Jay Smith

Jay Smith

Associate
About

Jay Smith advises clients on a wide range of state and local tax matters, with a focus on multistate income and franchise tax, gross receipts tax, and sales and use tax. He regularly counsels multinational corporations, private equity sponsors, and emerging companies on the tax implications of complex transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and cross-border restructurings.

Jay has significant experience guiding clients through voluntary disclosure agreements and resolving historical tax exposure across jurisdictions. He also advises on nexus and apportionment issues, local business tax compliance, and the treatment of digital assets and cloud-based services under evolving tax regimes. In addition to his SALT practice, Jay is expanding his international and partnership tax capabilities and has worked on matters involving foreign-to-U.S. asset transfers, treaty planning, and Subpart F/GILTI analysis.

Jay maintains an active pro bono practice and serves in leadership roles within the ABA Tax Section. He has published articles in Tax Notes State and frequently partners with colleagues on thought leadership and client education initiatives.

Jay earned his J.D., cum laude, from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of Temple Law Review (Vol. 94) and was awarded the Joseph W. Marshall Scholarship for outstanding performance in tax law. During law school, he also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Mitchell S. Goldberg of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Bar admissionsCalifornia
CourtsUnited States Tax Court

Pro Bono

Jay is part of DLA Piper's Los Angeles Wildfire Taskforce, where he helps individuals navigate property and tax relief measures following natural disasters. Additionally, he has volunteered with the Asian Law Caucus as a poll observer and served on the National Election Protection Hotline, assisting voters across the country during federal elections.
Education
  • J.D., Temple University Beasley School of Law
    cum laude

  • B.A., Pennsylvania State University

Publications

  • Co-author, "SALT Implications of Federal Tariffs – Headache or Opportunity?" Tax Notes State, November 12, 2025
  • Co-author, "San Francisco's Proposition M Triples Tax on Many Companies," Tax Notes State, December 12, 2024
  • Co-author, "Loper Bright and SALT Administrative Rulemaking," Tax Notes State, October 7, 2024

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