About J. Raymond
J. Raymond Karam combines legal training and accounting credentials in a practice that bridges tax law and estate work. He is an attorney and certified public accountant whose career traces back to academic roots in Texas. His professional record highlights dual qualifications that are uncommon among practitioners.
Karam began his formal training at St. Mary’s University, where he earned a B.B.A. in Accounting in 1978 and a J.D. in 1982. He later pursued advanced tax studies and completed an LL.M. in Taxation at SMU Dedman School of Law in 1986. Those credentials underpin both his tax practice and his work on estate matters.
After finishing law school, Karam entered practice in Texas and built a practice that draws on both legal and accounting disciplines. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant through the Texas Board of Public Accountancy. In addition, the State Bar of Texas recognizes him as a Lawyer and Counselor at Law. He holds membership in the State Bar College and has sought professional benchmarks through certification.
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization has certified Karam in two areas: Tax Law and Estate Planning and Probate Law. Those board certifications indicate formal recognition by his peers and the state for specialized knowledge in those subjects. They also reflect the mix of work he has done over time, which includes advising on tax issues intertwined with estate planning and probate administration.
Karam is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in addition to his state bar admission in Texas. Those admissions allow him to represent clients in federal tax proceedings and appellate matters originating in the Fifth Circuit’s jurisdiction. The combination of courtroom admission and tax credentials positions him to handle matters that cross administrative, trial, and appellate settings.
Colleagues and clients encounter an attorney who moves between numbers and narrative. The accounting background informs analysis of tax liabilities and financial consequences. The law degrees and board certifications guide decisions about estate structure, probate procedures, and tax consequences for transfers. He has worked on matters that require both technical tax understanding and practical estate administration.
Karam continues to practice in Texas, maintaining both his legal license and his CPA credential. He currently focuses his practice on tax law, estate planning, and probate matters.
