Cynthia Ohlenforst

Practice Areas

Cindy Ohlenforst, who received the 2018 Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer award from the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas, has a broad tax practice that involves planning and controversy work around the country. She has extensive experience with state and local taxes, with tax controversy matters, including litigation and administrative proceedings, and with legislative work.

Cindy frequently works with the energy, technology, broadcasting, transportation, and airline industries, and in addition to her legislative projects in other states, has worked with legislators on drafting multiple provisions of the Texas Tax Code. In addition to chairing the firmwide Women in the Profession Committee, Cindy serves on the firmwide Diversity Committee.

Cindy's practice focuses on the following areas:

Multistate and federal tax issues, including income tax, sales tax, franchise tax, property tax, hotel tax, and other taxes

Controversy and litigation, including work defending against putative class actions by taxing jurisdictions

Tax-related legislative and policy projects, including working on draft legislation and testifying before legislative committees

Transactions, including contract negotiations, financings and reorganizations

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

State Bar of Texas

Tax Section and State Tax Committee

Past Chair, Tax Section

Past Chair, State Tax Committee

Past Chair, Committee on Women in the Profession

Dallas Bar Association

Past Chair, Tax Section

Texas Bar Foundation

Participation on advisory committees for multiple Texas Comptrollers of Public Accounts

Executive Women's Roundtable Member

United Way of Dallas, Advocacy Committee

Board of Trustees of Ursuline Academy of Dallas and work with multiple other nonprofit boards (including past board positions with The Housing Crisis Center, The Family Place, and Attitudes & Attire).

Leadership Texas Association Alumnae

Publications

Author of Best Lawyers Article - Remote Controls “How law firms, lawyers and taxing authorities must adapt to remote work” Spring Business Edition 2022

Co-Author of the annual survey of Texas tax law for the SMU Law Review (formerly Southwestern Law Journal) since 1988 - 2017

Education