10th Annual USD School of Law - RJS LAW Tax Institute Presented by Whittier Trust
The 10th Annual USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Institute Presented by Whittier Trust will be held on Friday, July 18, 2025.
The Institute is the premier tax event in San Diego. The region's top tax attorneys, CPAs, and law/business school professors will discuss topics including government loan relief and abuses, challenges in cross-border transactions, and practical and realistic solutions in Trust, Estate Planning, and Tax matters.
The Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award is given to an individual who exemplifies honesty, integrity, ethics, and compassion throughout his/her careers in the field of tax controversy and has demonstrated outstanding dedication and expertise while representing taxpayers before the federal and state governments.
Over the past 40 years, Richard Carpenter has been the leading IRS tax specialist in San Diego. He has devoted his entire legal career to defending hardworking taxpayers against the powerful reaches of the Internal Revenue Service. He began his career as a CPA when he worked for an international CPA firm in the Wall Street section of New York City. He then decided to attend law school where he received his Juris Doctor law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Richard Carpenter has been an Adjunct Tax Law Professor at the University of San Diego School of Law for 31 years. He teaches both the Tax Court Litigation class as well as the Criminal Tax Fraud class. Richard has written 14 published tax law articles, some of which are the leading articles in the United States in resolving civil and criminal tax disputes. Over the past 31 years, Richard Carpenter has been dedicated to helping thousands of clients resolve their tax disputes with the IRS and the State of California, saving them millions of dollars. He can help you resolve your California or IRS tax problem too.
The 2025 recipient of The Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award is A. Lavar Taylor, Managing Partner, Taylor Nelson Amitrano LLP.
A. Lavar Taylor is a truly deserving candidate for the Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award, which recognizes excellence in the field of tax law, due to his exceptional contributions to the tax community over an impressive career spanning more than four decades. As the founder of Taylor Nelson Amitrano LLP, Lavar has built a legacy of expertise in handling complex civil and criminal tax controversies, litigation, and administrative disputes. Beyond his professional achievements, Lavar’s dedication to giving back to the tax community is unparalleled. He has mentored countless students and professionals, shared his knowledge through teaching and speaking engagements, and actively contributed to the growth of the field by leading committees and supporting educational initiatives. His commitment to fostering excellence and collaboration embodies the spirit of this prestigious award.
The University of San Diego School of Law is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider and has approved this event for 7.0 general credit hours.
We continue to humbly request and encourage your support of USD School of Law’s Tax Law Student Scholarship Fund. As always, we are incredibly appreciative of your support.
If you have any questions, please email usdlawevent@sandiego.edu.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please complete this form and someone will be in touch with you.
Available Sponsorships
- Platinum
- Gold
- Silver
- Bronze
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| Time | Panels/Panelists |
| 7:30 a.m. | Registration & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:20 a.m. |
Welcome Remarks
|
| 8:30 a.m. |
Introductory Speaker
|
|
9:00 a.m. |
International - Get Your Piece of the PIE: Portfolio Interest Exemption
|
| 10:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:10 a.m. |
Trust & Estate Litigation - "I'LL SUE YOUR ASSets!
|
| 11:09 a.m. | Break |
| 11:20 a.m. |
Tax Planning - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2.0: What You Need to Know
|
| 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Luncheon |
| 12:30 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. |
Presentation of Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award
|
| 1:20 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
Remarks
|
| 1:45 p.m. |
Crypto Currency - "A Whole New Digital World"
|
| 2:45 p.m. | Break |
| 2:50 p.m. |
Tax Controversy
|
| 3:50 p.m. | Break |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Criminal Tax
|
| 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. |
Whittier Trust Networking Reception, Garden of the Sea |
Register Here
| Ticket Type | Price | Notes |
| General Admission* | $199.00 | |
| Government Employee* | $99.00 |
Please use .gov email to register |
| Virtual Attendance (Zoom) | $99.00 | Events at lunch will not be streamed |
| USD Law Student & Faculty* | $25.00 |
Please use sandiego.edu email to register |
| Student & Faculty (Non-USD)* | $50.00 |
Please use .edu email to register |
| Whittier Trust Networking Reception Only | $99.00 |
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Garden of the Sea |
*includes Whittier Trust Networking Reception*
CE Credits
RJS LAW is a registered Continuing Education provider with the IRS and this event has been approved for CE-5 credits (Program #M6SZZ-T-00025-25-I), CE-2 credits (Program # M6SZZ-U-00024-25-I). Questions about CE Credits - JCornejo@RJSLawFirm.com
Tax Specialization Credits
This program is an approved provider for Legal Specialization Continuing Education credits of 6.0 hours (pending).
Trust Specialization Credit
This program is an approved provider for Legal Specialization Continuing Education credits of 1.0 hour (pending).