Richard E. Nielsen is a member of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw and Pittman in San Francisco, California. Mr. Nielsen has extensive experience in advising and representing taxpayers, both corporate and individual, at the administrative and judicial levels in various tax disputes. He focuses on state and local tax controversy work and has extensive experience in tax litigation at both the trial and appellate levels in California and Federal courts. His practice includes advising and representing clients at all stages of audits, administrative hearings and court proceedings involving income, franchise, sales and use, property, employment and other taxes.

Prior to joining the firm in 1990, Mr. Nielsen was a Deputy Attorney General with the State of California Department of Justice Tax Division for thirteen years. He primarily litigated state tax matters in both state and Federal trial courts, courts of appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court. He represented the state in over 50 court trials and argued in excess of 30 cases at the appellate level including the California and U.S. Supreme Courts.

Mr. Nielsen was a tax auditor with the California State Board of Equalization from 1971-77. During that period he conducted the more complex audits, passed the CPA exam and was licensed as a CPA in 1976. He has maintained his CPA license on an inactive basis.

Mr. Nielsen has written and been a frequent speaker on tax topics. He has spoken at the following tax conferences: National Institute on State and Local Taxation, California Tax Policy Conference, Tax Executive Institute and the ALJA Forum.