ACPEN Signature 2023: Annual Tax Update

C. Clinton Davis, CPA, JD Related seminars and products

Krage & Janvey, L.L.P.

CLINT DAVIS is with the law firm of Krage & Janvey, LLP in downtown Dallas.  He graduated cum laude from the SMU Dedman School of Law in 1980 and first in his graduating class from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  He was first licensed in Florida as an attorney in 1980 and then in Texas in 1982.  He has been a licensed CPA in Texas since 1980.  He has been Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1988.  He has been named as a Super Lawyer, a Top Attorney in Texas by Texas Monthly, one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine and a Top Rated Lawyer by the Dallas Morning News, all in the tax area. 

Clint has in the past been an author and discussion leader for numerous CPE courses for the Texas Society of CPAs. Clint also speaks before various bar associations and accounting conferences. and is a frequent presenter and moderator on the Accountants’ Continuing Professional Education Network.

Clint primarily represents high net worth individuals and closely held businesses with much of his time devoted to real estate tax planning, implementation of S corporation ESOPs, mergers and acquisitions and private foundations.

James A. Smith, CPA, CGMA Related seminars and products

Managing Director

Smith, Jackson, Boyer & Bovard, PLLC

James A. Smith, CPA, CGMA, serves as Managing Director of Smith, Jackson, Boyer & Bovard, PLLC, a Dallas based, full service Certified Public Accounting firm.  In his fifty years of professional experience, he has performed audit engagements in real estate development and construction, investment partnerships, manufacturing, utilities, retail, transportation, and health care.  He has worked with companies ranging in size from large, multinational corporations to small, closely held businesses.  He has also been engaged extensively in tax and financial planning consultations for closely held businesses and their owners; tax compliance and tax controversy representation.

Mr. Smith has been a frequent panelist on ACPEN webinars.  He has appeared as a featured commentator on all four Dallas/Ft. Worth network news stations, including three and one-half years as a featured business commentator on KXAS, TV5; on the TSCPA “CPAs on Call” state-wide tax television program; and on various radio news programs.  He has conducted seminars on tax and financial planning for the Dallas Chapter of the TSCPA, stock brokerage firms and life insurance companies, and on marketing and practice management for the TSCPA, the North Carolina Association of CPAs, the Arkansas Society of CPAs, the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, and the American Institute of CPAs.  He has made presentations on analyzing financial statements for the reporting staffs of the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Business Journal, Wall Street Journal, and San Antonio Express.  He has also made CPE presentations on SSARS standards for the Illinois Society of CPAs, the Texas Society of CPAs, the Dallas Chapter of TSCPA, the Southeast Texas Chapter of TSCPA, and others.

Mr. Smith served as Chair of the Texas Society of CPAs (TSCPA) for the 2007-2008 year, as an elected member of its Executive Board and its Board of Directors, and as Treasurer and Treasurer-Elect. He served as an elected member of the AICPA Council 2007 through 2011 and 2012 through 2015.  He also served as an appointed member of two of the AICPA’s key standard setting committees:  the Accounting and Review Services Committee, 2008 through 2011 and the Tax Practice Responsibilities Committee, 2014 to 2018.  He has served as Chair of the Dallas Chapter of TSCPA (DCTSCPA) for the 2002-2003 year and a member of its Board of Directors.  He has served the TSCPA as Communications Subcommittee Chair of the Federal Tax Policy Committee, Attestation Subcommittee Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, Chair of the External Relations Steering Committee, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, Chair of the MAP Future Issues Committee, Sub-Committee Chair of the Quality Review Committee, and Chair of the Public Practice Association.  In recognition of his service, Mr. Smith has been named an Honorary Fellow of the TSCPA in 2017, presented with its Meritorious Service to the Accounting Profession in Texas Award in 2013, and had been named Outstanding Steering Committee Chairman for the year 1999-2000, Outstanding Committee Chairman for the year 1995-1996, and Outstanding Committee Member for the Years 1992-1993 and 1995-96.  The DCTSCPA also named him CPA of the Year for 1999-2000.

Mr. Smith is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with a BBA in Accounting and Economics.  He is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas and is a licensed Registered Investment Advisor.

Mr. Smith resides in Dallas with Charlie, his wife of 50 years. They have three grown daughters, all of whom are married, a grandson and three granddaughters.

Abbey B. Garber Related seminars and products

Partner

Thompson & Knight LLP

Abbey Garber focuses his practice on tax litigation and providing advice in connection with applying tax laws to individuals, estates, corporations, and partnerships. Serving more than 30 years in the Office of Chief Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service, he tried cases of all sizes in Tax Court, earning significant favorable opinions in fraud, tax shelter, and many other cases; received a full Tax Court opinion in an attorneys’ fees case; and prosecuted criminal tax cases in United States District Court as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.  Abbey served as the Southwest Area Team Leader in Chief Counsel, charged with ensuring collaboration and cooperation across operating divisions in a nine-state area.

Abbey received a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1985 and a B.B.A. in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin in 1982. He is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, Texas Bar Foundation, and Dallas Bar Foundation.  He is a member of the Dallas Bar Association Tax Section and Mock Trial Committee; American Bar Association Tax Section and Administrative Practice Committee; and the State Bar of Texas Tax Section Council and co-chairs the CLE Committee.

His accolades include being named to The Best Lawyers in America^© by Woodward/White Inc., Best Lawyers in Dallas (Tax: Litigation) by D Magazine; and a Recommended Attorney in The Legal 500 US by Legalease.

Christi Mondrik, CPA, JD Related seminars and products

Christi Mondrik, attorney, focuses her practice on resolving state and federal tax controversies and litigation. She is board certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Mondrik has handled IRS cases involving substantial corporate, individual and estate taxes. Her state tax experience includes disputes arising under Texas franchise tax, sales and use tax, fuel taxes, severance taxes, motor vehicle sales tax, and other state taxes. Ms. Mondrik is also a CPA.

Ms. Mondrik and her associates represent the firm’s state tax clients in administrative and legal proceedings before the Comptroller’s office, the State Office of Administrative Hearings and the Texas state courts. She also represents federal tax clients at the administrative appeals level and in proceedings before the United States Tax Court and the United States District Courts. She is licensed to practice in the United States Tax Court, the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, and all of the Texas state courts.

Ms. Mondrik served as the 2019-2020 Chair of the State Bar of Texas Tax Section. She has served on its governing council for two terms and has served as chair and vice-chair of its Tax Controversy, CLE and Solo and Small Firms Committee Committees. She served as the chair of the 2014 State Bar Tax Section Annual Meeting planning committee and was co-chair of its 2016-17 Leadership Academy program.

Ms. Mondrik was the 2009-10 President of the Austin Chapter of CPAs. She has also served as manager of education and leadership and chair and vice-chair of its Oversight Council. Ms. Mondrik also has served on the TXCPA Executive Board, and currently serves on the State Bar of Texas and TXCPA State Taxation Committees, and the TXCPA Federal Tax Policy Committee, for which she was the 2017-19 chair. She was the 2009-13 chair of the TXCPA state taxation committee and the chair of the 2009-10 and 2019 Texas State Taxation Conference committee. As chair of the state tax committee of the TXCPA, she was a principal drafter of comments submitted by the TXCPA in response to legislation implementing the Texas margin tax and to administrative rules promulgated under the various state taxes. Ms. Mondrik earned her B.B.A. and her J.D., with honors, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Click here for a detailed resume.