Contact: Nicole M. Emard, CAE, CMP

            Executive Director

            American Association of Attorney-CPAs

            3921 Old Lee Highways, Suite 71A

            Fairfax, VA 22030

Phone: (888) 288-9272 main

                          (703) 352-8064 direct

Fax: (703) 352-8073

Email:  nemard@attorney-cpa.com

For Immediate Release

Fairfax, VA – July 5, 2009 – Patti M. Richards Esq., CPA was installed as the 46th President of the American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants (AAA-CPA).  The installation was held Sunday, July 5th during the Association’s Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA.  Richards succeeds E. Martin Davidoff of Dayton, New Jersey.

Richards is Manager of The Richards Law Firm, L.L.C. based in Atlanta, GA where she practices domestic and international tax planning, controversy and compliance practice focuses on tax accounting, research credit, section 199 and tax-exempt organization issues. Prior to starting the firm in 2002 Richards was with Dewey Ballantine LLP in Washington, DC as tax associate before joining the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel as Attorney-Advisor (Tax) Income Tax and Accounting where she was responsible for Code sections involving timing and recognition of income and deductions, installment sales, like-kind exchanges, involuntary conversions and capitalization issues. Upon leaving the IRS she became Partner at Burt, Maner & Miller also in Washington, DC where she continued her focus on tax planning, controversy and compliance. In 2000 she moved to Atlanta, GA and become Counsel to Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP. In 2003 she went in on a joint venture, The Tax Controversy Group, L.L.C., with Vivian D. Hoard of The Hoard Law Firm where they focused in the practice of domestic and international tax controversy.

In addition to her role as President of the AAA-CPA, Richards is also a member of the Virginia State Bar, The District of Columbia Bar, State Bar of Georgia (Tax Section), U.S. Supreme Court Bar, Atlanta Bar Association (Tax Chair and Solo/Small Firm Sections), American Bar Association (Tax Accounting Committee), State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana, The Georgia Society of CPAs (Tax Section Leader), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Tax Section), Atlanta Tax Forum (Board), North Atlanta Tax Council (Board), Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, Lawyers Club of Atlanta, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Past Board Member and Officer), Quantum Leaps, Inc. (Board Chair), and Beta Gamma Sigma Business Fraternity.

Richards received her B.S., cum laude from Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport (1974), her M.A. in Administration & Physics from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (1976) and her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC (1990). She is a frequent lecturer and continues to edit articles for Tax Lawyer. From 2005-2007 she was appointed to serve on the LMSB Division of IRSAC. Richards has been a member of the AAA-CPA since 2002.

In addition the following officers were also installed: John Akard, Jr. of Houston, TX as President-Elect; David B. Torchinsky of Chevy Chase, MD as Vice President; Stuart A. Simon of Beverly Hills, CA as Treasurer; Robert S. Driegert of Dallas, TX as Secretary; and Domenick R. Lioce of West Palm Beach, FL as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.

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The AAA-CPA was founded in 1964 to protect the rights of those qualified as both Attorneys and Certified Public Accountants and to advance the professions of law and accountancy.  The Association has over 1,400 members and 14 state associations and local chapters nationwide. The AAA-CPA Partners Program is all about developing relationships with an exclusive and unique group of professionals.  The Partners Program is an excellent way to gain on-going visibility for your company before Attorney-CPAs that are key decision makers in their firm or practice.