William H. Gorrod focuses his practice on providing practical commercial solutions and technical know-how to challenging state and local tax (SALT) matters in jurisdictions throughout the United States. Working with large corporate clients and partnership entities across numerous industries, Will handles sophisticated SALT planning, strategic advice, and corporate transactions. He advises on matters pertaining to state and local income and franchise taxes, gross receipt taxes, sales and use taxes, payroll taxes, real estate transfer taxes, and property taxes. Will regularly advocates for clients on SALT controversies, including audits, administrative appeals, litigation, voluntary disclosure agreements, penalty abatements, and amnesty programs. He also assists high-net-worth individuals with challenging SALT planning and controversy matters.
Will has previously practiced at other international law firms and served as a SALT manager at a Big Four accounting firm. He was recognized by Chambers and Partners with a Band 2 ranking in Tax: State & Local – California and was identified as a “key lawyer” on the firm's Legal 500 Tier 1–ranked team for Taxes: Contentious.
Will regularly speaks and writes about SALT issues. He has served as an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University School of Law where he taught a constitutional SALT course. Since 2017, Will has participated in Law Rocks and Family Violence Appellate Project battle-of-the-bands fundraisers in support of local charities.
Ranked, Tax: State & Local, California, Chambers USA (2024)
Recommended, Tax: US taxes: contentious, The Legal 500 US (2023, 2024)
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Advisory Council and Former Chair, Bar Association of San Francisco Tax Section
Practitioner Partner, Council on State Taxation
Member, California Taxpayers Association
Member, San Francisco Tax Club
Co-Chair, Cardozo School of Law Alumni Tax Group
Co-Chair, Cardozo Bay Area Alumni Group