The Texas Tax Section Congratulates the 2024 Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer Abbey Benjamin Garber

The Texas Tax Section has selected Abbey Benjamin Garber, Partner at the Dallas office of Holland & Knight LLP, as the 2024 Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer.

 

For those who know Abbey (and really, who doesn’t?) know that Abbey, like a quantum particle, appears to be everywhere at once in the Texas Tax community: speaking at State Bar of Texas Tax Section and Dallas Bar Association events, attending Tax Court Calendar calls and volunteering for Tax pro bono opportunities, mentoring young Tax attorneys, and traveling to law schools to talk about what it’s like to be a Tax attorney (according to Abbey, awesome!).

Abbey has had a long and distinguished career in both government service and private practice. Abbey served as an attorney, manager, and later executive for more than 30 years with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, where he tried cases of all sizes and complexity in the United States Tax Court, earning many significant favorable opinions, including in fraud and tax shelter cases. In addition, Abbey served as the Southwest Area Team Leader in Chief Counsel, charged with ensuring collaboration and cooperation across operating divisions in a nine-state area.

 

As a Partner with Holland & Knight, Abbey represents taxpayers in all aspects of IRS practice, including Examination, Appeals, Collection and litigation. Abbey is consistently listed in The Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500 USA and D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas.

 

Abbey’s professionalism and civility is the gold standard—treating everyone, regardless of background or title, with respect and kindness. It is this attitude that has allowed Abbey to be particularly effective in leadership of professional organizations. In addition to being a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1985, he has served in several leadership positions for the Tax Section. He is also a member of the Dallas Bar Association and American Bar Association Tax Sections and is a fellow of both the Texas Bar Foundation and the American College of Tax Counsel.

 

Abbey earned his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law and a B.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and can frequently be found Saturdays during football season at the Darrell K Royal stadium (Hook ‘em!). In the spring, Abbey’s weekends are taken up with his softball team—the Garber Grasshoppers.

 

Abbey’s legacy to the Tax Section runs deep. Young members of the Tax Section remember that it was Abbey who first welcomed them to the Section or that they first considered a career in Tax after meeting Abbey at a law school or summer associate event. Clients appreciate his candid and practical advice, and colleagues enjoy his positive attitude and insights from 30 years of government service. Abbey is an extraordinary attorney who has richly contributed to the tax field and his community.

Past Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer Honorees