Richard A. Husseini, P.C.

Partner Tax Disputes

Overview

Richard is ‘very thorough, strategic and doesn't miss anything.’
- Chambers USA 2024

One of the nation’s leading tax controversy and planning attorneys, Richard Husseini brings to bear his 30 years of experience to successfully represent private and public companies, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals in complex tax matters. He is described as “bright and thoughtful; a very good litigator” (Chambers USA 2022) and as “exceedingly intelligent, strategic, creative, responsive, and humble” (Chambers USA 2017). Richard is recognized by Chambers USA, The Legal 500 United States and Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.). “Richard can break down the difficult into the understandable” (Chambers USA 2023).

He has deep experience in every facet of the tax controversy practice. He has led matters before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in examination, fast-track mediation and appeals proceedings, and before courts and regulatory bodies, including the United States Tax Court, United States Court of Federal Claims, United States District Courts, state courts, and public utility commissions. He also represents companies and individuals in private-party M&A tax disputes before arbitrators and courts.

Richard also has an active federal transactional tax practice, with specific experience in tax issues affecting the energy, oil and gas, and electric and gas utility industries.

Richard has extensive knowledge of privilege and ethical issues affecting tax practice. He regularly counsels clients on their interactions with outside auditors, tax issues affecting financial disclosure issues, and tax investigations.

Richard is also active in the community. He serves as a Director on the Board of Houston Grand Opera and an Emeritus Trustee for the University of Dallas, following completion of his term as Board Chair of the University of Dallas. He is a past board member of Genesys Works Houston and a past President of the St. Thomas More Society of Galveston-Houston.

Following graduation from law school, Richard served as a law clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

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Thought Leadership

Speaking Engagements

Moderator, “IRS Examinations, Litigation and Interaction Between Industry and the Government,” 16th Biennial Parker C. Fielder Oil, Gas, and Energy Tax Conference, November 16–17, 2023

Speaker, “The IRS’ s Increasing Reliance on General Anti-Abuse Rules: Trends and Mitigation Strategies,” TEI 2023 Annual Conference, October 25, 2023

Speaker, “Taxpayer Strategies for Responding to a Reinvigorated IRS,” TEI Houston Tax School, February 16, 2023

Speaker, “Litigation and Controversy Update,” 87th Annual American Petroleum Institute Federal Tax Forum, May 3–4, 2022

Speaker, “Privilege Issues for the In-House Tax Professional,” TEI State & Local Controversy Update, March 1, 2022

Speaker, “Hot Topics in Federal Tax Controversy,” TEI Global Tax Controversy Session, October 7, 2021

Speaker, “Navigating TCJA Audits and the Future of the Biden Administration Proposals,” TEI Administrative Roundtable, June 2, 2021

Speaker, “Navigating TCJA Audits and the Future of the Biden Administration Proposals,” Oklahoma TEI Tax School, May 20, 2021

Speaker, ”Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods and Strategies.” International Tax Dispute Resolution and Litigation Conference, November 4-5, 2020

Speaker, “Partnership Audit Rules,” TEI Administrative Roundtable, July 8, 2020

Speaker, “Planning for TCJA Litigation: Impact of Tax Reform on Tax Controversy Issues,” 85th Annual American Petroleum Institute Federal Tax Forum, April 29–30, 2019

Speaker, Tax Executives Institute Dallas Conference, June 4, 2019

Speaker, “Changes and Developments in IRS Examinations and Appeals,” 15th Biennial Parker C. Fielder Oil and Gas Tax Conference, November 21- 22, 2019

Moderator, “Tax Controversy and Audit: The Impact of the New LB&I Campaign Strategy on the Oil and Gas Sector,” 14th Biennial Parker C. Fielder Oil and Gas Tax Conference, November 16–17, 2017

Recognition

Recognized as one of the “Top 10 Litigation Giants Shaping Texas Tax Law: Insights and Influence” by Business Today, 2023

Listed in Chambers USA, 2008–2024

  • Chambers USA 2019 applauds him for his "ability to enter into dialogue with tax auditors and assist in reaching acceptable settlements for complex issues.”
  • Chambers USA 2018 describes him as a “very, very good litigator.”
  • Chambers USA 2018 quoted one of his clients as saying "he is an outstanding corporate tax lawyer - one of the best in the business."
  • Chambers USA 2012 quoted his clients as saying that “he is non-confrontational but very strong, so fights a good fight without being rude or inconsiderate.“
  • Clients also noted that he has the "best memory of anyone I've ever met," and that he is "good at dissecting complex facts into simple one-line explanations" Chambers USA 2015.

Listed in The Legal 500 United States, 2012–2024

  • The Legal 500 United States 2022 notes that he is “a national leader in tax disputes” whose “knowledge of the sector is very high.”
  • The Legal 500 United States 2015 notes that "he has strong technical and procedural skills and is also a strong communicator and collaborator.“
  • The Legal 500 United States 2012 notes his clients assess him as "extremely smart“ and "very personable" with the "intuitive skills that are rare in this type of attorney."

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.), 2005–2023, Tax Law since 2005 and Litigation and Controversy – Tax since 2011

  • Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.), 2012 indicates clients as stating, "Richard Husseini is one of the best in the business. He is cordial, responsive, knowledgeable and has a sharp instinct when getting to the bottom of an issue.”

Selected to the Law360 Tax Editorial Advisory Board, 2014–2021

Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer (Thomson Reuters), 2003–2021

Named one of the "Top 40 Under 40" lawyers in Texas by Texas Lawyer, 2001

Judge Thomas Gibbs Gee Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service, 1998 & 2009

Memberships & Affiliations

Houston Tax Procedure Group

Post Board Chair and Emeritus Trustee, University of Dallas

Director, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Grand Opera Endowment

Former Director, Genesys Works Houston

Past President, St. Thomas More Society of Galveston-Houston

Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • Texas

Courts

  • United States Tax Court
  • United States Court of Federal Claims
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

Education

  • University of Chicago Law SchoolJ.D.with High Honors1991

    Order of the Coif

    Associate Articles Editor, University of Chicago Law Review

    Bradley Fellow in Law and Government

  • University of DallasB.S., Mathematicssumma cum laude with first honors1988