Adjunct Professor, University of San Diego School of Law, Advanced Business Planning
  • California Lawyers Association, Taxation Section, Executive Committee, Chair (2020-2022)
  • San Diego County Bar Association, Taxation Section, Past Chair
  • American Bar Association, Taxation Section
  • San Diego County Bar Association - Pro Bono Tax Court Program, Chair
  • American College of Tax Counsel, Fellow
Publications
  • BizTech: “How Small Businesses Can Buy Technology with Government Help.” Ms. Buckley is quoted as someone who specializes in taxation about the second PPP loan program for small businesses.
  • California Real Property Journal & California Tax Lawyer Joint Issue, The Section 199A Deduction: Concepts and Examples, RP Vol 37, No. 3.2019, CTL Vol 28, No. 2.2019, by Laura L. Buckley and Ethan B. Shakoori.
Speaking Engagements
  • Tax and Family Law Crossover - Innocent Spouse Panel, 2024 Annual Meeting, CA Lawyer Association, Tax Section, November 7, 2024.
  • Dual-Purpose Communications in the Tax Context, Hawaii Tax Institute 60th Annual Conference, November 8, 2023.
  • In re: Grand Jury and the Future of Attorney Client Privilege: A Post-Oral Argument Discussion? Panel, Beverly Hills Bar Association, May 2, 2023.
  • What is In re: Grand Jury and Why Should You Care? Panel, 2023 ABA Midyear Tax Meeting, February 11, 2023.

  • The Individual Provisions of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act: A Retrospective Panel, 2023 ABA Midyear Tax Meeting, February 10, 2023.

  • Toast to Women in Tax Panel, 2022 Annual Meeting, CA Lawyer Association, Tax Section with Honorable Kathleen Kerrigan, Chief Judge of the United States Tax Court, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins and Carley Roberts, November 3, 2022.
  • When Attorney-Client Privileged Communications May not be Protected, 2022 Annual Meeting of the Tax Bar and Tax Policy Conference, November 2, 2022.
  • Tax Law Career Panel, Young Tax Lawyers San Diego Chapter, University of San Diego Tax Law Society, September 27, 2022.
  • Attorney-Client Privilege After In re Grand Jury (9th Cir. 2022), UCLA Estate Planning Institute, April 28, 2022.
  • Tax Law Society: Careers in Tax Law ft. OTA Chief Counsel & Big Law, University of San Diego, March 16, 2021.
  • Tax Issues in Bankruptcy: Nuts and Bolts for All Practitioners (Part 2) CLE Webinar, San Diego County Bar Association, January 26, 2021.
  • Tax Issues in Bankruptcy: Nuts and Bolts for All Practitioners (Part 1) CLE Webinar, San Diego County Bar Association, December 17, 2020.
  • COVID-19: Tax Implications Affecting Employers, California Lawyers Association, April 15, 2020.
  • Hot Topics in Tax Controversy, LevitZacks, February 18, 2020.
  • Confronting Wild Things: Lifting the Lid on Section 199A, University of San Diego, February 13, 2020.
  • Confronting Wild Things: Lifting the Lid on Section 199A, California Tax Bar and California Tax Policy Conference, Taxation Section of the California Lawyers Association, November 7, 2019.
  • Tax Liabilities in Bankruptcy, San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, May 1, 2019.
  • Sec. 199A Basics and Updates: Top Takeaways from Proposed Regs, AbacusNext, January 17, 2019.
  • Alter Ego, Successor In Interest, and Nominee Liabilities: What They Are and The Best Tips on How to Limit Your Client’s Exposure, University of San Diego School of Law – RJS Law Tax Controversy Institute, July 20, 2018.
  • Important Highlights of the 2017 Federal Tax Reform Bill, Asian Business Association Rice Club Luncheon, April 24, 2018.
  • Impact of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, USD Tax Law Society Spring Event hosted by SEMPRA Energy, March 22, 2018.
  • Important Highlights of the 2017 Federal Tax Reform Bill, State Bar of California Tax Section, January 25, 2018.
  • Administrative Law Judge Training Teacher, Office of Tax Appeals, November 28, 2017.
  • These Aren’t the Assets You’re Looking for: Handling IRS Assertions of Successor / AlterEgo / Nominee / Transferee Liability, 2017 Annual Meeting of the California Tax Bar and California Tax Policy Conference, November 1-3, 2017.
  • How to Advise your Business Clients on Avoiding Personal Liability for Employment Taxes, 89th Annual Meeting for the State Bar of California, September 30, 2016.
  • Beyond the Basics: Real Estate Professional-Passive Activity Loss Rules for the CA Bar Association, Young Tax Lawyers, September 24, 2015.
  • Resolving Common Tax Issues in Bankruptcy Court, State Bar of California Tax Section, July 29, 2015.
  • Advanced Section 469 Strategies for Real Estate Professionals, 2015 Income Tax Seminar at the University of San Diego, School of Law, June 25, 2015.

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    Buckley Tax Law provides personalized, knowledgeable, and aggressive legal solutions for complex tax and business issues.
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