My journey to becoming a tax attorney at Baker Tax Law has been shaped by a lifelong interest in both law and business—and by the satisfaction I find in solving complex problems through careful analysis and clear communication.
I began my career in business and finance after earning my B.S. in Accounting from Rutgers University. I then began my career in finance at Consolidated Edison Company of New York, where I implemented new tax procedures, performed audits, and supervised a team of union employees. That experience sparked my interest in the interplay between business operations, regulation, and taxation, which ultimately motivated me to pursue an MBA in Finance at Fordham University, obtain my CPA license, and pursue both a J.D. and an LLM in Taxation at New York University School of Law. During my time at NYU, I was honored to be named both a Jacobson Leadership Program in Law and Business Scholar and a Robert McKay Scholar. I also served as Executive Editor of the Journal of Law and Business, President of the Law and Business Association, and Treasurer of Law Women.
Following law school, I joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as an associate in the Tax Department, where I worked on a wide range of matters, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, and fund formations. I also drafted tax disclosures for securities filings, private placement memoranda, and other regulatory submissions. After several years at Skadden, I joined Brown Rudnick LLP, and later Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, where I continued advising corporations, partnerships, private equity funds, hedge funds, REITs, and multinational enterprises on complex domestic and international transactions.
Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed helping clients navigate intricate tax issues and structuring deals that align with their strategic goals. I find tax law to be a fascinating blend of logic, creativity, and problem-solving—a bit like piecing together a constantly evolving puzzle.
In addition to my client work, I have maintained a significant pro bono tax practice, assisting nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations with formation, compliance, and expansion. I also take pride in mentoring junior associates and contributing to women’s initiatives within my firms.
I am honored to now bring my skills and experience to Baker Tax Law. As a boutique tax firm, we provide sophisticated but practical tax advice with a more personal touch, which was missing during my time in Big Law. The work at Baker Tax Law ties directly back to my interest in solving complex, puzzle-like, problems. Baker Tax Law is also a 100% remote working environment which provides us with the opportunity to spend more time helping our clients and maintaining a healthy work-life balance by eliminating commuting time (which was, for me, anywhere from 2.5 hours to 4 hours a day).
Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and experiencing new cultures and places. I love snowboarding and reading psychological thriller novels, which also tie into my love of puzzles. As John Marrs wrote in What Lies Between Us, “I prefer detective or psychological thrillers, anything that promises and then delivers a twist. I like to get the old grey matter working and decipher who the bad guy is.”
Lisa Okragly is a senior associate in the Tax practice group at Baker Tax Law. For additional information, please contact lisa@mbakertaxlaw.com.