Claire H. Taylor
Shareholder | Seattle
Areas of Practice
Claire represents businesses and individuals in a range of financial matters.
She assists creditors and businesses with protecting and enforcing their rights in bankruptcy, enforcing promissory notes and guarantees, foreclosures, receiverships, workout negotiations and restructurings, and other business litigation, including but not limited to contract, collection, and commercial landlord-tenant disputes.
Leveraging her background as a litigator with the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division, Claire also advocates for clients in IRS audits and appeals, assists clients with issues involving federal tax liens, and resolves other tax controversies for her clients, in addition to advising clients on a wide range of tax matters.
Admissions
- Washington, 2014
- Wisconsin, 2010
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 2017
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 2014
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, 2010
Education
- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., cum laude, Articles Editor, Wisconsin Law Review (2010)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.S., Sociology (2006)
- Middlebury College, B.A., Sociology, cum laude (2001)
Recognition & Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America in Tax Law (2021 - 2025)
- Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers (2017 - 2020)
Publications & Presentations
- "Washington's Homestead Exemption to See Major Increase With Proposed Legislation," author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (March 2021)
- “New Act Gives Employers Payroll Tax Deferral & Refund Possibilities,” author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (March 2020)
- “Overview of the 'Paycheck Protection Program' Under the CARES Act,” co-author with Dustin Yeager, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (March 2020)
- “What Financial Institutions Need to Know Right Now About the New CARES Act” author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (March 2020)
- "Taxpayers Challenging IRS Audit Results Must Raise All Issues At the IRS Administrative Level Before Filing Refund Suit," author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (September 2019)
- "Employers May Face Civil Actions for Damages for Improper Worker Classification," author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (August 2019)
- "Does Your LLC Agreement Address the New Partnership Audit Rules? If Not, the Time to Amend Is Now," author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (August 2019)
- "2019 Federal Tax Updates," presenter, WSBA Tax Section's Annual Conference (June 2019)
- "Important Developments on Civil Tax Penalties," presenter, ABA Tax Conference (May 2019)
- "Dawdling Bank's Foreclosure Saved by Ambiguous Acceleration," co-author with Tom Lerner, client update and blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (April 2019)
- "Deductibility and Information Reporting of Restitution Payments: Transitional Guidance Issued," co-author, ALI CLE’s The Practical Lawyer (November 2018)
- "Examining Financials, Tax Considerations in Divorce, and Division & Valuation of Assets in Divorce," presenter, NBI Divorce Seminar (July 2018)
- "Penalty Abatement for International Information Returns," presenter, Washington Society of CPAs (May 2018)
- "Captive Transaction Disclosures Remain for Now: Federal Court Rejects Last-Minute Injunction Request and Affirms Anti-Injunction Act Applies to Penalties," co-author, ABA Tax Times (June 2017)
- "Employment Tax Audits Panel," presenter, American Bar Association Tax Section (2017)
- "BBA Partnership Audit Rules Replace TEFRA," presenter, Washington State Bar Association Tax Section (2016)
- "Not Dead Yet: Reviving Time-Barred Income Tax Refund Claims," presenter, University of Washington Federal Tax Clinic CLE, 2016
- "U.S. District Judge Rejects Tax Promoters’ Plea Agreement in United States v. Crithfield: A Rare Event, but a Warning to Defense Counsel," co-author, ABA Tax Times (June 2017)
- "BBA Partnership Audit Rules Replace TEFRA," presenter, Washington Women in Tax (2016)
- "Owe the IRS? Passports at Risk Under New Code Sec. 7345," co-author, Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure (Feb. 2016)
- "Federal Tax Updates," Seminar Group (2016)
Professional & Community Activities
- Washington Women in Tax, President (2020 - Present), Vice-President (2018 - 2020)
- Washington State Bar Association Tax Section, Chair (2021 - Present), Executive Committee (2016 - Present)
- American Bar Association Tax Section, Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties Subcommittee Co-Chair (2017 - 2020)
- U.W. Federal Tax Clinic, Volunteer Attorney for Low-Income Taxpayers,
Background & Interests
During law school, Claire served as a judicial extern for Hon. Barbara B. Crabb of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
In her spare time, Claire loves being outside, from skiing and hiking in the nearby mountains, to camping and adventuring to new places, all with her husband and daughter.
