Overview
Most attorneys who practice tax law hold a J.D. Fewer hold a J.D. and an LL.M. in Taxation. Katie A. Lawson holds both, earned from two separate institutions with direct tax focus: her J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law and her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law. That combination defines what distinguishes her Durham, North Carolina practice from general practitioners who handle tax matters as one service among many.
The Law Office of Katie A. Lawson, PLLC operates from Suite 204 at 2114 Page Road Extension in Durham, and its practice is built around tax law, tax controversy, estate planning, and business and corporate tax. The firm serves North Carolina small business owners, self-employed individuals, and others who are dealing with the IRS or the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
Before establishing her own practice, Lawson spent years at a regional law firm focusing on tax controversy and corporate law, and she began her career in 2008. Before law school, she worked as an assistant branch manager at a large corporate bank. That banking background provides practical financial context that shapes the counsel she offers business clients.
Practice Areas
Tax Law and Filing: The firm handles IRS audits, tax advice, state and federal tax return issues, and negotiations with both the IRS and the North Carolina Department of Revenue. Katie Lawson brings an LL.M. in Taxation to this work, which means the depth of her tax knowledge goes beyond what J.D. programs alone provide. This is particularly relevant in audit defense and in situations where the law’s technical provisions determine the outcome.
Tax Controversy: When taxpayers are in dispute with federal or state tax authorities, the stakes are often high: back taxes, penalties, interest, and potential enforcement actions including liens and levies. The firm provides defense against IRS and North Carolina Department of Revenue proceedings. This includes negotiating settlements, challenging assessments, and representing clients through the administrative and, where necessary, judicial processes that tax disputes involve.
Estate Planning with Tax Integration: Estate plans that ignore tax implications can transfer less wealth to heirs than clients intend. Katie Lawson’s estate planning work draws on her tax background to structure wills and trusts in ways that account for the tax consequences of asset transfers. The firm handles plans ranging from simple to sophisticated structures, depending on the client’s situation.
Business and Corporate Tax: The firm goes beyond the mechanics of return filing. For business clients, the work includes strategic planning aligned with client objectives, structuring business operations and transactions in ways that are tax-efficient. This includes advising on entity selection, compensation structures, and business transactions with tax consequences.
Mediation: Mediation is listed among the firm’s practice areas. Specific details about the structure of this service are not publicly documented.
Attorney Profile
Katie A. Lawson, J.D., LL.M. (Founder and Principal)
Katie Lawson is a native of South Carolina. She completed a B.S. in Accounting from the University of South Carolina, which provided a quantitative and financial foundation before her legal education. She then earned her J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law and followed that with an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle.
Her early career combined banking and law: she worked as an assistant branch manager at a large corporate bank and later joined a regional law firm where she focused on tax controversy and corporate law. She is licensed in North Carolina.
Katie Lawson also participates in public education on tax matters. She regularly conducts seminars in collaboration with the IRS and a local Technical College to educate small businesses and individuals on tax and corporate issues. These seminars place her in direct contact with the business community she serves and reflect an educational orientation that extends beyond client representation.
Location and Service Area
The firm is located at 2114 Page Road Extension, Suite 204, Durham, NC 27703. The phone number is (919) 885-4019, and the fax number is (919) 237-9192. The firm’s website is www.klawsonlaw.com/. The firm also maintains an Instagram presence at @lawofficeof_katielawson.
The practice serves North Carolina clients, with a particular focus on the small business community and individuals with tax-related legal needs.
Client Focus
The firm serves North Carolina small business owners, self-employed individuals, individuals facing tax levies or liens, divorced spouses dealing with joint tax liability issues, non-filers seeking to come into compliance, and clients who need estate planning that accounts for the tax dimensions of asset transfers. The dual background in banking and tax law means the firm brings both financial and legal perspective to client matters.
For clients interacting with the IRS or the North Carolina Department of Revenue, the combination of J.D. and LL.M. credentials is substantive: it signals that the attorney advising them has engaged with tax law at a level of depth that general practice cannot replicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a J.D. and an LL.M. in Taxation, and why does it matter for clients?
A J.D. is the standard law degree required for bar admission and legal practice. An LL.M. is a post-J.D. graduate law degree that provides advanced study in a specific field. The LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington is a specialized credential earned after completing law school, focused entirely on the technical and substantive depth of tax law. For clients dealing with the IRS, state tax authorities, or complex tax planning questions, the LL.M. reflects a level of preparation in this specific area that extends beyond standard legal training.
What kinds of clients does the firm typically represent in tax controversy matters?
The firm represents small business owners facing IRS audits, self-employed individuals with payroll or income tax disputes, divorced spouses dealing with joint return liability, non-filers working to resolve delinquent return obligations, and individuals facing IRS enforcement actions such as liens and levies.
Can the firm handle both my business taxes and my personal estate plan?
Yes. The firm’s practice combines business and corporate tax with estate planning, and the two are often connected. Business owners who are planning for the eventual transfer or sale of their businesses need estate plans that account for the business’s value and the tax consequences of its transfer. The firm addresses both dimensions.
Does the firm offer educational resources for small businesses?
Katie Lawson regularly conducts seminars in collaboration with the IRS and a local Technical College on tax and corporate matters for small businesses and individuals. These are educational programs designed to help business owners understand their tax obligations and rights. Clients can contact the firm through its website or phone for information about upcoming programs.
What should I do if I receive an IRS audit notice?
You should consult with a tax attorney before responding to the IRS. The audit process involves specific procedural rights and deadlines, and the responses you provide early in the process shape how the audit proceeds. The firm provides representation throughout the audit process and advises clients on documentation, response strategy, and resolution.
Closing
The Law Office of Katie A. Lawson, PLLC is built around a tax specialty that extends from IRS audit defense through estate planning with integrated tax strategy. The J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation, combined with the founding attorney’s background in banking, position the firm to address the full range of federal and state tax matters that North Carolina small businesses and individuals face. The firm operates from 2114 Page Road Extension, Suite 204, Durham, NC 27703, and can be reached at (919) 885-4019 or at www.klawsonlaw.com/.