HFM Partner Richard ‘Dick’ Shaw to Receive Excellence in Tax Award

Higgs Fletcher & Mack (HFM) Partner Craig Higgs will be honored posthumously at a joint reception for the University of San Diego School of Law’s (USD) Board of Visitors and attendees of the school’s 2019 RSJ Law—Tax Controversy Institute.  At the reception, HFM Partner Richard “Dick” Shaw will also receive the 2019 Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award for his service to the law school and his leadership in the Tax Bar.

Craig Higgs, who passed away in February, volunteered for USD in numerous ways since his graduation in 1969, including serving on the University of San Diego School of Law’s Board of Visitors for 23 years. The Board of Visitors is charged with providing counsel and feedback to the law school’s Dean on a range of issues related to the priorities and needs of the School of Law. In addition to Craig Higgs, USD will pay tribute to two other very prominent recently deceased legal community leaders, Gerald L McMahon of Seltzer Caplan McMahon and Vitek, and Michael T. Thorsnes of Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire.

The joint reception will also include the presentation of the annual Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award to Dick Shaw, who is a nationally recognized business and tax lawyer and former Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation. While not a USD alumnus, Shaw has contributed to USD and its tax program in myriad ways throughout his career, including the recent establishment of the Richard A. Shaw Endowed Professorship in Tax.

“Craig Higgs definitely set a high bar on serving the community and giving back, and his legacy at the Firm and in our community will always be one of professionalism and service. I know I speak on behalf of everyone at HFM when I say that we are so honored to see Craig recognized by the University he cared about so deeply,” said Steve Cologne, HFM’s Managing Partner. “It is also a great source of pride for the Firm that Dick will be recognized for his significant service to USD and the tax bar in general. It is truly a well-deserved honor.”

Cologne will deliver remarks about Craig Higgs during the reception and talk about his impact on the community.  At the event, it will also be announced that the diversity scholarship that HFM offers annually to a USD law student will be renamed the “Higgs, Fletcher & Mack Diversity Scholarship in honor of Craig Higgs.”

The private reception will be held at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice on the USD campus Friday evening.