PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Rob Wood is often listed among the top ten tax lawyers in America. He handles a broad range of tax planning and tax controversies. He also serves as an expert witness on tax matters in civil cases, class actions, disputes over independent contractor or employee classification, etc. A widely published author known for explaining and demystifying complex tax concepts, Mr. Wood is best known for his expertise advising plaintiffs, defendants, lawyers, and settlement funds on settlements and judgments. He authored the leading book on this topic, Taxation of Damage Awards & Settlement Payments (5th Ed 2021), as well as the Bloomberg Tax Management Portfolio Tax Aspects of Settlements and Judgments (522).
The author of numerous other tax books and hundreds of articles, he is listed among the elite tax lawyers in the United States by many best lawyers periodicals. Mr. Wood writes regular columns in Tax Notes, Forbes and other publications, and comments on tax matters in the media.
Taxation Law Advisory Commission, California Board of Legal Specialization (member 1989-1992; Chair 1991-1992)
Executive Committee, State Bar of California, Taxation Section (2000-2003)
The M&A Tax Report (CCH) 1992-2019, Editor-in-Chief
Real Estate Advisory Board (Bloomberg BNA) 2012-2014
Former Adjunct Professor, Golden Gate University School of Law
Former Instructor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law
Frank I. Haswell Award, State Bar of Montana, 2023
V. Judson Klein Award, California State Bar, Taxation Section, 2006
Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
Best Lawyers in America (2005-2025)
Best Lawyers’ 2015 San Francisco Tax Law “Lawyer of the Year”
Super Lawyers
AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Elected to Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in California, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who in the West
Top 10 tax lawyers by United States Lawyer Rankings
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Admitted to practice law in California, New York, District of Columbia, Montana, Washington, Arizona, Texas, and Wyoming Bars
Qualified Solicitor, Supreme Court of England and Wales
Certified Tax Specialist, California Board of Legal Specialization
Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
Law Society of England and Wales
Canadian Bar Association
Law Council of Australia
U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Tax Court, Ninth Circuit, Third Circuit, Seventh Circuit, District of Columbia Circuit, Northern District of California, Central District of California, District of Arizona, Western District of Washington
EDUCATION
University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 1979 (Florence James Adams Prize; University of Chicago scholarship)
Humboldt State University, A.B., English, summa cum laude, 1976, President’s Scholar
University of Sheffield, England (1975-1976)
BOOKS, ARTICLES, CHAPTERS AND SPEECHES
Author of numerous books and articles on taxation in legal, accounting and business publications. See Media and Publications.