Jeff Liang
Seattle
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3200
Seattle, WA 98101
Meet with Me: Jeff's Calendar
Jeff helps clients with a client-centered approach that is rooted in a family tradition of service to others.
Jeff's grandfather served the U.S. as a Merchant Mariner during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. His grandmother risked her life so that her two children (Jeff's father and uncle) could escape war in Shanghai, China and find a home in San Francisco, California.
As a small business owner for over 40 years in San Francisco, Jeff's father made custom electrical boxes and sheet metal products for restaurants, government transportation projects, and builders. Jeff's mother helped raise seven kids by making wigs for customers to support her family.
Continuing the deep-rooted tradition of service, Jeff assists small businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals with transactional, corporate, compliance, tax planning, intellectual property, real estate, and estate planning issues. Jeff also dedicates his practice to helping business owners, nonprofit boards, and individuals, who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color ("BIPOC"), navigate barriers within the legal system with an ally.
Jeff's client-centered approach focuses on listening with empathy, explaining legal concepts to clients, and collaborating with clients and opposing parties to solve problems.
Prior to joining Keller Rohrback, Jeff worked for the IRS's Office of Chief Counsel in New York and later joined the tax practice group at Lane Powell PC. He opened his own law firm, Ling and Liang PLLC in 2010 with his spouse, Helen Ling. He is also an adjunct law professor at Seattle University School of Law where he has taught law students on Taxation of Nonprofit Organizations, Taxation of LLCs and Partnerships, and Corporate Taxation.
Jeff is a community leader where he actively serves as Board Chair of the Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Co-Chair of the Seattle-Chinatown International District, and President of the Asian Bar Association of Washington Student Scholarship Foundation.
Honors & Awards
National Asian Pacific Bar Association, Pro Bono Service Award, 2022
Articles & Presentations
Panelist, ABA Business Law School Section Spring Meeting: pro bono roundtable (April 28, 2023)
Speaker, United Way of King County, Project LEAD, "Managing Risk: The Legal Implications of Board Service" (March 15, 2023)
Speaker, Federal Bar Association, Washington State Chapter "Combatting Hate Crimes: The Role of Lawyers and the Legal System" (March 8, 2023)
Speaker, myLawCLE, “Navigating Tax Issues in Real Estate: A legal perspective” (February 2023)
Speaker, Kin On Health Care Center, "Estate Planning: How to care for your family after you pass away" (September 2022)
Trainer, United Way of King County, Project Lead, Managing Risks (March 2021 and March 2022)
Speaker, WSBA Legal Lunchbox Series: Understanding Systemic Racism in the Law (March 30, 2021)
Speaker, WA Nonprofits and Communities Rise, Economic Aid Act, PPP 2.0 (January 21, 2021)
Speaker, WA Nonprofits and Communities Rise, COVID-19 & Nonprofits (July 22, 2020)
Speaker, Korean American Bar Association CLE on Employment Law + PPP (June 30, 2020)
Speaker, Advocacy for Nonprofits: Back to Basics (Wayfind, May 16, 2019)
Guest Lecturer, The Law and Ethics of Community Building in Private, Public, and Nonprofit Entities COMMLD 550 (University of Washington Communication Leadership Graduate Program, May 15, 2019 and May 15, 2022)
Speaker, Launching a Successful Law Practice (Seattle University School of Law, February 27, 2019)
Speaker, Best Practices for Non-Profits (Friends of the Washington State Parks Foundation, October 16, 2018)
Speaker, Professional Development and Office Management (Washington State Bar Association, May 31, 2016)
Speaker, Using Project Management Principles in Law (Seattle Univ. School of Law, July 21, 2015
Purchase and Sale of a Small Business, Washington Lawyer’s Practice Manual (2014)
A “Tax Toolkit” for Small Businesses, Coast River Business Journal
Codification of the Economic Substance Doctrine (WSBA Tax Newsletter)
Gordon Hirabayashi: An American Case, (King County Bar Association News – Jan. 1, 2010)
Community Activities
President, Asian Bar Association of Washington Student Scholarship Foundation (2017 to Present)
President, Asian Counseling and Referral Service (President 2020 to Present, Board Member - 2013 to 2019)
Co-Chair, Seattle Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (2019 to Present)
President, Asian Bar Association of Washington (President – 2011, Board Member - 2007 to 2010)
Basketball Coach, Seattle Asian Sports Club (2001 to 2017)
Let's Talk About Your Case