Meet The Team
Adam Barker, JD
J. Adam Barker is a Partner at DUGGAN BERTSCH, LLC and focuses his practice on trusts and estates and the representation of taxpayers in tax controversies. He works out of the DUGGAN BERTSCH, LLC California office,.
Adam assists individuals and families in wealth transfer planning through the creation of wills, living trusts, and irrevocable trusts. Such plans implement sophisticated strategies to protect assets from creditors and taxes in order to maximize wealth preservation for families across multiple generations. Adam works carefully with each client’s team of advisors, making sure that each client’s estate plan is consistent with their broader life goals.
Adam’s practice in the trusts and estates arena also includes the representation of fiduciaries and beneficiaries relating to the administration of trusts and in trust litigation.
In his tax controversy practice, Adam has helped hundreds of clients, including individuals, businesses, estates, and trusts, navigate their tax problems with the Internal Revenue Service, the Franchise Tax Board, and other taxing authorities. Adam’s experience includes representation in examinations and audits, representation in Appeals, litigation in the Tax Court, collection defense, offers in compromise, payment agreements, large-dollar penalty abatement, Trust Fund Recovery Penalty determinations, worker classifications, and other similar matters.
Adam earned a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Denver Graduate Tax Program. Adam is licensed for the practice of law in California, Colorado, and Massachusetts.
Publications
Timothy Liam Epstein was referenced in the WBEZ Chicago article entitled, “Pitchfork announced more VIP tiers for its 2024 festival. The internet booed.”
Timothy Liam Epstein was referenced in the WBEZ Chicago article entitled, “Pitchfork announced more VIP tiers for its 2024 festival. The internet booed” on March 19. 2024. “A shift in attitude among younger concertgoers may be stoking the demand for VIP pricing. Tim Epstein, a sports and entertainment attorney at Chicago’s Duggan Bertsch who represents […]
Congratulations to our 2024 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars!
The Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars is an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice. Only 5% of attorneys in Illinois receive this distinction. Attorneys are selected through a patented selection process involving nominations, research, and peer reviews.
Timothy Liam Epstein was featured in the Illinois College of Law Alumni Newsletter
Entrepreneurial spirit propels Epstein '04 to top of sports and entertainment field
Corporate Transparency Act – Mandatory Reporting Requirements Expected to Impact Millions of Business Entities
Background: Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) on January 1, 2021, to help prevent and combat money laundering, terrorist financing, organized crime, and other illicit activity. Effective January 1, 2024, the CTA will require most existing and newly formed corporate entities in the U.S. to file reports with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes […]
Recent U.S. Supreme Court Case Impacts Trust Taxation
The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued its opinion on North Carolina Department of Revenue v. The Kimberley Rice Kaestner 1992 Family Trust, which addressed “….the limits of a State’s power to tax a trust.” This is the first time in decades the Supreme Court has addressed this issue, and its decision could have significant implications for […]
State and Local Tax Reminder about State Income Tax Residency
At DUGGAN BERTSCH, LLC, we are often asked by clients to explain the process by which a taxpayer can establish a “new” state residency for income tax purposes. Sometimes we are asked to explain the impact of moving to a new state altogether or about the impact of remaining in your current state of residence while […]
STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION REMINDER:
Our firm represents both individuals as well as numerous and varied business entities. While determining state tax obligations is always a complex process, when a taxpayer has income from sources in multiple states, the complexity greatly increases. Past considerations relied upon “physical presence” as the main factor in determining tax reporting obligations – those days have quickly […]
Timothy Liam Epstein was referenced in the Billboard article entitled, “Malaysian Fest Organizers May Sue The 1975 After Matty Healy’s LGBTQ Comments” that was published on July 25, 2023.
Timothy Liam Epstein was referenced in the Billboard article entitled, “Malaysian Fest Organizers May Sue The 1975 After Matty Healy’s LGBTQ Comments” that was published on July 25, 2023.