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Brett

Brett Durbin

Shareholder

Brett Durbin counsels clients on state and local tax issues spanning both transactional and litigation matters, including general business planning and representing clients before the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) and Washington State Board of Tax Appeals.

Brett’s experience includes serving as the Assistant Attorney General for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, where he represented the DOR in the assessment of state and local taxes. He also managed all phases of litigation from risk assessment through discovery to appellate briefing and argument.

Chambers® USA’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized Brett for his work in tax law, with sources stating that "he is highly skilled, knowledgeable and responsive, and has great expertise." Brett was named the 2023 "Seattle Lawyer of the Year” in tax litigation and controversy by Best Lawyers® and is a recipient of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation's Excellence Award.

Professional Experience

Lane Powell PC

Shareholder (2021-Present)
Counsel to the Firm (2019-2021)

Stoel Rives LLP, Of Counsel (2016-2019)

Riddell Williams, P.S., Of Counsel (2013-2016)

Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Assistant Attorney General (2005-2013)

Kathy and Steve Berman Environmental Law Clinic, Legal Intern (2003-2004)

Strategic Asset Alliance, Financial Information Systems Coordinator and Financial Analyst (2001-2002)

Community Involvement

Washington State Bar Association

Secretary, Tax Council
State & Local Tax Committee
Chair, Legislative Committee

American Bar Association, Tax Section

State & Local Tax Executive Committee
Co-Chair, Model Tax Tribunal Taskforce
Co-Chair, Website Committee

Institute for Professionals in Taxation

Thought Leadership

December 12, 2024Event / CLE
Antio v. Department of Revenue: A Significant Tax Case with Far-Reaching Implications
Washington State Bar Association
November 22, 2024Publication
Seattle's Capital Gains Tax Proposal Not Likely to Survive Judicial Scrutiny if Enacted
Tax Legal Update
November 8, 2024Publication
Voters Retain Washington State’s Capital Gains Tax, But Lower its Effective Rate
Tax Legal Update
November 7, 2024Publication
Antio: Washington Supreme Court Upholds Department of Revenue’s Efforts to Narrow B&O Tax Investment Deduction
Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants
October 30, 2024Publication
October 31: More Than Just Halloween — Important Washington Tax Deadline Approaching
Tax Legal Update
October 29, 2024Event / CLE
Legal Updates in the Pacific Northwest: The Highlights, The Challenges, and What’s on the Horizon
Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants | Bellevue, Washington
October 28, 2024Publication
Antio: Washington Supreme Court Upholds Department of Revenue’s Efforts to Narrow B&O Tax Investment Deduction
Tax Legal Update
August 15, 2024News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2025 Recognizes 128 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
August 8, 2024Event / CLE
Court Updates
Washington State Tax Forum | Pullman, Washington
June 6, 2024Event / CLE
Washington State Tax Conference 2024
Washington Society of CPAs | Tukwila, Washington
June 6, 2024News
Lane Powell Ranked Again Among Top Firms in 2024 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
October 13, 2023Publication
October 31st: More Than Just Halloween — Another Washington Tax Deadline
Tax Legal Update
August 17, 2023News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 Recognizes 123 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 13, 2023Event / CLE
Court Updates: What did the Folks in Robes Have to Say?
Washington State Tax Conference | Pullman, Washington
July 13, 2023Event / CLE
Department Transparency: Is it time to Wash the Windows?
Washington State Tax Conference | Pullman, Washington
March 24, 2023Publication
Capital Gains Tax Ruled to be an Excise Tax on the Privilege of Selling Assets — But There is a Silver Lining
Tax Legal Update
March 6, 2023Publication
The Deadline for Seeking COVID-19 Property Tax Relief Is Fast Approaching
Tax Legal Update
January 9, 2023Publication
Washington Legal Decision Creates an Opportunity to Evaluate Your R&D Expenses
Tax Legal Update
October 28, 2022Publication
One More Tax Filing Is Due Before You Go Trick-or-Treating
Tax Legal Update
August 18, 2022News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
August 11, 2022Event / CLE
The Final Word
Washington State Tax Conference | Pullman, Washington
August 19, 2021News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
June 17, 2021Publication
JumpStart Seattle Payroll Tax Upheld
Tax Legal Update
January 1, 2021News
Lane Powell Elects New Shareholders and Counsel to the Firm
Firm Announcement
August 20, 2020News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 Recognizes 92 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 22-24, 2020Event / CLE
Indirect State Tax
Council On State Taxation | Webinar
July 10, 2020Publication
New Seattle Jobs Tax May Jump Start an Exodus of Jobs Out of the City — But It Also Creates Planning Opportunities
Tax Legal Update
May 14, 2020Publication
Are Coronavirus Relief Payments Subject to Washington State’s B&O Tax? Not So Far, but the Other Shoe Has Not Dropped Yet!
COVID-19 Resource
April 2, 2020Publication
Washington DOR Response to COVID-19: What You Need to Know About Tax Due Dates & Extensions
COVID-19 Resource
March 18, 2020Publication
Tax Traps and Opportunities From Employers Requiring Employees to Work From Home
COVID-19 Resource
July 16, 2019Event / CLE
Grasping the Last Straw: Litigating Tax Issues in Washington State
Washington State Tax Conference | Pullman, Washington
April 30, 2019Event / CLE
Gross Receipts Taxes: Are They Spreading?
Council On State Taxation Spring Audit Session & Income Tax Conference | Denver
April 29, 2019Publication
Washington State Legislature Passes Massive Tax Increases
Tax Legal Update
January 10, 2019News
Durbin Joins Lane Powell Tax Team
Firm Announcement
November 16, 2018Event / CLE
Washington B&O Tax Updates; National State Tax Cases and Issues; and Best Practices for Handling State Tax Disputes
Council On State Taxation Pacific Northwest Regional State Tax Seminar | Portland, Oregon
February 1, 2018Event / CLE
State and Local Tax Update
Tax Executives Institute, Inc. Alaska Chapter Meeting | Anchorage, Alaska
March 22, 2017Event / CLE
Sales Tax Issues in the Shared Economy
American Bar Association and Institute for Professionals in Taxation Advanced Tax Seminars | New Orleans
December 6, 2016Event / CLE
SALT Litigation: What to Know and How to Be Prepared to Win
Council On State Taxation Pacific Northwest Regional State Tax Seminar | Seattle
June 15, 2015Event / CLE
Tax Appeals in Washington
Washington State Society of CPA’s Washington Tax Conference | Seattle
April 29, 2015Event / CLE
Washington Tax Controversies and Taxpayer Rights
Institute for Professionals in Taxation Seattle Chapter Meeting | Seattle

Practices & Industries

Education

University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 2004
Western Washington University, B.A., Business Administration - Finance, 2001
- Honors Program

Admissions

Washington
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington

Honors

Excellence Award, Institute for Professionals in Taxation

"Seattle Lawyer of the Year,” Best Lawyers®, Litigation and Controversy – Tax (2023)

Chambers® USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Tax (2024)

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