Michele Leichtman Weiss is Senior Counsel at Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin. She has over 20 years of experience in tax controversy and litigation matters. Michele helps her clients resolve their civil and criminal tax matters. She represents her clients in all aspects of tax controversy, in examinations, appeals and collection matters, at the administrative level and in litigation with federal, state and local tax authorities including the IRS, FTB, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), EDD, Board of Equalization, Office of Tax Appeals (OTA), the County Assessor and LA City Finance Office. Michele has expertise in many substantive and procedural tax issues including tax penalty abatement, conservation easement deductions, offshore disclosure matters, employment tax matters, sales tax audits, research and development credits, collection due process and non-profit matters. Michele handles property tax matters in all California counties including special assessments, escape assessments, change in ownership issues and property tax appeal representation.

Michele was previously a Director in KPMG’s Tax Controversy Services group where she represented foreign and domestic clients in resolving their tax disputes. Michele was also a senior attorney in the IRS’ Large and Mid-Sized Business Division where she handled complex tax litigation matters. Michele worked closely with IRS exam teams, giving guidance and litigating complex areas of tax law including partnership and international taxation, tax shelters, leasing and depreciation issues and civil tax penalties. During her tenure at the IRS, Michele received two performance award and one excellence award.

For over 8 years Michele was on the adjunct faculty of Golden Gate University School of Taxation where she taught federal tax procedure, research, and writing. Michele received her B.A. in economics cum laude, from Barnard College of Columbia University. She received her J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from New York University where she was Article and Note Editor for the Journal of International Law and Politics. Michele is a member of the California and New York state bars. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court.

Michele is Chair of the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Taxation Committee; Membership Chair of the Women in Tax Committee of the California Lawyers Association Tax Section; Group Leader of the Provisors Lawyers and Legal Professionals Affinity Group; and Board Chair of the Friendship Circle of Los Angeles (FCLA).

Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin

Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin, A Professional Law Corporation, is a prominent Southern California based tax controversy law firm consisting exclusively of former IRS attorneys with extensive in-court trial experience. We have a well established reputation with the government and private tax community. As former IRS attorneys, we have a comprehensive understanding of the internal workings of governmental tax agencies. We confidentially navigate tax agency procedures and avail our clients of all administrative and judicial remedies.

Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin attorneys have the highest level of educational and professional tax backgrounds including LL.M. in Taxation degrees from the leading law schools, big four accounting firm experience, and academic experience as tax professors. We handle all aspects of tax controversies including audit representation, administrative appeals, collection defense, civil tax litigation, and criminal tax defense. We are committed to achieving the best results for our clients as efficiently as possible.