Intro
Daren advises individuals and businesses on a vast range of tax planning and tax controversy matters at the federal, state, local, and international levels. He has a wealth of experience providing outside general counsel to entrepreneurs, founders, start-ups, and their investors.
He possesses extensive expertise with respect to partnership structuring, equity compensation arrangements, liquidity transactions (including QSBS benefits under Section 1202 of the Code), and mergers and acquisitions.
Daren’s insight and thought leadership on federal and state income tax matters have been quoted or published in Bloomberg, Fortune, Barron’s, and Law360.
Areas of Focus
Education
Admissions and Courts
"OpenAI Walks Back For-Profit Plan, Nonprofit to Keep Control," Bloomberg Law (May 2025)
"OpenAI in Regulator Talks to Become For-Profit Company," Bloomberg Law (November 2024)
"Unconventional Profits Interest Structures Find New Support," Law360 (May 2023)
"The SVB Fallout is Showing the World’s 5th-Largest Economy (California) is Flailing as Easy Money Goes Extinct," Fortune (March 2023)
"The Carried-Interest Tax Isn’t Dead Yet. Here’s Why.," Barron's (August 2022)
“Elon Musk’s California Exit Can Save Him $2 Billion in Taxes,” Bloomberg (November 2021)
“R&D Tax Credit: A Viable Option to Reduce Tax Burdens?,” Cannabis Business Times (December 2020)
"Tax Considerations in M&A Transactions: Navigating Federal Rules and Strategic Pitfalls," co-presenter, My Law CLE and Federal Bar Association Webinar (June 2025)
"Wake Up To Money," co-speaker, BBC Radio 5 (May 2025)
"Putting the Success in Succession Planning – Legal and Tax Considerations," co-presenter, Matson Money Succession Summit (October 2024)
"Valuation and Deal Structure: It’s All in the Details," M&A Succession Summit (September 2024)
"Tax Planning Strategies and Structures for Today’s M&A Market," Celesq Webinar (March 2024)
"Advanced Tax Considerations for M&A Transactions," Strafford Webinar (January 2024)
"Hot Topics in Income Tax Planning: Case Studies," 2023 Ralph Grant Institute CPA Conference (December 2023)
"Structuring and Negotiating M&A Transactions," 2023 Ralph Grant Institute CPA Conference (December 2023)
"Hot Federal Tax Law Updates and Planning Issues—2023," CalCPA Webinar (September 2023)
"Qualified Opportunity Zones in 2021: Current Issues and Recent Developments," East Bay Tax Club Meeting (May 2021)
"Qualified Opportunity Zones and Energy Projects: Tax Incentives and Recent Developments," co-speaker, Strafford Webinar (October 2020)
"IRC 1400Z Qualified Opportunity Zones for Individual Investors: Tax Deferral and Reduction Opportunities," co-speaker, Strafford Seminar (December 2019)
"Qualified Opportunity Fund Partnership Investments Under 1400Z: Special Timing and Deferral Opportunities," Strafford Webinar (August 2019)
“Split-Roll Initiative Challenges Prop 13,” Commercial Brokers Association (June 2019)