L. Richard Walton
Partner
Profile
Rich Walton represents corporations and high net worth individuals in resolving complex federal white collar criminal and civil tax controversy matters. He is also the Firm's General Counsel.
In addition to his practice, Rich is an adjunct professor of law at USC School of Law, where he teaches Federal Crimes and Criminal Procedure. He is also an instructor at UCLA Extension, where he teaches Business Law, as well as Business Valuation and Taxes. His professional experience includes time with the U.S. Tax Court, where he served as an attorney-advisor, and with the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division.
A frequent speaker and prolific author on tax and Federal criminal issues, Rich co-authored the BNA Portfolio on FIN 48, the new rules governing how companies account for tax issues. He serves as Chair of the Planning Committee for "Tax Controversies: A Day with the Government," a symposium featuring tax controversy experts from across the country.
Rich is the Past President of a local chapter of the California Society of CPAs; is a voting member of the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences; serves on the American Bar Association Taxation Section's Committee on Litigation and Penalties; and is the chair of the Procedure and Litigation Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Tax Section. He is also a CPA (not in public practice) in Delaware.
He paid for a year of law school by winning writing competitions sponsored by various organizations, including the Recording Academy and the American Bar Association.
Rich has successfully tried numerous cases to jury and bench verdict, on a wide range of topics. Along the way, he has become the go-to trial lawyer for clients who are betting their freedom or their financial future on the skills of their trial attorney—including attorneys who had previously lost cases against him. He has also argued a number of matters to various Federal and state courts of appeal, resulting in published precedent that is cited for its important holdings in copyright, procedure, and tax law.
Location(s)
Los Angeles, CA
4640 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, USA
Washington D.C.
1016 S Wayne St, Arlington, VA 22204, USA
L. Richard Walton
Education
Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M. (Taxation)
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.
cum laudePacific Union College, B.B.A. (Finance & General Business)
summa cum laude
Languages
English
Greek
Hebrew
Mandarin (basic)
Published Opinions
Reliant Life Shares, LLC v. Cooper, 90 Cal.App.5th 14 (2023)
Mazzei v. Commissioner, 998 F.3d 1041 (9th Cir. 2020)
Moofly Prods., LLC v. Favila, 682 Fed. Appx. 584 (9th Cir. 2017)
Favila v. Pasquarella, 65 Cal. App. 5th 934 (2021)
Moofly Prods., LLC v. Favila, 46 Cal. App. 5th 1 (2020)
Moofly Prods., LLC v. Favila, 24 Cal. App. 5th 993 (2018)
Laboratory Spec., Inc. v. Shimadzu Scientific, 17 Cal. App. 5th 755 (2017)
Epic Med. Mgmt, LLC v. Paquette, 244 Cal. App. 4th 504 (2015)
Admissions
California
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. District Court:
Central District of California
Eastern District of California
Northern District of California
Southern District of California
Eastern District of MichiganU.S. Tax Court
Publications
“New Law Limits Exec Pay for “Bailout” Companies.” EXECUTIVE’S TAX & MANAGEMENT REPORT, 1, Feb. 2009.
Co-author (with Professor Amy Dunbar and Kathleen McEligot, CPA), “Accounting for Income Taxes: Uncertain Tax Positions—Selected Issues.” BNA TAX AND ACCOUNTING PORTFOLIO 5003.
Co-author, “Advanced Tax Collection Alternatives: Bankruptcy and Subordination of Liens.” CALCPA BULLETIN (July, 2007).
Co-author, “Using the Expedited Plea Program to Reduce Criminal Tax Sentences After Booker.” J. OF TAX PRACTICE & PROCEDURE, 67, December 2005-January 2006.
“Valuation of International Transactions.” Chapter 9 in Hon. David Laro and Shannon P. Pratt, BUSINESS VALUATION AND TAXES: PROCEDURE, LAW & PERSPECTIVE (2005).
“Valuation of Options.” Chapter 21 in Hon. David Laro and Shannon P. Pratt, BUSINESS VALUATION AND TAXES: PROCEDURE, LAW & PERSPECTIVE (2005).
“Heartbreak Hotel in B-Flat Broke: Music, Money, and (un)Fair Use.” 21 CARDOZO ENT. L. REV. 423 (2003).
“Drunk and Orderly: The Anomalous Holding of In re Fretz Affects Bankrupt Taxpayers.” 55 TAX LAW. 655 (2002).
“Freedom from Fear: Balancing the Fourth Amendment with Kids, Guns, and the Rule of Reason.” CRIMINAL JUSTICE (Summer 2001).