About Michael J. A.
Michael J. A. Karlin is a California-based attorney admitted to the State Bar of California in 1980. He holds bar number 93998 and maintains an active license status. Mr. Karlin is a partner at Holland & Knight LLP, a prominent law firm located in Los Angeles, California. He has been practicing law for over 45 years, serving clients throughout Southern California and internationally.
Mr. Karlin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in History and Law from Trinity College, Cambridge University, in 1973. He continued his studies at Cambridge, obtaining a Master of Arts degree in 1977. Prior to his legal education, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Irvine, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2006. During his time at Cambridge, he was recognized for his academic excellence and received honors in his field.
Mr. Karlin specializes in private wealth services and tax law, advising both corporate and individual clients on tax, estate planning, and business matters with cross-border elements. His practice includes pre-immigration and expatriation planning, as well as assisting individuals and closely held businesses with the tax and business aspects of operating outside their home jurisdiction. He has extensive experience in establishing corporations, partnerships, and joint ventures globally, and has worked extensively on foreign and domestic trusts. His expertise also encompasses the tax and reporting consequences of foreign financial accounts and holdings, including offshore voluntary disclosures and streamlined disclosures.
Throughout his career, Mr. Karlin has been admitted to practice before several courts, including the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America guide for Tax Law and Trusts and Estates since 2016. Additionally, he has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer in Taxation from 2015 to 2026 and has been featured in the Chambers High Net Worth guide for Private Wealth Law – California: Southern from 2022 to 2025. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, a distinction he has held since 2020.
Mr. Karlin is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP), and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer for the Invertigo Dance Theatre from 2007 to 2020 and has been involved with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Docent Council as Webmaster from 2004 to 2023. Additionally, he has held numerous board positions with the American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 76, since 1990. He is fluent in English and French, enabling him to effectively serve a diverse clientele.
