Robert W. Wood (attorney)

Robert W. Wood (born July 5, 1955 in Des Moines, Iowa) is a San Francisco tax attorney, practicing at Wood LLP. He is notable as the published author of many books and  articles related to tax law.

Wood is often rated as one of the nation’s premier experts in tax law, especially as it pertains to the taxation of damage awards. He was called “[t]he preeminent authority for tax practitioners” by Tax Notes and a “nationally renowned expert on the taxation of legal awards” by the United States Tax Court.

Education
Wood received his bachelor’s degree in 1976 from Humboldt State University and his law degree in 1979 from University of Chicago. In 1981-82 he was an instructor at UC Hastings.

Works
His most recognized books are Taxation of Damage Awards and Settlement Payments ISBN 0-9629404-0-2, related to the taxation of lawsuit settlements and judgments, and Legal Guide to Independent Contractor Status, regarding worker characterization. Damage Awards, in particular, is a widely-read treatise on the taxation of lawsuit recoveries. Wood's articles are regularly published by tax journals such as Tax Notes, legal trade publications, state bar journals, and The M&A Report. In 2010 Wood started his tax column, The Tax Lawyer, on Forbes.com. Wood is also featured on The Tax Law Channel, part of the Legal Broadcast Network.

In popular culture
In April 2013, Wood wrote two humorous tax poems in honor of tax day, Tax Day and To a Tax System Dying Young. .

Honors

 * Ranked in the Top Ten tax lawyers in the country by United States Lawyer Rankings, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
 * Listed in Best Lawyers in America by Woodward & White, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Editions.
 * Recipient Judson Klein Award from California State Bar for "keen and imaginative intellect" in 2006.
 * Named a Super Lawyer by Law and Politics and San Francisco Magazine 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.