May 02, 2012
Latham & Watkins tax counsel Andrew Roberson has been honored by Chicago-based Center for Economic Progress (“CEP”), a non-profit organization that helps low-income families move from financial uncertainty to financial security, as its 2012 “Volunteer of the Year.” Roberson is being recognized for his commitment to providing pro bono counsel to low-income individuals referred by CEP’s Tax Clinic and his leadership role in coordinating other Latham attorneys who provide pro bono counsel to such individuals. During the six years Roberson has been volunteering for CEP’s Tax Clinic, he has been involved with approximately 40 matters on behalf of clients referred by the Tax Clinic and recently won a precedent setting innocent spouse case.
Roberson noted: "We established in the Tax Court that when there is a conflict of interest in the joint representation of a married couple in a tax case, one spouse is not precluded from later seeking relief from taxes that are attributable to the actions of the other spouse. We are continuing to litigate important tax issues that affect low-income taxpayers throughout the country."
Roberson is one of 900 volunteers at CEP, providing free tax preparation, asset-building services, tax-related legal counsel and representation and financial coaching to over 24,000 low-income individuals and families each year in Chicago and nearby communities.