Annie Huang Returns to Pillsbury’s Premier State & Local Tax (SALT) Group

“Pillsbury’s ability to successfully resolve U.S. state and local tax issues for clients has long been a differentiator for us—something we offer clients that most other firms just can’t,” said Firm Chair David Dekker. “Welcoming Annie back further reinforces what is already one of the country’s marquee SALT practices, enhancing our ability to support corporate and individual clients in connection with their most complex tax matters.”

Huang advises on a wide range of tax work, including issues related to corporate franchise/income, personal income, sales and use, gross receipts and other local taxes. She helps clients resolve tax controversies at both administrative and judicial levels—regularly appearing before the California Franchise Tax Board, and the California Office of Tax Appeals and other administrative tribunals and state tax courts throughout the United States —while also assisting them with tax planning and transactional matters. Prior to her first stint with Pillsbury, she was tax counsel to one of the members of the California Board of Equalization.

“Annie has been a member of the Pillsbury family for decades and we are absolutely thrilled to have her all the way back in the fold,” said Nora Burke, the leader of the firm’s global Tax practice. “She’s an excellent tax lawyer, an extremely well-liked colleague, and someone who can seamlessly integrate with our team to meet the evolving state and local tax needs of those we represent around the country.”

Huang added: “While I enjoyed practicing independently, I really missed working every day with my immensely talented friends at Pillsbury. Needless to say, I’m glad to be returning ‘home’ to what is clearly a SALT leader.”

With Huang’s return, Pillsbury has now welcomed 41 lateral partners since January 2024. In Northern California alone, the firm has recently added high-profile Emerging Companies & Venture Capital partners Glenn Luinenburg and Todd Rumberger (Silicon Valley); venture capital fund formation partner Eunice Choi (San Francisco); intercontinental tech transactions practitioner Daphne Higgs (Silicon Valley); early-stage life sciences, biotechnology and digital health-focused Emerging Companies & Venture Capital partner Steven Green (Silicon Valley); Anne Voigts (Silicon Valley), an renowned appellate lawyer who is also regularly engaged to handle high-stakes privacy and cybersecurity-related disputes; the data privacy and digital transformation team of Jeewon Serrato and Shruti Bhutani Arora (San Francisco); and veteran employment litigator JoAnna Brooks (San Francisco).

Regarded as among the “smartest state and local tax teams” in the United States, Pillsbury’s SALT team has a sterling reputation for handling the most complex SALT matters. Providing exceptional tax knowledge, litigation skills and geographic reach, Pillsbury’s SALT team advises on and litigates SALT matters in all 50 states. Pillsbury has successfully handled cutting-edge issues involving millions of dollars in court and in administrative hearings, and provides clients with sophisticated tax planning and legislative advocacy.