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Brett

Brett Durbin

Shareholder

Brett Durbin counsels clients on state and local tax issues spanning both transactional and litigation matters, including general business planning and representing clients before the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) and Washington State Board of Tax Appeals.

Brett’s experience includes serving as the Assistant Attorney General for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, where he represented the DOR in the assessment of state and local taxes. He also managed all phases of litigation from risk assessment through discovery to appellate briefing and argument.

Professional Experience

Lane Powell PC

Shareholder (2021-Present)
Counsel to the Firm (2019-2021)

Stoel Rives LLP, Of Counsel (2016-2019)

Riddell Williams, P.S., Of Counsel (2013-2016)

Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Assistant Attorney General (2005-2013)

Kathy and Steve Berman Environmental Law Clinic, Legal Intern (2003-2004)

Strategic Asset Alliance, Financial Information Systems Coordinator and Financial Analyst (2001-2002)

Community Involvement

Washington State Bar Association

Secretary, Tax Council
State & Local Tax Committee
Chair, Legislative Committee

American Bar Association, Tax Section

State & Local Tax Executive Committee
Co-Chair, Model Tax Tribunal Taskforce
Co-Chair, Website Committee

Institute for Professionals in Taxation

Thought Leadership

August 17, 2023News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 Recognizes 123 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 13, 2023Event / CLE
Court Updates: What did the Folks in Robes Have to Say?
Washington State Tax Conference | Pullman, Washington
July 13, 2023Event / CLE
Department Transparency: Is it time to Wash the Windows?
Washington State Tax Conference | Pullman, Washington
March 24, 2023Publication
Capital Gains Tax Ruled to be an Excise Tax on the Privilege of Selling Assets — But There is a Silver Lining
Tax Legal Update
March 6, 2023Publication
The Deadline for Seeking COVID-19 Property Tax Relief Is Fast Approaching
Tax Legal Update
January 9, 2023Publication
Washington Legal Decision Creates an Opportunity to Evaluate Your R&D Expenses
Tax Legal Update
October 28, 2022Publication
One More Tax Filing Is Due Before You Go Trick-or-Treating
Tax Legal Update
August 18, 2022News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
August 11, 2022Event / CLE
The Final Word
Washington State Tax Conference | Pullman, Washington
August 19, 2021News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
June 17, 2021Publication
JumpStart Seattle Payroll Tax Upheld
Tax Legal Update
January 1, 2021News
Lane Powell Elects New Shareholders and Counsel to the Firm
Firm Announcement
August 20, 2020News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 Recognizes 92 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 22-24, 2020Event / CLE
Indirect State Tax
Council On State Taxation | Webinar
July 10, 2020Publication
New Seattle Jobs Tax May Jump Start an Exodus of Jobs Out of the City — But It Also Creates Planning Opportunities
Tax Legal Update
May 14, 2020Publication
Are Coronavirus Relief Payments Subject to Washington State’s B&O Tax? Not So Far, but the Other Shoe Has Not Dropped Yet!
COVID-19 Resource
April 2, 2020Publication
Washington DOR Response to COVID-19: What You Need to Know About Tax Due Dates & Extensions
COVID-19 Resource
March 18, 2020Publication
Tax Traps and Opportunities From Employers Requiring Employees to Work From Home
COVID-19 Resource
July 16, 2019Event / CLE
Grasping the Last Straw: Litigating Tax Issues in Washington State
Washington State Tax Conference | Pullman, Washington
April 30, 2019Event / CLE
Gross Receipts Taxes: Are They Spreading?
Council On State Taxation Spring Audit Session & Income Tax Conference | Denver
April 29, 2019Publication
Washington State Legislature Passes Massive Tax Increases
Tax Legal Update
January 10, 2019News
Durbin Joins Lane Powell Tax Team
Firm Announcement
November 16, 2018Event / CLE
Washington B&O Tax Updates; National State Tax Cases and Issues; and Best Practices for Handling State Tax Disputes
Council On State Taxation Pacific Northwest Regional State Tax Seminar | Portland, Oregon
February 1, 2018Event / CLE
State and Local Tax Update
Tax Executives Institute, Inc. Alaska Chapter Meeting | Anchorage, Alaska
March 22, 2017Event / CLE
Sales Tax Issues in the Shared Economy
American Bar Association and Institute for Professionals in Taxation Advanced Tax Seminars | New Orleans
December 6, 2016Event / CLE
SALT Litigation: What to Know and How to Be Prepared to Win
Council On State Taxation Pacific Northwest Regional State Tax Seminar | Seattle
June 15, 2015Event / CLE
Tax Appeals in Washington
Washington State Society of CPA’s Washington Tax Conference | Seattle
April 29, 2015Event / CLE
Washington Tax Controversies and Taxpayer Rights
Institute for Professionals in Taxation Seattle Chapter Meeting | Seattle

Practices & Industries

Education

University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 2004
Western Washington University, B.A., Business Administration - Finance, 2001
- Honors Program

Admissions

Washington
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington

Honors

"Seattle Lawyer of the Year,” Best Lawyers®, Litigation and Controversy – Tax (2023)

Excellence Award, Institute for Professionals in Taxation

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