Joseph B. Walker

Joseph B. Walker is a senior attorney in Butler Snow’s Tax and Business Services Groups, where he focuses on wealth transfer, estate and trust planning, tax controversy, and asset protection. With over 40 years of experience, he regularly advises high-net-worth individuals, fiduciaries, and tax-exempt organizations on complex estate and tax strategies.

Joseph earned his J.D. from the University of Memphis and holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Mississippi. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee and before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Courts in Tennessee, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Joseph represents clients in sophisticated estate and gift tax planning, including charitable giving, multi-generational wealth transfer, and trust structuring for special family needs. His client base includes artists, entrepreneurs, and individuals with international assets seeking long-term tax efficiencies and protection.

Joseph’s practice also includes representing trustees and executors in probate matters and disputes, as well as resolving federal, state, and local tax controversies. Walker has successfully defended clients in audits, obtained favorable IRS rulings, and structured transactions to minimize tax exposure for individuals and business entities.

Joseph also advises tax-exempt organizations, from healthcare institutions to schools and foundations, on formation, compliance, governance, and executive compensation. He has obtained retroactive IRS exemptions and has guided major nonprofits through structural reorganizations and mergers.

Joseph B. Walker has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® since 1983 and has twice been named “Lawyer of the Year” for Trusts and Estates. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has served as President of both the Tennessee Federal Tax Institute and Memphis Tax Watch.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Butler Snow LLP
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Estate Planning Council of Memphis
• Member, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Asset Protection Committee
• Member, Memphis Bar Association
• Member, Tennessee Bar Association, Probate Study Committee
• Past President, Tennessee Federal Tax Institute

Licensed State

Education

• University of Memphis
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Mississippi
  BBA in Accounting

Awards & Badges