We’re pleased to announce that Valerie H. Sasaki has joined Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP as a new associate in our Tax Law Group. An energetic and talented tax attorney, Valerie is passionate about adding value to her clients’ businesses and having an immediate, positive influence. When working with individual clients, she strives to improve their lives by taking complex tax situations and breaking them into manageable pieces with achievable outcomes.
Valerie specializes in jurisdictional tax consulting, working closely with Fortune 50 companies involved in audits before the Oregon or Washington Departments of Revenue. She also works with business owners on tax and planning issues in Oregon or Southwest Washington.
A “Big-4” accounting alumna who worked as a State and Local Tax Manager for KPMG LLP, Valerie is very active with the Oregon State Bar and local business community. She is the Portland Tax Forum Chair-Elect, an IRS Liaison Committee member, and a non-member participant on the Oregon Certified Public Accountants’ committee on state and local tax legislation. She served on the Oregon State Bar Taxation Section’s Executive Committee from 2003-2011, and as Chair in 2010.
A longtime Oregonian who grew up in Lake Oswego, Ms. Sasaki is passionate about giving back to her local community. She is especially committed to mentoring today’s bright young minds, and serves as a volunteer board member for Junior Achievement of Oregon and Southwest Washington, as well as Portland Taiko. She is a CASH Oregon volunteer, doing tax preparation for low-income working families and individuals. She has also volunteered as a mentor in the Minds Matter program, working with two low-income, high-achieving high school students preparing for college.
Prior to joining Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP, Ms. Sasaki was an associate attorney with Portland-based Miller Nash LLP, working in their Tax and Business Practice Groups. She earned a B.A. from Tulane University; a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law; and a Master of Laws from the University of Washington School of Law.
She has earned Oregon Super Lawyers Rising Star recognition for the last four years, and was named a 2011 Up and Coming Lawyer in the Daily Journal of Commerce.
Please join us in welcoming Valerie to the Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP family. You can connect with Valerie directly at vsasaki@samuelslaw.com, 503-296-2966 or via LinkedIn.
