Aaron C. Johnson co-leads the firm’s State and Local Tax team. He represents multinational, U.S., foreign, and regional businesses in state and local tax (SALT) matters across the country, including audit defense, appeals, tax litigation, and the planning and structuring of tax efficient transactions. Aaron is experienced in direct tax (corporate income taxes, franchise taxes), indirect tax (sales and use), as well as business and occupation (B&O) tax, corporate activity tax, real estate transfer taxes, and ad valorem property tax.
Aaron speaks across the country at tax events, including the Council on State Taxation, the Federation of Tax Administrators, the Institute of Professionals in Taxation, the American Bar Association (ABA), the ABA/IPT joint conference, the Pacific Tax Institute, the Washington Society of CPAs, the Washington State Tax Forum, and elsewhere.
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Washington State Bar Association PATHS Mentorship Program, 2024-present
University of Washington School of Law, Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, 2024-present
Hoops Institute Washington State Tax Forum, Lead Practitioner, 2022-present
Lewis & Clark Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, 2014-2016
Judicial Clerkships
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Supreme Court Lake Traverse, South Dakota (remote), 2014-2016
Inter-Tribal Court of Appeals of Nevada Reno, Nevada (remote), 2014-2016
Professional Activities
American Bar Association, Tax Section, State & Local Tax Executive Committee, 2023-present
Washington State Department of Revenue Business Advisory Council, 2022-present
Washington State Bar Association, Tax Section, State and Local Tax, Committee Chair, 2020-present; Legislative Committee, Member, 2019-present; DEI Committee, Member & Founder, 2021–present
Recognition & Accomplishments
The Best Lawyers in America, “Ones to Watch,” Litigation and Controversy–Tax, Tax Law, 2024-2025
Thomson Reuters, “Washington Rising Star,” Tax, 2023-2024
Washington State Tax Conference, Outstanding Collaboration in Tax Administration Award, 2023
Puget Sound Business Journal, “Next Generation in Law,” 2023
Seattle Pacific University, Adjunct Faculty of the Year, 2020-2021
Speaking Engagements
"SALT – Income Tax Update,” Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, November 13-14, 2024
“Legal Updates in the Pacific Northwest: The Highlights, The Challenges, and What’s on the Horizon,” Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants, October 29-30, 2024
“Digital Products; DEI and Tax Administration,” Washington State Tax Forum, August 8-9, 2024
Board Memberships & Community Service
University of Washington School of Law, Graduate Tax Program, Advisory Board Member, 2018-present
Seattle Children’s Museum, Auxiliary Council, 2018-2021
Publications
“Tax Dispute Survival Guide Part 2: Exploring the ‘SALT’ Mine,” American Bar Association, January 18, 2024
Credentials
Education
University of Washington School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation 2017)
Tax Law Association, President
CALI Award, State and Local Taxation
University of Washington School of Law, Visiting Student (2016)
Tax Law Association, President
Lewis & Clark Law School (J.D. 2015)
Animal Law Review, Associate Editor
1L Moot Court Competition Award
Outstanding Client Advocacy Award—Awarded for Clinical Performance
Pro Bono Honors Recipient
Teaching Fellow
Tax Research Assistant for Prof. John a. Bogdanski: “Fed. Tax Valuation,” Second Edition; Kuntz & Bogdanski, “Federal Income Taxation of S Corporations,” Fifth Edition; “ ‘See No Evil’ Defense Has Its Limits,” Corporate Taxation, 42 WGL-CTAX 2, 24; “Closely Held Business and Valuation: Who Owns the Family Business Intangibles?” Estate Planning, 42 ESTPLN 37
Legal Research Assistant for Prof. Samir Parikh “Failing Cities and the Red Queen Phenomenon,” 58 B.C. L. Rev. 559 (2017) and U.S. Bankruptcy Code for Bloomberg BNA update; Prof. Henry Drummonds Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Law Clerk—Student Director, Low-Income Tax Clinic
University of Washington (B.A., cum laude, 2012)
George Washington University (A.S. 2007)
Earned while in the U.S. Army
Languages
French - Conversational
Admissions
Washington