Hastings College of the Law (J.D., 1978)

University of Southern California (B.A., 1975)

Richard was born and raised in Southern California. He attended the University of Southern California and the Hastings College of Law. He began his career as a civil litigator before joining Ajalat, Polley, Ayoob, Matarese & Broege in 1982. He became a partner in the firm in 1985. 

Richard served as an adjunct professor for the U.S.C. Graduate School of Business, for the California State University, Northridge, Master of Business Taxation Program and for the Golden Gate University Graduate School of Taxation. Richard also served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles Municipal Court.

Richard represents many of the world’s largest companies including General Electric, Chevron, Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., and The Los Angeles Times. Richard recently resolved a property tax matter resulting in what we believe is the largest property tax refund in Los Angeles County history.

Richard has been an extremely active member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation ( “IPT” ) and the Western States Petroleum Association. He served on the IPT Board of Governors and he has acted as the Chair for numerous IPT Sales and Property Tax Symposiums and Academies. Richard also served as Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association State and Local Tax Committee and was a member of the County Bar Tax Section Executive Committee. He also served on the State Bar Tax Section Executive Committee and was a Chair of the State Bar Property and Local Tax Committee.

Richard has authored articles in numerous publications: “Sales Tax Consequences In Selling A Business” – Los Angeles Lawyer, Vol. 6, No. 10, January 1984; Co-author of the treatise “California Closely Held Corporations: Tax Planning & Compliance Guide,” Matthew Bender & Co., Inc. 1987; “The Tax Climate in the City of Los Angeles” – Journal of Property Tax Management, Vol. 4, No. 3, Winter 1992; Co-author “Manual of California Taxes,” Tax Institute, 1993; Co-author with Christopher J. Matarese: “Sales Tax Administrative Appeals, Institute for Professionals in Taxation Sales Tax Manual”; Court Action “The Final Decision, Institute for Professionals in Taxation Sales Tax Manual”; “Current Development in State and Local Taxation” – USC Tax Institute, Los Angeles, January 26-28, 2004. In addition to publishing articles in numerous other publications including California Tax Notes, the Journal of Property Tax Management and The Journal of California Taxation, he has served as a member of the Board of Advisors for The Journal of California Taxation.

Richard continues to lecture extensively on a variety of on state and local tax issues before governmental and professional groups including the USC Tax Institute, the UCLA Tax Disputes Institute, Institute for Professionals in Taxation, the California Society of CPA’s, the Western States Petroleum Association, the American Bar Association, the California State Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the Society of Auditors and Appraisers, the International Association of Assessing Officers, the California Assessor’s Association and the California Mining Association.

Richard has been married to his wife Joyce for over 30 years and he has three children, Paul, Elizabeth and Steven.