John Balian

John M. Balian is Senior Tax Counsel at Encore Law Group. With more than 32 years of experience practicing law, he advises individuals, families, fiduciaries, and closely held businesses on federal tax matters, estate and wealth transfer planning, probate and trust disputes, and significant business transactions.

John represents clients through the matters that can have lasting financial and personal consequences — an IRS examination or appeal, a dispute over an inheritance, the administration of an estate or trust, the sale or acquisition of a business, or the development of a tax-efficient succession and wealth transfer plan. His practice combines tax analysis, transactional planning, and litigation experience, allowing him to anticipate not only the immediate legal issues presented by a matter, but also the tax and financial consequences that may follow.

Before entering private practice, John served as a Revenue Agent with the Internal Revenue Service in Los Angeles. During his five years with the IRS, he conducted forensic examinations of individuals, corporations, and trusts involving unreported income, unexplained increases in net worth, and fabricated or overstated deductions. His work included third-party investigations, financial data analysis, bank summonses, taxpayer and witness interviews, and coordination with other IRS personnel in the development of cases.

John began practicing law in 1993 as an attorney and tax manager with The Wilshire Group, where he represented clients in tax controversy matters and negotiated resolutions with IRS Revenue Agents and Officers. From 1995 through 2010, he was a partner with Burgh, Balian & Bergstein LLP, a boutique tax and estate planning law firm.

In addition to his legal practice, John has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Accounting at California State University, Northridge since 2008, where he teaches Introduction to Federal Tax Procedure. He also serves as faculty adviser to CSUN's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, where he teaches and supervises students providing clinical tax representation to taxpayers.