CTLP Pro Bono Awards

Throughout our history, The Community Tax Law Project and our clients have benefited from the tremendous generosity of our panel of pro bono attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs. The selflessness of Virginia’s community of tax professionals is the heart and soul of our program on behalf of low-income taxpayers.

Please join with us as we recognize a few people who exemplify all that is best in Virginia’s tax professionals.

Pro bono Volunteer of the Year

Karen Myrick, Esq., CPA
Vienna, VA

Karen Myrick joined CTLP’s panel of pro bono tax professionals in 2008 and quickly distinguished herself as one of the brightest new stars in that galaxy of outstanding attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents.  The taxpayers who have benefited from Karen’s generosity have been unanimous in their praise for her skill, passion, and understanding of their often difficult circumstances.  Karen is an attorney and CPA with the Northern Virginia firm of Beers and Cutler, and she has represented low-income taxpayers in controversies before IRS Collection, Appeals, and in the United States Tax Court.

In 2009, Karen represented five CTLP-referred taxpayers in their disputes with the IRS. She has always been eager to take on new and challenging cases for CTLP and our clients. For example, despite speaking no Spanish herself, Karen is now representing a Spanish-speaking taxpayer whose employer did not withhold federal income tax from his pay.  In another case, she is representing a taxpayer whom the IRS alleges had “Cancellation of Indebtedness” income in two different tax years. In a third case, Karen obtained a reduction in tax of $2,600 and a refund of $500 for a disabled taxpayer.

For her dedication to justice and fairness in the administration of tax law, CTLP is proud to name Karen Myrick its 2009 Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Craig D. Bell, Esq.
Richmond, VA

Craig D. Bell is a nationally recognized tax attorney and tax partner with McGuireWoods, LLP, in Richmond. He is Past President and Director emeritus of The Community Tax Law Project.

Craig personally has logged hundreds of hours representing Richmond’s working poor in tax cases.  He has helped families by working to release wrongfully withheld tax refunds and stopped IRS levies on Social Security benefits for the elderly. He has triumphed in U.S. Tax Court cases that have set precedent, thereby helping low-income taxpayers nationwide.

By recruiting and mentoring many attorneys to work with CTLP, Craig’s impact extends far beyond the substantial number of individual taxpayers he has helped. Literally hundreds of Richmond’s working poor have received justice in dealings with the taxing agencies without ever knowing of Craig’s involvement behind the scenes. He also mentors approximately 12 William & Mary Law School students each year who work on CTLP tax-litigation cases. He is a presenter at CTLP trainings for attorneys and has provided CTLP expert strategic and fundraising assistance.

As President of CTLP, Craig was co-recipient of the 2001 Virginia State Bar Pro Bono Award, recognizing attorneys and attorney groups that have made outstanding pro bono contributions in Virginia.

While we will miss Craig’s presence on the CTLP Board of Director’s, we take comfort in the knowledge that he will continue to serve as a member of our pro bono panel and that low-income taxpayers in Virginia will continue to be represented by such an able, passionate, and dedicated attorney.

Craig Bell is a genuine champion of the American taxpayer, an exemplar of the generosity of lawyers and tax professionals, and a powerful voice for the voiceless in our tax system. We are proud to recognize him for his lifetime of service, and we are honored by his past and future participation in CTLP’s programs.

2009 Volunteers

Pro Bono volunteers have been the lifeblood of CTLP’s program of assistance to Virginia’s low-income taxpayers since our inception in 1992.  In 2009, 53 Virginia attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs provided assistance to 100 taxpayers in cases referred by CTLP. Each one of them deserves recognition for their generosity and professionalism.

Michelle Abroms
Elizabeth Atkinson
Craig Bell
Brian Bernhardt
Diane Beverly
Peyton Biddle
Neil Birkhoff
Michael Bowen
Stephanie Commander
William Corddry
Michael Cranston
Guy Crowgey
Timothy Feehan
John Flora
Frances Goldman
J. William Gray
Maria Gutierrez
Geoffery Hemphill
Flora Hezel
Ann Hodges
William Irvin
Angela Isabell
Timothy Jacobs
Caryl Johnson
Laura Jones
Alice Justice
Julie King
Charles Krumbein
Roger Ladd
Robert Lee
Jefferey Lenhart
Bill Lowrance
Phil MacWilliams
John Marston
B. Shawn Martin
George Martin
Cynthia Mattson
William May
Michelle McKinnon
Kevin Muldowney
Karen Myrick
Brooks Nelson
Dean Nichols
Nathan Olansen
Bethany Paradee
Newnie Rodgers
Caroline Root
Daniel Small
Robert Stenzhorn
Erika Stubbs
David Tanner
Robert Warwick
Deborah Williamson

In-house Volunteers and Student Interns

In addition, CTLP has received assistance from an outstanding collection of law student interns and volunteers.

Jenni Black
Bethany Davis
Gretchen Friday
Ben Grosz
Barb Levos
Ivo Nkede
Jim Young, EA

Outstanding Firms

For any pro bono activity to succeed, the firms which employ tax professionals must have a commitment to the spirit of pro bono. CTLP has been fortunate to have formed partnerships with firms all over the Commonwealth of Virginia whose commitment to giving back to their communities is particularly noteworthy. For 2009, we extend special thanks to these partner firms:

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, LLP
Hunton & Williams
The Tax Complex
McGuire Woods, LLP
Beers & Cutler
The Rack Law Firm, P.C

 

Each year, Virginia’s tax professionals demonstrate their commitment to achieving justice and fairness for the working poor in our state and federal tax systems by their generous donation of time and expertise to CTLP’s important work. Thank you for your outstanding service on behalf of Virginia’s low-income taxpayers.