Our mission is to develop a community of LGBTQ+ practitioners and law students that actively practices our values of belonging and respect for diversity while deepening connection and investing in members through relevant and engaging leadership, mentorship, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) events and practices.
The LGBTQ+ Lawyers in Tax Forum (the “LLTF”) community connects and empowers practitioners to be their best in their tax career, and seeks to establish the American Bar Association Section of Taxation (“Section”) as the leading voice for LGBTQ+ practitioners in tax.
July 01, 2023
LGBTQ+ Lawyers in Tax Forum
Who We Are
The LGBTQ+ Lawyers in Tax Forum (LLTF) is a new affinity group, founded in 2022, that strives to provide LGBTQ+ attorneys and law students an intentional community that honors their lived experiences and fosters relationships with others who share their identities, in addition to providing a forum to discuss topics of interest to their professional and personal lives; to build and sustain a strong presence of LGBTQ+ tax attorneys and aspiring tax attorneys within the Section; and to support and build on the Section’s existing goals of furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The three pillars and guiding principles of the LLTF will be:
- Community - focused on creating an affirming and supportive environment to grow and deepen relationships and support identities that are underrepresented within the tax law field
- Mentorship - focused on providing opportunities for LLTF members at all levels of experience, but in particular emerging practitioners and leaders, support with career planning and professional advancement
- Leadership - focused on providing meaningful and valuable opportunities for LLTF members to receive speaking, writing, and other substantive opportunities and to find their “place” within the Section.
Leadership
Leadership Board
- Chair
Brandon King, Wilson Sonsini - Director of Regional/Virtual Events
Grace Chang, Deloitte - Co-Director of Law Student Outreach
Shailana Dunn-Wall, Legal Aid of Nebraska - Vice Chair/Co-Director of Section Meeting Events
Aaron Esman, Moore Tax Law Group - Vice Chair/Co-Director of Section Meeting Events
Zenia Memon, KPMG - Co-Director of Law Student Outreach
Evan Phoenix, Public Law Center, Federal Tax Clinic
Advisory Board
- Patricia Cain, Santa Clara University Law
- Tony Infanti, University of Pittsburgh Law
- Stevie Conlon, Wolters Kluwer
- Stephen Tackney, KPMG
- Elizabeth Groenewegen, Aon
- Rafi Mottahedeh, Shartsis Friese LLP
- Diana Espanola, Espanola Law
- Dennis Jansen, Eversheds Sutherland LLP
- Cris Jones, Barlow Coughran Morales & Josephson, P.S.
- Julie Divola, Pillsbury
- Caroline Ciraolo, Kostelanetz
Get Involved!
The LGBTQ+ Lawyers in Tax Forum is a community under the ABA Tax Section’s Vice Chair of Diversity, Membership and Inclusion.
To join our LGBTQ+ Lawyers in Tax Forum community and mailing list, follow the join instructions below. If you are interested in volunteering, please join our listserv and contact Section staff for additional information.
Webinar Recordings
LGBTQ+ Lawyers in Tax Forum Presents - A Fireside Chat with Elizabeth Groenewegen
Join the LLTF in a conversation with renowned attorney, Elizabeth Groenewegen, as we discuss her career and successes in the tax field as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. This webinar was held on April 10, 2024.
LGBTQ+ Lawyers in Tax Forum Presents - A Fireside Chat with Stevie Conlon
Join the LLTF in a conversation with renowned attorney, Stevie Conlon, as we discuss her career and successes in the tax field as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. This webinar was held on June 22, 2023.
Join the LGBTQ+ Lawyers in Tax Forum
This committee is open to both tax section members and non-members. To join click here and then click Join Committees or follow the detailed steps below. A more detailed committee help page is available here. Not a Section Member? No problem, you are welcome to join this committee and list. See instructions below!
- Click Log In in the upper right corner of this website.
- Log in to your My ABA account. If you do not remember your email address or password, click Need Help Logging In? and follow the instructions.
- Once you are logged in, click 'Hi Your Name' in the upper right then click My ABA.
- On the My ABA Dashboard page, click on Manage Memberships (a button toward the right with a right arrow).
- If you are a Section Member (if you are not a Section Member see #8) you will see Section of Taxation under Specialty Group Memberships & Committees, click Join Committees to the right. If you are not a Section member, consider joining the Section to access our committees.
- You will now see a list of Tax Section Committees. To join one, simply click Join next to the name of the committee. A check mark will appear to confirm you have joined. To leave a committee, simply click the check mark and you will see Join reappear indicating you are no longer a member of that committee.
- Joining a committee will automatically add you to the committee's listserv. Committees encourage member involvement through these committee listservs, other online platforms, and in-person at our meetings and events.
- If you are not a Section Member you are still welcome to join the group! Just reach out to Tax Staff at [email protected] and we will add you.
Stay in Touch: The LLTF Listserv
Committees share news, events, and updates through a dedicated committee listserv. As a committee member, you are welcome and encouraged to share resources, events, or ask questions to fellow committee members that are directly relevant. The listserv email address can be found below. You are automatically added to the listserv and will receive email notifications when you join a committee. Learn more about managing your committees.
Click the link above to view the committee listserv email address. Note: you must be logged in and a Section Member to view the address.
More Resources
Have a Question or Need Assistance? Contact Staff
If you have questions contact staff at the email addresses below and we will respond as soon as possible!
- Dan Swenson, Technology Manager
[email protected] - Michelle Aguirre, Committee Manager
[email protected]