We offer big law expertise
with small firm responsiveness.
As the child of immigrants, I grew up with a passion for communication between people of diverse backgrounds. This led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in literature and history at Claremont Men’s (now Claremont McKenna) College. My practical side next led me to pursue an MBA at the University of Chicago.
Over the next 20 years, I held a series of progressively responsible positions in finance and general management at major corporations and privately held companies, ranging from manufacturing, airlines and engineering companies to global law firms. As a controller/CFO, I became increasingly aware of the pervasive effect of taxes on every aspect of business, and I next earned a Master’s degree in Taxation (MBT) from USC and passed the CPA Exam.
As my responsibilities grew, I saw that all business and tax issues were ultimately legal issues, so I made a mid-career pivot and earned a J.D. from UCLA. I began my legal career as an associate with Latham & Watkins LLP, and later with Sidley Austin LLP, where I advised on tax, corporate and bankruptcy matters.
Over the years I grew dissatisfied with the disconnect I saw between business problems and narrow legal solutions, and in 2006, opened my own law practice. I then received training in mediation and dispute resolution from Mosten Mediation Institute, SCMA.
Since its founding, Sorell Law Group has focused on business transactions, partnership matters and trusts & estates, offering our clients Big Law training and experience with the personal attention of a small firm.
Additionally, since 1987, I have maintained a substantial tax practice preparing returns for hundreds of individual and business clients, trusts and estates. The extensive experience gained representing clients in IRS and state audits over the decades, my mediation background, plus my years in the corporate world, gave me a deep understanding of the tax consequences related to business transactions and estate planning.
The past two decades I have enjoyed the satisfaction of crafting creative solutions to complicated business, tax, and family estate problems without resorting to litigation.
Steve Sorell, Founder
Thomas has worked with Sorell Group for more than ten years. He handles everything from federal and state tax compliance issues to personal, business, and estate tax preparation. Thomas clearly communicates complex tax issues in straight forward language. His clients are diverse: from billion-dollar corporations to tiny nonprofits, accomplished business execs and recent college graduates. He is especially adept at representing our clients in tax controversies and tax audits.
Thomas graduated magna cum laude from Hamline University and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. There’s nothing he loves more than going on a hike in the mountains with his girlfriend and their Weimaraner.
Thomas Smith, Enrolled Agent, Senior Tax Associate and Paralegal
Karen oversees the care and wellness of our clients. She is a notary public, certified bookkeeper, and paralegal. Karen handles everything from office management to bookkeeping and works with clients forming new business entities and estate planning. She is also lead support to our tax team and works directly with the federal and state tax clients. Prior to joining Sorell Group in 2016, her decades-long professional experience focused on family law.
Highly organized, Karen’s early career as an event coordinator gives her the grounding and perspective necessary for balancing daily tasks with the unexpected as she runs our law office. Karen is an avid reader and a voracious walker.
Karen, Office Administrator
Andrew is friendly and efficient, he will likely be your initial contact when you call our office. He actively supports the team with all aspects of daily tasks by reaching out to clients, organizing files, and drafting documents. Before joining Sorell Group in 2021, Andrew’s law firm experience was in a Trusts and Estates office where he did office administration, bookkeeping, and helped prepare estate planning documents.
Andrew’s education focused on theater, show choir - and more pragmatically – accounting, notary, and paralegal studies. Outside the office, among many other interests, Andrew is a Disney collectibles enthusiast.
Andrew, Office Assistant
