Brian A.  Clark, JD, CPA
Partner

As a business lawyer and CPA, I can translate highly technical tax and legal concepts into relatable terms for my clients and serve as a true strategic advisor on the complex challenges they face throughout the life cycle of their businesses. 

Brian Clark is a corporate and tax lawyer who regularly advises closely-held businesses, partnerships, family offices, real estate developers and high-net-worth individuals regarding tax structuring, business planning, asset protection, key person compensation and succession planning. He also has experience drafting private letter ruling requests and opinions regarding the federal income tax consequences of material transactions.

Clients often rely on Brian for outside general or tax counsel services. He regularly advises middle market companies and family offices regarding day-to-day operations, governance, tax planning, and dispute resolution. Brian has specific knowledge and experience regarding real estate and energy joint ventures.  

Brian is licensed to practice law in Texas and Louisiana, and he previously worked as a CPA at a Big Four accounting firm. He is a regular speaker on federal income tax issues at events throughout Texas and a frequent contributor to the firm’s tax blog, Dollars & Sense.

Representative Experience

Family Office, Closely-Held Business and High Net Worth Individual Planning

  • Assisted Dallas based family offices with fund and trust structuring, asset protection and tax planning.
  • Advised Gulf Coast family office regarding asset protection, tax planning, and future generation participation in real estate and food and beverage ventures.
  • Counsel to family office regarding complex partnership structures and advised on the acquisition of Permian Basin assets.
  • Counsel to North Texas family partnership in acquisition of food and beverage industry business.

Real Estate and Energy Joint Ventures

  • Counsel to developer for the recapitalization of legacy fund and subsequent participation in new multifamily projects.
  • Advised developer with respect to management and tax planning for equity investments in hotel projects.
  • Counsel to developer of 500 unit multifamily project in its land acquisition, tax planning, development and construction matters, $50 million construction financing, and $35 million equity investment.
  • Assisted E&P operator with $40-$50 million private placements, complex partnership arrangements and tax planning.

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Lead tax counsel to sellers of food and beverage industry business in a $180 million transaction, including the restructuring of legacy operations and structuring of founder rollover and earnout payments.
  • Counsel to industrial and environmental services provider in a $65 million acquisition of all of the equity securities of a competitor, including a partial equity rollover by certain founders into the acquirer and the restatement of term and revolving credit facilities in order to fund the acquisition.
Thought Leadership / News
May 15, 2024 
 Speeches and Presentations
From Bricks & Mortar to Bits & Blocks: Real Estate’s Digital Evolution

Houston Bar Association - Real Estate Section

Honors
  • Named a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters company) as published in Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers magazines (2022 - 2024)
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" in the field of Tax Law (2021 - 2025)
Organizational Involvement
  • National Association of Real Estate Companies (NAREC)
  • Financial Executives International - Dallas
  • State Bar of Texas Tax Section
  • Texas Society of CPAs
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
Education
  • LL.M., New York University School of Law (2018)
  • J.D., magna cum laude, Louisiana State University, Order of the Coif (2014)
  • M.A., Accounting, Texas Christian University (2006)
  • B.B.A., Accounting, Baylor University (2005)
Judicial Clerkships
  • Externship - Honorable Chief Judge Brian A. Jackson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
Bar Admissions
  • Texas
  • Louisiana
Court Admissions
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana