Philip Starr is a partner at the Beverly Hills law firm of Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP, where he is a member of the firm's Real Estate and Taxation Departments.  His areas of practice include real estate acquisitions, leasing and financing transactions, federal and state tax controversies, tax-deferred exchanges, low income housing tax credits, corporate and partnership taxation, and general business law.

Mr. Starr received his J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1982.  While at UCLA, he was a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Stephen R. Reinhardt, Circuit Court Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1982; a member of the Order of the Coif; and a recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for Contracts, Wills and Trusts, Torts and Real Property Secured Transactions.  He attended the State University of New York at Binghamton, earning a B.A. in 1971. 

Mr. Starr is admitted to the State Bar of California, the United States District Court, Central District of California, the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and the United States Tax Court.

Mr. Starr is a frequent author and lecturer in the areas of his expertise.  His publications include Minimizing Documentary Transfer Taxes in Partnership Transactions, Los Angeles Lawyer, January 1997; New Transitional Provisions Enacted for OID and Inputed Interest Rules, California Business Law Reporter, January 1985; and Guidelines for the Termination of the Accrual of Interest on Federal Tax Deficiencies, Spring 1983 Tax Section News, State Bar of California Tax Section.  He is co-author of:  Tax Planning for Proposed and Outstanding Federal Tax Deficiencies, Summer 1985, Tax Section News, State Bar of California Tax Section; Personal Tax Planning for Professionals and Owners of Small Businesses, 1985-1990 Supplements, California Continuing Education of the Bar; and Tax Reform Act of 1984:  Pitfalls and Opportunities for the Business Lawyer, California Business Law Reporter, October 1984.  Mr. Starr was a panelist for California Continuing Education for the Bar's Organizing and Advising Partnerships, in June 1989; and served as Chair of Tax-Deferred Exchange Seminar, Beverly Hills Bar Association, December 1988.

Mr. Starr is a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association (Chair of the Taxation Section, 1989-1990); the Westside YMCA, Chairman and Board of Managers, 1998-present; Member, Board of Directors, Pluralistic School #1; Founding Member California Affordable Housing Forum (CAHF); and the University of California at Los Angeles Law Alumni Association, Member, Alumni Awards Nominating Committee.