Waller Tax Partners Richard Johnson and Mike Yopp Recognized in Chambers 2017 High Net Worth Guide

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2017 -- Richard A. Johnson and G. Michael Yopp, veteran tax attorneys in Waller’s Nashville office, have been recognized in the 2017 edition of the Chambers High Net Worth guide. Waller is the only Tennessee law firm to receive a top ranking (Band 1) in the publication, and Johnson and Yopp were the only Tennessee practitioners honored with Band 1 rankings.

Chambers and Partners, which has researched and ranked the world’s best lawyers for the last 25 years, introduced its High Net Worth guide in 2016 to provide objective guidance to family offices and professional advisors to wealthy individuals. The guide covers private wealth management work and related specialties in key jurisdictions around the world, featuring in-depth analysis of leading lawyers and law firms for wealthy individuals and families.

Noting that Waller boasts an “excellent” team providing “a comprehensive range of services to wealthy individuals and families,” Chambers highlighted Johnson and Yopp for individual recognition.

“Waller’s tax practice has earned a national reputation for sophisticated strategic tax and estate planning for wealthy individuals and their families,” said Waller chairman Matt Burnstein. “Richard and Mike exemplify Waller’s commitment to innovative client service by combining personal commitment with a deep understanding of complex tax laws and regulations. We are proud that they have been recognized for their leadership in the area of family offices and private family trust companies.”

Johnson has represented high net worth individuals, family-owned businesses, tax-exempt organizations, and large closely-held companies for nearly 30 years. He formed the first private family trust company under Tennessee law and has been responsible for forming more than half of Tennessee's private family trust companies. Johnson assisted in the drafting of new legislation updating Tennessee’s private trust company law which greatly expanded the definition of a private family trust company to make Tennessee’s private trust company statutes more attractive than those in other states.  Johnson is a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation. He earned his LL.M. in Taxation in 1987 from the University of Florida, his J.D., with honors, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1986 and his B.A. in Accounting, cum laude, in 1983 from the University of Mississippi.

Yopp has more than 40 years of experience assisting companies and individuals in state and federal taxation. He works extensively in the areas of trust and estate matters, estate planning, conservatorships and guardianships. He contributed to the creation of Tennessee’s Limited Liability Company Act and its revised Act, and he has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America since 1995. In 2013 he was named Nashville's 2013 "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for Litigation & Controversy-Tax. Yopp was recently elected as a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, which is limited to 1% of the lawyers in America. He is also a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Yopp earned his LL.M. in Taxation in 1979 from New York University, his J.D., with distinction, in 1975 from Emory University School of Law, and his B.S. in 1968 from Murray State University.

About Waller
With more than 230 attorneys in Austin, Birmingham, Memphis and Nashville, Waller assists clients in complex transactional, regulatory and litigation matters. The firm has built a national reputation for its work in healthcare, financial services, retail and hospitality, and has extensive experience in manufacturing, real estate, technology and other industries. For more information, please visit www.wallerlaw.com.

Contact:
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