In her tax and wealth planning practice, Gwen focuses on business formations, reorganizations and dissolutions, and crafting complex wealth transition structures and governance systems for owners of closely held businesses. She is co-author of the newly published Family Wealth Transition Planning, a guide to helping families achieve family wealth continuity and transitioning business wealth within families. She also recently authored Basic Federal Income Tax, 4th Edition, a law student study guide.  Gwen was named as one of the leading trust and estate lawyers in Oregon by Best Lawyers 2010.

Gwen's tax practice involves federal, state and local taxation of businesses and individuals, with an emphasis on the taxation of corporations, complex partnerships and LLCs. She has authored several books on taxation and is a frequent speaker on tax, transition planning and other business-related topics. She also assists nonprofit organizations in formation, operations and reorganizations.

Gwen began her career with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in Dallas, Texas, and practiced with the Eugene, Oregon law firm of Speer Hoyt, PC prior to joining Tonkon Torp in 2008. She has taught corporate, partnership, individual and international tax at various law schools including Willamette University, Florida State University and the University of Oregon.

Gwen also serves as Executive Director of the Oregon Facilities Authority (OFA), the state agency that facilitates issuance of tax exempt bonds for nonprofit organizations throughout Oregon.

Gwen serves on the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section of the Oregon State Bar and is a member of the Advisory Board of The Tax Adviser, the monthly publication of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is a member of Toastmasters International and is active in the Portland-based nonprofit Juvenile Rights Project.

Presentations:

 

Family Wealth Transition Planning in the Artisan Food Industry
American Cheese Society Annual Conference, Seattle, August 27, 2010

Building a Great Special District Board—Best Practices and Best Thinking
Special Districts Association of Oregon, Eugene, February 10, 2011

Taxing Thoughts on Nontaxable Estates—Managing Tax Issues in Probate and Trust Administration
Oregon Law Institute, Portland, March 11, 2011

Tax Ghosts: Using Appearing and Disappearing Tax Entities
Tax Executives Institute, Portland, April 29, 2011

 

Thinking About Taxes as a Family Business Owner
Austin Family Business Program, Portland, May 10, 2011

 

Family Wealth Transition Planning for the Family Owned Business
Institute of Management Accountants, Portland, May 17, 2011

 

Family Wealth Transition Planning for Business Owners --and Others
Southern Oregon Estate Planning Council, Medford, May 27, 2011

 

The (Tax) Downside of the Upside: Structuring Sales with Contingent Payments
Oregon State Bar Taxation Section CLE, Portland, October 30, 2011

 

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