Nikki wrote:2 - Becraft has come close, a couple of times, to sanctions warranting disbarment.
Becraft was sanctioned $2,500 for a frivolous appeal in In re Lowell H. Becraft (United States v. Nelson), 885 F.2d 547 (9th Cir. 1989).
A couple of other comments:
1. Becraft doesn't really practice "tax law" in the usual sense of the word, and most of his practice is based on the defense of lack of willfulness, which means that his practice is built not on what he knows but in arguing what his clients did NOT know.
2. The word "specializes" is a no-no in most jurisdictions unless the lawyer is accredited by an organization recognized by that state.
The Alabama State Bar Board of Legal Certification has currently approved four national certifying agencies in eight fields of law, none of which are tax law. I don't want to be critical of Becraft for something some fool reporter wrote, but if Becraft were to advertise himself as a specialist in tax law, he would be in violation of Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4. In fact, I don't believe that Becraft advertises at all, but gets referrals in tax cases because of the acquittals in Long, Kuglin, and Cryder.
