William Severson has joined Lane Powell as Counsel to the Firm on the Tax Team.
Severson's practice focuses on Washington state and local property taxes, and governmental fees and charges. With almost 50 years of experience, he helps clients navigate these complex tax and valuation issues and represents them when an administrative appeal or litigation becomes necessary.
His experience includes complex tax valuation disputes, class actions challenging state and local taxes and fees, valuation and equalization of public utility property, excise tax litigation, federal commerce clause limitations on state tax authority, taxation of leasehold estates and other partial interests in publicly-owned property, challenges to illegal and unconstitutional governmental exactions, the illegal exercise of special levy tax authority, governmental financial management practices and procedures, inter-governmental tax immunity, and challenges to local tax officials when they act outside the scope of their legal authority.
Severson began his practice in Washington state as a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County, where he advised and represented county officials on tax and finance matters.
Severson received his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law and his B.A., cum laude, in Economics from the University of Washington.