About Phil Jelsma

Phil Jelsma is currently a partner Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson (CGS3), a Los Angeles-based law firm.

Jelsma has more than 30 years of experience in structuring real estate and business transactions. He specializes in pass-through entity formation and consulting and tax law, with an emphasis on small business and international tax planning.

Jelsma also specializes in limited liability company and partnership business and tax planning, with an emphasis on real estate and nonprofit corporations. He focuses on securities, corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions. He represents buyers and sellers in consolidations, stock and asset purchases, and management buyouts.

Jelsma advises clients about entity formation, the issuance of stock and other ownership interests, recapitalizations and reorganizations, officer and director issues, corporate governance, stock option plans, and contract preparation. Also, he serves as an expert witness on partnership, limited liability company and family business disputes, particularly regarding management, fiduciary duties and allocations.

Prior to joining CGS3 in 2015, Jelsma was a partner in McKenna Long & Aldridge in San Diego for seven years. Before that, he worked for Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, also in San Diego, for almost 25 years. Earlier in his career, Jelsma worked for the Internal Revenue Service and Arthur Young & Company.

Jelsma has served on the executive committee of the taxation section of the State Bar of California for three years, and he is a participant in American Bar Association tax subcommittees. Jelsma is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, where he teaches tax law.

Jelsma received a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Southern California.