A Proven Track
Record for Success

Double barreled representation: Tax Attorney and CPA

Michael Dallo, CPA, JD, LL.M., the founder of Dallo Law Group in San Diego, California, is both a tax attorney and certified public accountant (CPA). Unlike most tax attorneys who usually only have a J.D., the basic law degree, he also holds a masters of law degrees (LL.M.) in tax, is a Certified Tax Law Specialist, and is an adjunct professor of taxation in the Masters of Tax program at the University of San Diego. His dual background in both law and accounting, his dedication to the tax profession, his passion to educate in tax, and his persistence in the face of difficult challenges give Michael a winning, strategic advantage that enables him to represent clients far better before the IRS and state tax agencies than the vast majority of tax attorneys.

As an attorney trained in the law, and specifically tax law, Michael has an exceptional track record of prevailing in hardball negotiations with the IRS. As a certified public accountant, he understands the detailed ins and outs of tax forms, which makes it impossible for the IRS to take him unaware.

Determination to Win

Michael’s practice focuses on tax problem solving, including representing clients for tax audits, audit appeals, settlements for back taxes, catching up on reporting foreign bank accounts and a myriad of other issues. He has saved both individual and business clients millions, performing such feats as getting a $100,000 IRS debt reduced to $0, getting a $500,000 debt reduced to $50,000 to be paid on easy payments, and getting a $35,000 debt reduced to $1,000. These are not unusual results for Michael Dallo. Michael is dedicated to his clients’ best interests, and he meets with every single client who walks through the doors of Dallo Law Group and oversees strategic development of their cases.

Lifelong Passion for Tax

Michael’s deep education, his extensive experience and his law practice are all focused on tax. He is aware of every minute change in the law that could affect his clients’ cases.  Before he was an attorney, Michael founded a CPA firm where he prepared tax returns for individuals and small businesses, building an outstanding winning record representing clients in tax audits. Before that, he worked as a certified public accountant (CPA) in the Tax Department of Sempra Energy, a multi-national Fortune 500 Company, where he helped to resolve multi-million dollar tax disputes.  He also worked in the Tax Department of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Paris, France and the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

In addition to working at Dallo Law Group, Michael serves as general counsel for Dallo & Co., Inc. a conglomerate of 13 grocery stores in San Diego (Jonathan’s, Harvest Ranch and Foodland Markets), where he advises on tax issues, contract and lease negotiations and employment issues for over eight-hundred employees.

Finally, Michael is proud to serve as a Professor of Taxation at the University of San Diego (his alma mater), where he teaches tax research in the Masters of Tax program.  In his course, Michael teaches aspiring tax professionals the ethics of tax practice and how to utilize research skills to efficiently and effectively advocate for their clients.

Education

Michael holds a master of laws in taxation degree (LL.M) from New York University, which is the highest ranked and most prestigious graduate tax program in the nation. His law degree (J.D.) is from the University of San Diego School of Law, where he graduated order of the coif, magna cum laude (Top 5%) and received the Ralph Gano Miller Tax Award for the highest overall grade point average in the area of taxation in his graduating class. As an undergrad, Michael obtained two bachelor degrees, one in accounting and one in business administration, from the University of San Diego where he graduated magna cum laude.

Michael is fluent in Spanish and Chaldean-Aramaic.

Certifications

• Certified Tax Law Specialist (State Bar of California)

• Certified Public Accountant (California)

Awards and Recognition’s

• Accounting Advisory Board at USD

• 2019 – 2022 title of a Super Lawyers- Rising Star

• 2018 – 2022 CFO of the Year Award- San Diego Business Journal

• 2018 Top Lawyer by the San Diego Magazine

• 2018 Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent- Highest Level of Professional Excellence by Martindale-Hubbell

• 2018 title of a Super Lawyers- Rising Star

• 2018 Law Firm Challenge award for having 100% Alumni Donation Participation within our firm

• 2017 CFO of the Year Award- San Diego Business Journal

• 2017 Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent- Highest Level of Professional Excellence by Martindale-Hubbell

• 2017 “Top Law Firm” San Diego Business Journal

• 2017 “San Diego’s Favorite” by the Union Tribune Readers Poll

• 2017 Most Admired CEO Award by San Diego Business Journal

• 2017 Attorney of the Month by Attorney Journal Magazine

• 2016 Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent- Highest Level of Professional Excellence by Martindale-Hubbell

• U-T San Diego’s Best:  Tax Law Firm (2016)

• San Diego’s Most Admired CEO Award (2016)

• Best of the Bar (2016)

• Best of the Bar (2015)

• U-T San Diego’s Best: Tax Law Firm (2015)

• San Diego’s Top General Counsel (2015)

• U-T San Diego’s Best: Tax Law Firm (2014)

• San Diego’s Top Young Attorney (2013)

• Ralph Gano Miller Award in Taxation (2011)

Court Admissions

• United States Tax Court

• United States District Court for the Southern District of California

• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Speaking Engagements & Publications

• Alter Ego, Successor In Interest and Nominee Liabilities: What They Are and The Best Tips on How to Limit Your Client’s Exposure- Panel speaker – University of San Diego– RJS Law Tax Controversy Institute, July 2018

• Fintech Seminar, How the IRS treats Cryptocurrency Now and How That Might Change in the Future- San Diego County Bar Association- March 2018

• THE TRUST FUND RECOVERY PENALTY: A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE 4180 INTERVIEW– Panel speaker at University of San Diego– RJS Law Tax Controversy Institute- December 2016

• Taxation Tips for Startup Clients- San Diego County Bar Association- November 2016

• Are you Ready for Taxmageddon? – University of San Diego School of Law, November 2012

• Overview of the IRS Collection Process – California Society of Tax Consultants, October 2013

• What Every Tax Practitioner Needs to Know About the Affordable Care Act – University of San Diego School of Law, January 2014

• FTB Retroactively Denies Tax Benefits for “Qualified Small Business Stock”, California Tax Lawyer, 2013

• Tax resolution expert discussion on 1700 am ESPN radio

• Memberships & Affiliations

• San Diego County Bar Association

• American Bar Association – Taxation Section

• California Bar Association

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

• California Society of Certified Public Accountants

Sally Reddy, Esq. is a attorney with Dallo Law Group, a boutique law firm in San Diego specializing in tax dispute resolutions, complex tax planning, estate planning, probate, and trusts.  Sally leads the Trusts and Estate Planning practice group, while also representing individuals and businesses in a wide variety of tax matters before the Internal Revenue Service and state tax agencies.

For over ten years, Sally has helped her clients overcome their tax problems, protect their assets, and grow their businesses.  Death and taxes are generally two areas people tend to avoid for planning purposes either because of the complexity of the issues, the fear of the future, or just the overwhelming amount of paperwork involved!  Whether it is representing clients in a complex IRS audit or advising them on important estate planning decisions, Sally’s systematic and empowering approach ensures a smooth experience.

Sally makes planning for the future and resolving tax disputes easy and manageable.  When you work with Sally you can expect a disciplined, ambitious, and systematic approach.  You will get hands-on support, a full explanation of our strategy, and an integrated plan for future tax compliance, economic growth, and long-term stability, both personally and professionally.

Sally obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law in 2010 and is admitted to practice law in California and the District of Columbia.  During law school, Sally was a member of the University of Memphis Law Review.  She is active with the Probate Attorneys of San Diego, the Tax Section of the American Bar Association and the San Diego County Bar Association.  Sally is passionate about community service and enjoys mentoring new attorneys.  She can be reached by email at sreddy@dallolawgroup.com or through the firm’s website at www.dallolawgroup.com.

Kathleen utilizes her technical knowledge and ability to work with government agencies to help clients resolve issues of tax controversy. Additionally, she is experienced in tax planning and compliance matters for individuals as well as business.

Kathleen is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountings (AICPA), and the California State Bar. Additionally, she serves on Notre Dame’s Mendoza Graduate Alumni Board. Before moving to San Diego, Kathleen was a partner with a tax law controversy firm in Sacramento. She has also taught accountancy at the University of Notre Dame and the University of California, Davis.

Kathleen has earned the designation of Certified Legal Specialist in Taxation Law, thereby broadening her tax knowledge and qualifications as well as augmenting her abilities as an accountant. She graduated from McGeorge School of Law, with distinction; she earned a Masters of Business Administration in Taxation, with high honors, from the University of Notre Dame; and she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration of Accountancy, with honors, from the University of Louisville. Kathleen began her academic career at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.

Since arriving to San Diego, Kathleen enjoys spending time at he beach with her family and friends.

Kevin Waldron attended the University of California Santa Barbara for his undergraduate degree where he majored in Environmental Science and minored in Philosophy. After graduating in three years, Kevin went to obtain his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law. During his time at USD Law, Kevin was a member of both the Tax law and Business law societies as well as the San Diego Law Review. Additionally, while at USD Law, Kevin interned for several judges in various courts in California and helped low-income taxpayers with their tax issues at the USD State Income Tax Clinic and VITA, for which he received the Alec L. Cory Pro Bono Scholar award. Working for Dallo Law Group since 2016, Kevin has focused his practice on the state and federal taxation of cryptocurrencies, audits with various state agencies and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), negotiations with state and IRS tax collections, international tax compliance, and tax preparation for individuals and entities. He has successfully represented clients against IRS counsel, obtained no-change audits, negotiated offers in compromise, and secured resolutions with revenue officers.

Brandon attended the University of California Irvine for his undergraduate degree, earning a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy. Coupling his love for classic rock with an interest in a career in law, his honors thesis was entitled, Singing the Blues: Led Zeppelin and the Inconsistency of U.S. Copyright Law.

After two years of travel, Brandon moved to San Diego to attend the University of San Diego School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in Taxation. While in law school, he discovered a liking and a knack for tax law. He volunteered as a Student Attorney at USD’s federal tax clinic, representing low-income taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He was also an active member in the Tax Law Society, Business Law Society, and Federalist Society. Brandon graduated in the top ten percent of his class, earning him membership in the Order of the Coif.

At Dallo Law Group, Brandon’s practice has primarily focused on IRS and Franchise Tax Board collections, state agency audits, and the Employee Retention Tax Credit.

Brandon has found San Diego to be a perfect city for him, as he loves to golf, surf, and hike with his dog, Arthur.

Brandon Burger, J.D., LL.M.

Associate Attorney

Cortney oversees the planning, development and execution of Dallo Law Group’s marketing and advertising initiatives. She is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s branding, marketing and business development strategy.   She runs the website development, advertising, media placement, research marketing communications, public relations, and works closely with the lawyers to enhance their relationships with the firm’s clients as well as the San Diego community as a whole. She seeks out new ways to deliver messaging with mobile platforms, digital media, video, radio, and social media.

Cortney regularly attends events hosted by the Legal Marketing Association to further expand her marketing knowledge and her personal network of legal marketing individuals.

In the legal arena, Cortney organizes the principal attorney, Michael Dallo, to assist the legal community by participating in legal education programs as a lecturer, by serving in leadership roles in state and local bar associations, and presenting seminars to various legal and trade organizations on a wide variety of topics. She also controls the pro bono cases Dallo Law Group takes on, as well as taking leadership roles in numerous legal efforts.

Prior to joining Dallo Law Group, Cortney served as the CMO for a mid-sized Orange County retail chain. She has great experience in customer service and administration and understands the great value it holds. In 2014, Cortney graduated from California State University in Fullerton, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Radio, TV, Film, with an emphasis in development and communications. Cortney also holds over ten years of experience in acting and modeling.

Ms. Putrus graduated from San Diego State University, where she received a B.S. in Accountancy. While she was a student, Ms. Putrus was a member of the Student Accounting Society. Once she graduated, Ms. Putrus went on to pass the CPA exams and is currently awaiting licensure.

Ms. Putrus assists our attorneys with client matters before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Franchise Tax Board (FTB), Employment Development Department (EDD) and the State Board of Equalization (SBOE). Ms. Putrus graduated from San Diego State University, where she received a B.S. in Accountancy. While she was a student, Ms. Putrus was a member of the Student Accounting Society. Once she graduated, Ms. Putrus went on to pass the CPA exams and is currently awaiting licensure.

Joanmarie Ehman

Joann Navarro serves as our firm’s legal secretary and is our clients’ first point of contact.

Kenneth Bagdasar is a law clerk in our office. Mr. Bagdasar assists our attorneys with client matters before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Franchise Tax Board (FTB), Employment Development Department (EDD), and the State Board of Equalization (SBOE).