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Cindy Ohlenforst

Cindy Ohlenforst, who received the 2018 Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer award from the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas, has a broad tax practice that involves planning and controversy work around the country. She has extensive experience with state and local taxes, with tax controversy matters, including litigation and administrative proceedings, and with legislative work.

Cindy frequently works with the energy, technology, broadcasting, transportation, and airline industries, and in addition to her legislative projects in other states, has worked with legislators on drafting multiple provisions of the Texas Tax Code. In addition to chairing the firmwide Women in the Profession Committee, Cindy serves on the firmwide Diversity Committee.

Cindy's practice focuses on the following areas:

  • Multistate and federal tax issues, including income tax, sales tax, franchise tax, property tax, hotel tax, and other taxes
  • Controversy and litigation, including work defending against putative class actions by taxing jurisdictions
  • Tax-related legislative and policy projects, including working on draft legislation and testifying before legislative committees
  • Transactions, including contract negotiations, financings and reorganizations
  • Elected Member, American College of Tax Counsel
  • Recognized by Chambers USA for Tax and Litigation in Texas (2013-2022)
  • Recognized by Chambers USA for Tax: State and Local in Texas (2022)
  • Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer, 2018
  • Named Best Lawyers® 2017 Tax "Lawyer of the Year" in Dallas/Fort Worth
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America® for Tax Law (2004-2021)
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers® Women in the Law publication (2016-2017)
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Law & Politics Magazine and Texas Monthly, 2003-2016
  • Best Lawyers® in Dallas, Tax, D Magazine, 2009-2017
  • Named to the Super Lawyers Top 50 Women list in Texas (2009)
  • Dallas 500 (Top 500 Business Leaders), D Magazine’s Inaugural List (2015)
  • Outstanding Graduate, University of Dallas
  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas
    • Tax Section and State Tax Committee
    • Past Chair, Tax Section
    • Past Chair, State Tax Committee
    • Past Chair, Committee on Women in the Profession
  • Dallas Bar Association
    • Past Chair, Tax Section
  • Texas Bar Foundation
  • Participation on advisory committees for multiple Texas Comptrollers of Public Accounts
  • Executive Women's Roundtable Member
  • United Way of Dallas, Advocacy Committee
  • Board of Trustees of Ursuline Academy of Dallas and work with multiple other nonprofit boards (including past board positions with The Housing Crisis Center, The Family Place, and Attitudes & Attire).
  • Leadership Texas Association Alumnae
A frequent speaker, Cindy has spoken at the annual meeting for COST (Council on State Taxation), at ABA meetings, at State Bar Advanced Tax programs, at Texas Society of CPAs meetings, and at multiple other CLE and industry meetings.
Additional Thought Leadership Pages
  • Author of Best Lawyers Article - Remote Controls “How law firms, lawyers and taxing authorities must adapt to remote work” Spring Business Edition 2022
  • Co-Author of the annual survey of Texas tax law for the SMU Law Review (formerly Southwestern Law Journal) since 1988 - 2017
Additional News & Event Pages
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