About Michael P.
Michael P. Burns built a foundation in numbers before he built a career in law. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of the Pacific. He then pursued legal studies at the University of San Diego School of Law, where he earned a J.D. and later returned for an LL.M. in Taxation.
His time at the University of San Diego deepened his interest in the technical side of law. The LL.M. program exposed him to federal tax code, complex transactional issues and the regulatory context that surrounds business decisions. Those studies followed a conventional path from undergraduate finance to graduate legal work, but the combination of degrees shaped the professional lens through which he approaches client matters.
He has been a member of The State Bar of California since 2009. That admission allowed him to practice law in California and to advise individuals and businesses on state and federal obligations. He remains an active member of the bar and has maintained his license for well over a decade.
Burns’ background in finance and his advanced tax training inform the kinds of matters he handles. He advises on tax planning, compliance, and issues that intersect with business operations. His work involves interpreting tax rules, preparing analyses that affect transactional choices, and addressing reporting questions that arise in corporate and personal contexts. He works with documentation and the numerical details that often shape legal outcomes.
Colleagues describe him as methodical in approach and precise in analysis. He tends to favor careful review of statutory language and an orderly presentation of options to clients. His education prepared him to parse technical materials and to translate them into practical advice. He has applied that skill set in engagements that require both legal judgment and an understanding of finance.
He is based in California and has continued to build on the academic foundations established at the University of the Pacific and the University of San Diego. He maintains a practice centered on tax law and matters involving finance.
