A View from Meadows Collier

Joel Crouch sits down for a conversation with Stephen Beck. Mr. Beck has been with the firm for 17 years. He joined the firm in 2005 and became a partner in 2011. He attended the University of Texas and earned his BBA, with high honors, in 1995. He also attended the University of Texas School of Law earning his J.D., with honors, in 1998. After law school, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked at one of the nation's premier litigation firms and attended Georgetown University School of Law earning his LL.M. in Taxation, with distinction, in 2000. He remained in Washington, DC for five years practicing tax law and then returned to Texas with his family and joined Meadows Collier. From an early age, Steve knew he wanted to be a lawyer. His first year of law school was tough and he wasn't sure what type of law he wanted to practice but after taking several tax courses, he discovered taxes impact all business decisions. As a tax planning lawyer, Steve works with entrepreneurs, privately-held companies, individuals buying and selling businesses and is involved with cross-border transactions involving taxpayers owning businesses outside the U.S. Mr. Beck enjoys problem-solving, especially difficult tax problems that clients are uncertain how to treat. His favorite thing about practicing law is the relationships he develops and his least favorite thing about practicing law is billable hours and the housekeeping items associated with a law practice. He attributes the success of his practice to caring about his clients and colleagues. Hear Steve's best advice to new lawyers and whether he thinks his law practice is successful due to his hard work, luck or both.

Joel Crouch talks with firm partner, Kristen Cox about how she earned a spot on a famous game show during High School when she was 17-18 years old and what she did with her winnings. Kristen determined she wanted to be a lawyer at a very young age and she thought she wanted to be a litigator. Find out how a two-year clerkship turned her interest from Litigation to a Corporate and Real Estate practice. She feels luck played a role in her joining the firm 15 years ago. With great mentors and excellent teachers at the firm who allowed her to participate in all stages of various transactions, she has developed a very rewarding practice. Find out what her favorite and least favorite things are about practicing law as well as one thing she believes has changed the most in the last 15 years of her law practice.

Firm Partner, Joel Crouch sits down with one of the newest firm partners, Damon Rowe, who joined the firm in March of 2022. Mr. Rowe's areas of practice with the firm include White Collar Crime, Tax Controversy, Government Regulatory Litigation, and Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets. Joel talks to Damon about his education and what led him to become a tax lawyer. Mr. Rowe spent 24 years of his legal career with the IRS. His first position with the IRS was as a Special Agent and he finished his IRS career as Executive Director of the Office of Fraud Enforcement. Hear him talk about the types of crimes and investigations he was involved in at the IRS. He attributes some of his business success to, "being in the right place at the right time" and to having great mentors. Hear what he likes best and what he likes least about practicing law as well as his best advice to someone wanting to be a lawyer.

Joel Crouch talks with Firm Partner, Alex Pilawski about his journey into practicing law. Alex started practicing in 2010, joined Meadows Collier in 2013, and focuses on state tax controversy and litigation, state tax planning, and commercial litigation. Hear about where Alex grew up, his background, and education. Learn what his favorite and least favorite things are about practicing tax law, how he sees things have changed in the 13 years of his practice, what he attributes his success to, and his advice to young lawyers.

Joel Crouch and Firm Partner, Brian Spiegel have an interesting conversation about how he went from working towards a career in sports journalism to practicing tax law. He talks about his favorite sports teams that he began following when he was a young boy. Brian's college education started in Arizona and after his first year, he returned to Texas going to school at UT in Austin. He spent time in college writing about various sports events and he became the News and Sports Director at an Austin Radio Station while in college. After receiving his Bachelor of Journalism degree, he decided to apply his math and analytics expertise to becoming a lawyer. He moved to Dallas to attend law school at SMU Dedman School of Law and then furthered his education at NYU School of Law receiving his LL.M. in Tax. He clerked for a Tax Court judge for almost two years in Washington, DC and then joined the firm. Find out about his law practice, how and what has created change in his practice and his advice to young lawyers just starting to practice law.