DAVID LESSER, ESQ., MBA

David works with attorneys and their clients on comprehensive financial planning utilizing various attorney fee and plaintiff deferral options (including traditional structured settlements) to maximize after-tax returns (primarily in employment, class action, and other taxable settlements). With 20+ years as a practicing attorney with expertise in taxation of damages, accounting, finance, and real estate, David brings unique value to plaintiffs' attorneys during the settlement process.

David is often asked to consult on issues such as Qualified Settlement Funds, proper W-2 allocations, above vs. below the line tax deductions, and analyzing whether the facts support plaintiffs receiving a partial tax-free allocation (in employment and other taxable cases). He is also at the forefront of tax-deferred attorney fee structures combining flexible investment options (including private equity, private placements, and real estate allocations) with the ability to borrow funds tax-free.

Before joining Sage, David was a practicing personal injury and employment trial attorney, including with David deRubertis (the deRubertis Law Firm). He holds a BS in Business from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (cum laude), an MBA from Loyola Marymount University, and a J.D. from Loyola Law School (where he was a Faculty Academic Honors scholarship recipient and member of the St. Thomas More Law Honors Society). David is a member of the California State Bar (#210637) and lives in Westlake Village, CA with his wife and three kids.

Read David's article featured in Law 360:

• Tax Benefits of Structured Settlements in Employment Cases