Reed Smith today announced that Saba Shatara has joined the firm’s national State Tax practice as a partner in the San Francisco office. Formerly with Drinker Biddle & Reath, Deloitte, and the California State Board of Equalization, Shatara brings a mix of private practice and state agency experience in a wide range of tax controversy matters before state and local tax agencies.
“With his background and experience with state agencies, Saba has an essential understanding of the unique challenges to our clients posed by California’s ever-changing tax landscape,” said Kyle Sollie, head of the Reed Smith State Tax practice group. “Saba will have a key role in the continued expansion of the firm’s practice on the West Coast. We are thrilled that he has joined the firm.”
Prior to joining Deloitte in 2017, Shatara worked with litigation and tax teams at two law firms and was tax counsel to one of the elected members of the California State Board of Equalization, assisting in the adjudication of California state tax disputes. Most recently, as a senior manager in Deloitte’s multistate tax practice, he represented national corporations, individual clients, and multistate taxpayers in state and local tax controversy matters before the California Franchise Tax Board, Office of Tax Appeals, and other state taxing authorities. He also assists clients with tax planning related to income and franchise tax issues and indirect tax matters.
Reed Smith’s nationally recognized State Tax practice and Shatara’s existing relationship with the group were key factors in his decision to join the firm. “I’m excited to join Reed Smith’s State Tax team,” Shatara said. “Having worked closely with Reed Smith attorneys, the firm is uniquely poised to provide world-class state tax controversy and litigation support, as well as proactive solutions and refund reviews. This platform will allow me to better serve clients in the state tax space. I look forward to working with the team to expand and build out the practice on the West Coast.”
In addition to his active law practice, Shatara is an adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law. He serves as vice-chair of the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section of the California Lawyers Association (CLA). Shatara also previously served as chair of CLA’s State and Local Tax Committee and the Office of Tax Appeals Pro Bono Project.
Shatara began his legal career at Drinker Biddle & Reath and also practiced at Greene Radovsky Malone Share & Hennigh. He received his B.A. from University of California, Berkeley, his J.D. from University of California, Davis School of Law, and his LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.