We are honored and pleased to announce that Steven Toscher, Dennis Perez, Sandra R. Brown, Robert S. Horwitz, Michel R. Stein, and Edward M. Robbins, Jr., have again earned a distinguished place in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Tax Lawyers.
Now in its second edition, this list honors our principals for their exceptional work in critical tax areas, such as complex civil and criminal tax controversies and litigation and the nuanced challenges faced by high-net-worth individuals.
Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C. has long been recognized for its depth and exceptionally experienced bench of civil and criminal tax controversy and litigation attorneys, founded on our dedication to providing clients with both sophisticated advice and optimal results, and we are proud of such recognition.
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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. 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
Sandra R. Brown is a Principal of Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C., where her practice focuses on criminal tax investigations, grand jury matters, litigation, and sentencing matters as well as representing and advising taxpayers involved in complex and sophisticated civil tax controversies, including sensitive-issue audits and administrative appeals and litigation. Ms. Brown’s extensive experience and successes have included many notable cases including two U.S. Supreme Court decisions, numerous 9th Circuit rulings and numerous favorable administrative resolutions for taxpayers involved in IRS investigations and audits.
Prior to joining the firm in 2018, Ms. Brown served as the Acting United States Attorney, First Assistant United States Attorney, and Chief of the Tax Division in the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Central District of California; where, with 27 years as a trial lawyer, she personally litigated over 2,000 tax cases on behalf of the United States.
Ms. Brown obtained her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver, is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, Vice-Chair of the ABA’s Section of Taxation’s Criminal and Civil Tax Penalties Committee, Co-Chair of the UCLA Tax Controversy Institute, Co-Chair of the ABA Criminal Tax Fraud and Tax Controversy Conference, an ABA Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship Mentor, and is a frequent lecturer and author on tax controversy topics, including international compliance and criminal tax matters. Ms. Brown has been recognized as one of California’s top 100 leading women lawyers, the recipient of USD School of Law’s Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award, Chambers High Net Worth in Tax and Tax Fraud, and an honoree of the inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Tax Lawyers.
For more information, please contact Sandra Brown at brown@taxlitigator.com.
Robert S. Horwitz has over 40 years of experience as a tax attorney specializing in the representation of clients in civil and criminal tax cases, including civil audits and appeals, tax collection matters, criminal investigations, administrative hearings and in civil and criminal trials and appeals in federal and state courts. He has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section of the State Bar of California and was Chair of the Taxation Section for 2015-2016 year. He was previously Chair of the Tax Procedure and Litigation Committee of the State Bar Taxation Section.
Prior to joining Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C., Mr. Horwitz was with a boutique tax controversy firm in Orange County, where he represented clients in civil and criminal tax cases in the U.S. Courts of Appeal, U.S. district courts, California superior courts, and before the Internal Revenue Service, the California Franchise Tax Board, the Board of Equalization, the Employment Development Department and the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.
Mr. Horwitz was previously a trial attorney, US Department of Justice Tax Division and an Assistant United States Attorney, Tax Division, Los Angeles. He was the 2022 recipient of the Joanne M. Garvey Award for lifetime achievement in and outstanding contributions to the field of tax law and the 2021 recipient of the Orange County Bar Association, Tax Chair Recognition award.
For more information, contact Robert Horwitz at horwitz@taxlitigator.com.
Michel R. Stein, a principal of Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C., is a nationally recognized tax attorney with nearly 30 years of experience in tax controversy and planning for individuals and business entities. He is widely respected for his ability to resolve complex and sensitive tax controversies before the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board, including matters involving significant civil and criminal exposure, and is a trusted resource to clients and advisors navigating the most challenging areas of federal and state tax law. His commentary and insights have been featured in leading tax publications, webinars, and media outlets addressing emerging issues in tax enforcement and policy.
Mr. Stein has represented hundreds of clients in civil tax examinations, administrative appeals, and litigation before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Courts, California Superior Court, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals. He routinely advises and defends clients in matters involving California Residency, Digital Assets and Cryptocurrency Investigations, High-Net-Worth Taxpayer Compliance and Examination, Domestic and International Tax Compliance, Voluntary Disclosures and Streamlined Filings, Challenges to Listed and Reportable Transactions, Partnership Tax and Audit Rules, Employment Tax and Worker Classification Issues, as well as tax controversies arising from Complex Real Estate and Business Transactions.
Mr. Stein began his legal career as an Attorney Advisor to Special Trial Judge Larry Nameroff of the U.S. Tax Court and is a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law by the State Bar of California.
For more information, please contact Michel Stein at stein@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.
TAXLITIGATOR - Tax Controversy (Civil & Criminal) Report 
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