Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez, P.C is very honored that once again the firm along with five (5) of our Principals have been ranked as National and Regional Tiers 1 in Tax Litigation and Controversy by Best Law Firms.
Founded in 1960, Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C., is internationally recognized as the preeminent tax law firm on the West Coast. The reputation of the firm for excellence and integrity in the tax community is unparalleled. The firm specializes in civil and criminal tax litigation, tax controversies and tax disputes with the federal, state, and local taxing authorities, and white-collar criminal defense. We attract the most difficult cases and produce the best results for clients before the Federal Appellate Courts, the Federal District Courts, the Bankruptcy Courts, the United States Tax Court, and various state courts, including the California Franchise Tax Board California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the California Employment Development Department.
The Best Law Firms rankings are derived from peer-review evaluations, client input, and other measures of legal excellence. According to Best Lawyers, these rankings highlight firms that have demonstrated outstanding performance in specific practice areas.
Our Principals included in this prestigious recognition are:
Steven Toscher is the Managing Principal of the law firm, and specializes in civil and criminal tax controversy and litigation. Mr. Toscher is a Certified Tax Specialist in Taxation, the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and has received an “AV” rating from Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Toscher serves as Co-Chair of the UCLA Tax Controversy Institute and Co-Chair of the ABA Criminal Tax Fraud and Tax Controversy Conference. Mr. Toscher is a frequent lecturer and author on tax controversy and litigation topics and is a co-author of the BNA Portfolio, Tax Crimes. Mr. Toscher was the 2018 recipient of the Joanne M. Garvey Award, given annually to recognize lifetime achievement and outstanding contributions to the field of tax law by a senior member of the California tax bar. Mr. Toscher is also the recipient the USD School of Law Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award. In 2024 Mr. Toscher was the recipient of the prestigious Jules Ritholz Memorial Merit Award presented by the Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties Committee of the Taxation Section of the American Bar Association, recognizing tax lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding dedication, achievement and integrity in the field of civil and criminal tax controversies. For more information, please contact Steven Toscher at toscher@taxlitigator.com.
Dennis Perez was formerly a senior trial attorney with District Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Perez is a Certified Tax Specialist, California State Bar Board of Certification and is also a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. He frequently lectures on advanced civil and criminal tax topics at seminars and before national, state and local bar associations and accountancy groups. Mr. Perez is a co-author of the BNA Portfolio, Tax Crimes, served as the Chair of the Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine Editorial Board and is the first recipient of the Los Angeles Lawyer Sam Lipsman Service Award for outstanding service to the Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine. Mr. Perez is the recipient of the 2025 Joanne M. Garvey Award for lifetime achievement in and contribution to the field of tax law by the Taxation Section of the California Lawyers Association. He is past Chair of the Tax Procedure and Litigation Committees of the Taxation Sections of the State Bar of California and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Perez is past President of the Alumni Board for the UCLA School of Law and has served as an Adjunct Professor, Golden Gate University, Graduate School of Taxation. For more information, please contact Dennis Perez at perez@taxlitigator.com
Robert S. Horwitz a Principal of Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C. represents clients throughout the United States and elsewhere involving federal and state administrative civil tax disputes and tax litigation as well as defending clients in criminal tax investigations and prosecutions. Mr. Horwitz is a former Chair of the Taxation Section, California Lawyers’ Association, a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, a former Assistant United States Attorney and a former Trial Attorney, United States Department of Justice Tax Division. Mr. Horwitz was the 2022 Joanne M. Garvey Award recipient for lifetime achievement in and contribution to the field of tax law by the Taxation Section of the California Lawyers Association. Mr. Horwitz is an Order of the Coif graduate of Northwestern University Law School. For more information, contact Robert Horwitz at horwitz@taxlitigator.com.
Edward M. Robbins, Jr. has been a Principal with the law firm since 2004. Mr. Robbins represents clients in civil and criminal tax litigation and in tax disputes and controversies before the Internal Revenue Service and in federal and state court matters. Before entering private practice, Mr. Robbins was an Assistant United States Attorney with the Central District of California, Tax Division. Mr. Robbins left the government after ten years serving as the Chief of the Tax Division, six years as Assistant Division Chief, nine years as Assistant United States Attorney, and 4 years as a District Counsel attorney with the IRS Chief Counsel office in Los Angeles. Mr. Robbins has an LLM in Taxation from the University of San Diego. He is a Certified Specialist in Tax Law for the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization, and a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel (ACTC). Mr. Robbins has served as an Adjunct Professor at both Golden Gate University School of Law and Loyola Law School. For more information, please contact Edward Robbins, Jr. at EdR@taxlitigator.com.
Avram Salkin is a founding member of the firm. He has over fifty (50) years of extensive experience in resolving complex Federal and state tax controversies and disputes, in structuring and negotiating complex transactional matters (including the acquisition and disposition of real estate and businesses), family wealth planning, estate planning and probate. Recognizing a lifetime of achievements and contributions to the field of taxation, Mr. Salkin has been honored with the Dana Latham Award (Los Angeles County Bar Association), the Joane M. Garvey Award (Taxation Section of the State Bar of California), and the Bruce I. Hochman Award (UCLA Tax Institute). Mr. Salkin served as a Member of the Board of Governor’s for the Beverly Hills Bar Association, was Vice-Chair of the Tax Advisory Commission for the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, and has served as the Tax Articles Editor for the Los Angeles County Bar Journal. Mr. Salkin holds an “A-V” rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
TAXLITIGATOR - Tax Controversy (Civil & Criminal) Report 
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