Ever-changing tax code keeps Johnson on her toes

Listen to this article

Lecia Johnson fell into tax law, and has since fallen in love.

“A lot of clients had international benefit plans,” said the shareholder in Godfrey & Kahn’s tax and employee benefits practice group, “and since I had an interest in language and travel, I was drawn to that area and started to spend a lot of time on it.

“Then tax laws started to change and I just got drawn in and stayed.”

Tax laws can be complicated and are often changing, she said, but that helps keep the job interesting.

When not working with clients on tax planning or benefit plans, Johnson heads up Godfrey & Kahn’s Women’s Leadership Forum. The forum, which started in 2010, brings the women working at the law firm together to serve as a peer sounding board and make policy recommendations to the firm. While it’s called a “women’s” forum, Johnson said the topics covered affect all employees.

“We have men involved too since they face many of the same issues,” said Johnson, adding the forum has looked at policies regarding leave, part-time work and more. “We also do a lot of leadership training and mentorship programs, too.”

Johnson’s work with the Women’s Leadership Forum mixes well with the rest of her work, especially her new venture aiding tax-exempt organizations and foundations.

“For many tax attorneys, myself included, you work personally on some interesting projects and serve on some nonprofit boards and then it just leads to an interest to then helping other organizations,” she said. “It’s great using my skills to help nonprofits making a difference.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What was your least-favorite course in law school?
Lecia Johnson: Constitutional law. I was going through law school just as professors were discovering the Internet and we would get the full version of cases, which were a little bit too long.

WLJ: What famous person you would most like to have a drink with?
Johnson: Anthony Bourdain since I love travel so much and I’m sure we would have a drink at a wonderful place.

WLJ: What song is on heavy rotation on your iPod?
Johnson: ‘I Won’t Give Up’ by Jason Mraz.

WLJ: If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what would you have done?
Johnson: I love languages and travel so something combining that I’m sure.

WLJ: What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
Johnson: My 7- and 5-year-olds. They are great at giving a whole new perspective on things.

WLJ: What was the hardest case you’ve worked on?
Johnson: I work so much with tax code, and the 409A tax codes enacted in 2004 are the most difficult to deal with. Everything seems counterintuitive and my clients don’t like it either. I’m sure they don’t like calling me with those questions.

WLJ: What was your favorite toy as a child?
Johnson: Stuffed animals. I had a big collection.

WLJ: If you could be a superhero, who would you be?
Johnson: Elastic Girl. It would be great to have all of that flexibility.

WLJ: What trait do you most like in others?
Johnson: I appreciate someone who can relax and enjoy themselves.