Rutan & Tucker LLP, Orange County’s largest full-service law firm, recently announced that seasoned attorney Ellis Wasson has joined the firm as a partner in its Corporate, Securities and Tax Section.

Wasson’s practice emphasizes mergers and acquisitions, taxation, tax litigation, and financings, as well as general corporate matters. He has represented clients in many high-stakes tax controversy cases before the United States Tax Court, California state courts, the State Board of Equalization and the Multistate Tax Commission, and in administrative appeals and protests before state and federal tax authorities. His diverse client experience ranges from counseling some of the largest worldwide food distribution companies to family-owned start-up companies and private equity funds. He has represented clients in the food import and distribution, medical products manufacturing and distribution, and real estate sectors, among others.

Wasson comes to Rutan from Wasson and Simon, LLP, a tax and business law firm he founded in Orange County. Prior experience includes serving as a partner in the Orange County office of Gartenberg Gelfand Wasson & Selden, LLP, and previously as a partner in the Los Angeles office of Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley. Earlier in his career, he was a senior manager in the tax and mergers and acquisitions group of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He has taught national continuing education classes in the areas of tax planning for business start-ups, as well as partnerships and Limited Liability Company (LLC) taxation. He is an author of the California CEB Guides: Selecting and Forming Business Entities and Limited Partnerships.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Ellis to Rutan,” said Kim Thompson, the firm’s managing partner. “He brings unique capabilities and a breadth of experience that will be important assets for our clients.”

Wasson earned a law degree from Western State University and a Master of Law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. A Certified Public Accountant, he holds a Master of Business Taxation degree from the University of Southern California, where he also received his undergraduate degree. Also joining the firm from Wasson & Simon as an associate is Michael Page, a colleague of Wasson whose practice areas include taxation, business transactions and corporate law. He also practiced law at Gartenberg Gelfand Wasson & Selden, LLP.

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