Megan L. Jones

Megan has extensive experience advising on crypto assets, blockchain technology, NFTs, energy credits and related tax issues. She also has extensive experience in the technology industry, advising both entrepreneurs and companies on a variety of matters. Her experience extends from the startup phase, through a recognition event, and then as a public company. Previously an investment banker working on mergers and acquisitions and public and private securities offerings, Megan brings a rounded perspective to sophisticated client issues.

A substantive portion of Megan's practice includes personal estate planning and family succession planning. In this area, she works with clients of modest size, as well as those with complex estates and investment holdings, crafting both foundational plans along with more complex structures. Megan advises foreign individuals and entities moving to the United States on pre-immigration, income, gift and estate tax planning opportunities, and helps those leaving the United States or California.

Megan is an adjunct professor at the USC Gould School of Law, teaching International Business Transactions. She is also very active in the legal community, holding positions on the USC Tax Institute Planning Committee and at CalCPAs, both locally and at a state level. Megan is on the board of directors of the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. She is also co-leader of Pillsbury’s Women's Impact Network (WIN) initiative (focused on the advancement of women in law).

• Established a Singapore trust and BVI holding company structure for a non-U.S. person with a U.S. citizen family to minimize income tax and estate tax, along with U.S. reporting requirements.
• Advised a large family office on company succession options, family governance and tax planning matters.
• Provided tax counsel for the sale of music library housing numerous top-selling artists’ works.

• Associations
  • USC Gould School of Law
  • USC Tax Institute
  • CalCPAs Estate Planning Group
  • STEP Los Angeles
  • The Los Angeles County Bar Association Tax Committee
  • Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
• Press
  • “Biden Tax Plan: Richest Americans 'Freaking Out' as Dynasty Trusts Targeted,” Bloomberg Wealth, June 28, 2021
  • “Latest OCC Crypto Bank Approval Hints at Post-Trump Future,” Law360, February 10, 2021
  • “Qualified Opportunity Zones: Promise Remains (Or Does It?),” Thomson Reuters’ Taxation of Exempts, November/December 2020
  • “Qualified Opportunity Zones: Promise Remains (Or Does It?),” Thomson Reuters’ Practical Tax Strategies, November 2020
  • “Facing Change: Current Tax and Estate Planning Ideas,” NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning, Issue, September 2020
  • “Key issues facing corporate clients and potentially impacting transactions,” Daily Journal, September 2, 2020
  • “Federal Banks Get OK to Provide Services for Crypto Assets,” Bloomberg Law, August 20, 2020
  • “Facing change: Current United States tax and estate planning ideas,” Withers Insight, August 11, 2020
  • “Working Group Seeks Answers on ‘Medical Condition Exception,” Tax Notes, May 15, 2020
  • “Coronavirus Working Group Focuses on International Tax Issues,” Tax Notes, May 14, 2020
  • “Can AI be taxed?,” Los Angeles Lawyer, May 2020
  • “Your lenders have called – What should you do now? Insights for US businesses navigating the impact of the coronavirus,” Withers Insight, May 5, 2020
  • “IRS Helps Foreigners Stranded in the United States Due to COVID-19,” WealthManagement.com, April 29, 2020
  • “IRS Issues Relief to Foreigners Stranded in the United States due to Coronavirus,” Withers Insight, April 22, 2020 I co-authored“Alternative investments should be reviewed to address coronavirus related issues,” Withers Insight, March 31, 2020
  • “Coronavirus: Risk of US tax residency for foreigners stuck in the United States,” Withers Insight, March 27, 2020
  • “Coronavirus impact on US international tax compliance,” Withers Insight, March 27, 2020
  • “Silicon Valley Wins Big With Tax Break Aimed at Small Businesses,” Bloomberg BusinessWeek, June 10, 2019
  • “Qualified Opportunity Zones,” NAEPC (National Association of Estate Planners & Councils) Journal of Estate and Tax Planning, Issue 31, May 2019
  • “Asset Pouring; California Enacts New Decanting Statute,” California CPA Magazine, January 2019
  • “Foreign Tax Reform Changes Under Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” Daily Journal, with Paul Sczudlo, January 26, 2018
  • “Start-Up Opportunities – The Internal Revenue Code permits the exclusion of certain gains from qualified small business stock,” Los Angeles Lawyer, February 2018
  • “Judgment Creditor Not Entitled To Restitution on Reversal,” Daily Journal, March 2018 I authored
  • “How is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Affecting M&A?,” Daily Journal, April 16, 2018 I co-authored
  • “The Myth of College for All – Proposed Estate Tac Won’t Buy ‘College for All’ Californians,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 25, 2018
  • “Finally, Proposed Regulations Regarding IRC Section 199A,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, August 16, 2018
  • “Bring It Home,” Los Angeles Lawyer, with Paul Sczudlo, September 2018
  • “Impact of New Tax Laws on Collectors,” Heritage Auctions Trusts & Estates Journal, Fall 2018
  • “New Decanting Law Will Make it Easier to Change Irrevocable Trusts,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 16, 2018
• Publications
  • “The Corporate Transparency Act: Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Checklist,” Pratt's Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Report, September 2023
  • “CEB Choice of Entity,” California Business Law Practitioner, Fall 2018
  • “IRS Issues Proposed Regulations on Gift,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, November 27, 2018
  • “Law Only Partially Addresses Treatment of Digital Assets,” Daily Journal, 2017
  • “Notices of Proposed Actions Can Help to Protect Trustees,” Daily Journal, 2017
  • “Plan Would Turn Flow-through Tax Precedent Upside Down,” Daily Journal, 2017
  • “Not-for-Profits Must Recognize Funds Earlier,” Daily Journal, 2017
  • “Guidance on Adding Debt to Tax Basis,” Daily Journal, 2017
  • “Constructive Trusts Can be Court Imposed to Ensure Equity,” Daily Journal, 2017
  • “Partnership Audit Procedure Rules Will Change in New Year,” Daily Journal, November 27, 2017
  • “Creative Trust Options for Holders of Substantial Assets,” Los Angeles Lawyer, December 2017
  • “Tax Reform in Our Stockings After Senate Bill Passage?,” Daily Journal, December 5, 2017
  • “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Appears Poised to Become Law,” Daily Journal, December 19, 2017
  • “Tax Reform Impacts on Estate Planning,” CalCPA, December 22, 2017
  • “Corporate Transparency Act and Proposed Regulation,” Major Tax Planning, 74th USC Tax Institute, Jan 2022
• Speaking Engagements
  • "Family Office Tax Update: Foundational Principles and Emerging Issues,” Strafford Webinar. February 19, 2024.
  • “Surprise- You’re Reporting Too! Corporate Transparency Act for Real Estate Investments,” CalCPAs, January 30, 2024.
  • “An Update on the Crypto World” Pillsbury University 2024 CLE Marathons. January 29, 2024.
  • “Corporate Transparency Act: Overview.” Pillsbury University 2024 CLE Marathons. January 25, 2024.
  • “Important Considerations in Setting Up a Successful Family Office,” USC 2024 Tax Institute, January 23, 2024.
  • “NFT Taxation: What Guidance Currently Exists and Using Established Tax Principles to Fill the Voids,” Discovering NFTs: What Your Company Needs to Know About NFTs in 2023, December 11, 2023.
  • “NFT Taxation: Key Issues and Rules in 2023,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, December 5, 2023.
  • “Pre- Immigration Planning,” Hawaii Tax Institute 60th Annual In-Person Conference, November 7, 2023.
  • “Corporate Transparency Act,” Southern California Family Office Forum, November 2, 2023.
  • “WEALTH WEDNESDAY: CA and States Income Taxation of Fiduciaries, Estates & Trusts,” CalCPAs Estate Planning Committee, October 18, 2023.
  • “What’s it All For: Creating a Purpose-Driven Legacy.” C200 2023 Annual Conference, October 13, 2023.
  • “Outbound Investments by Closely Held Companies,” The Procopio International Tax Institute Conference, May 26, 2023.
  • “Mergers, Acquisitions and Restructuring of Closely Held Businesses,” Beverly Hills Bar Association's Part Two: Business and Tax Aspects of Buying, Selling and Restructuring of Corporations, November 14, 2022.
  • “NFTs Taxation: What Guidance Currently Exists and Using Established Tax Principles to Fill the Void,” Practising Law Institute Unpacking the Boom: What Your Company Needs to Know about NFTs 2022, November 10, 2022.
  • “Taxation of Cryptocurrency and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) with Planning Suggestions,” Hawaii Tax Institute 59th Annual In-Person Conference, November 6-10, 2022
  • “Tokenized Real Estate,” Sand Hill Angels, October 13, 2022
  • “The NFT Phenomenon; New Revenue Opportunity or Minefield?” Pillsbury University 2022 CLE Marathons, January 28, 2022
  • “Dark Side Tales – Watch Your Back: Common Threats to High Net Worth Individuals,”USC Gould School of Law 2022 Virtual Tax Institute, January 26, 2022
  • “Too Late or Not at All? Tax Elections and Relief for Missing Them,” USC Gould School of Law 2022 Virtual Tax Institute, January 25, 2022
  • “Planning for Reduction of Estate Tax Exemptions: Strategies for Clients Who Do Not or Soon Will Not Have Exemptions,” Strafford Webinar, November 30, 2021
  • “STEP LA: NFTs: Protection for digital artwork leads to tax and planning complexities,” STEP LA Virtual Event, November 16, 2021
  • “Cryptocurrency Taxation,” CBIZ Tax Conference Presentation, July 14, 2021
  • “Overhauling Your Estate and Income Tax Planning Technique,” Chambers Webinar, June 3, 2021
  • “U.S. Individuals Doing Business Abroad: The Flow-Through Toolkit,” IFA USA Southern California Regional Webinar, May 27, 2021
  • “Cryptocurrency Taxation,” USC Gould School of Law 2021 Virtual Tax Institute, January 25, 2021
  • “Income tax and estate planning in an election year, with an international focus,” National Association of Estate Planners & Councils – NAEPC Fairbanks Webinar, November 16, 2020, Webinar
  • “Withers talks: families and family office | Ep 7 – Family offices as direct investors,” Withersworldwide podcast, October 8, 2020, Podcast
  • “Been in the U.S. and Now Heading Overseas? How Will this Impact Your Estate & Tax Planning?,” Los Angeles Inbound Wealth Planning Council Webinar, August 20, 2020, Webinar
  • “Tax and Estate Planning for US Persons with Foreign Assets,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, August 4, 2020
  • “U.S. Tax Residency, COVID-19 and Beyond,” STEP LA Webinar, June 24, 2020, Webinar
  • “Family Office Operations 2020: New Ideas,” Wealth management firm-hosted event, January 24, 2020
  • “Artificial Intelligence,” AICPA & CalCPA Entertainment Industry Online Conference, December 13, 2019
  • “Family Office Operations 2019: New Ideas,” Large financial institution-hosted event, November 19, 2019
  • “VCs, Private Equity and Corporate Investments: The Funding and Accelerating the Content and Technology Marketplace,” Finance Hollywood, November 12, 2019
  • “Family Office Operations 2019: New Ideas,” Large financial institution-hosted event, September 25, 2019
  • “Disasters in Estate Planning & How to Fix Them,” CalCPA, August 14, 2019
  • “State Taxation of Trusts and Why To Be Wary of California,” The Accounting and Finance Show, July 23, 2019
  • “Artificial Intelligence,” CalCPA Entertainment Industry Conference, June 25, 2019
  • “VCs, Private Equity and Corporate Investments: The Funding and Accelerating the Content and Technology Marketplace,” Digital Hollywood Spring, May 21, 2019
  • “When Opportunity Zones Knock, Be Prepared To Answer! How to get in the Zone,” Deutsche Bank Trust Company, April 23, 2019
  • “Dana Latham Awards Luncheon,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, June 7, 2019
  • “Internal Revenue Code Section 199A Overview and Case Studies,” Pasadena Bar Association, March 22, 2019
  • “A Look Into the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; Pass Throughs, Corporate Tax, and Choice of Entity,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, February 14, 2018
  • “Qualifying, Structuring and Restructuring Businesses for the 20% Pass Through Deductions,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, May 1, 2018
  • “VCs, Private Equity and Corporate Investments: The Funding and Accelerating the Content and Technology Marketplace,” Finance Hollywood, October 16, 2018
  • “Long Term Trusts: How to Plan for Long-Term Family Wealth,” U.S. Trust, October 17, 2018
  • “Corporation or LLC after the Section 199A Regs,” CalCPAS, November 30, 2018
• Blog Posts
  • “California Governor Issues Executive Order Aimed at the Regulation of Blockchain and Crypto Assets,” Pillsbury’s Internet + Social Media blog, June 7, 2022
  • “NFT Use Cases in Real Estate,” Pillsbury’s Gravel2Gavel, May 5, 2022