Overview
Vanja Habekovic is a Partner and Chair of the Tax Department.
Vanja is a corporate attorney with a tax expertise. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation, international tax, and 1031 exchanges. Her extensive knowledge of various areas of law informs her multidisciplinary approach and holistic vision of matters.
After graduating from Stanford Law School, Vanja began her career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP where she was involved in billion-dollar equity and debt offerings and developed her tax expertise. Vanja has spent the past two decades crafting innovative tax solutions. This is what sets her apart from other corporate attorneys—the depth and breadth of her tax knowledge and extensive experience. Clients often comment that they are impressed with her ability to identify and anticipate critical issues before they arise and her dynamic problem-solving. Vanja prides herself on the quality of her research and the originality of her arguments for her clients’ benefit.
For nearly 20 years she has advised clients on numerous issues and truly excels at:
- Mergers and acquisitions: structuring to optimize tax efficiency
- Executive Compensation: structuring equity, phantom equity, and deferred compensation plans
- International tax: advising non-US clients on structuring their US real property and other investments
- Real Estate Transactions: tax structuring, including 1031 exchanges
- Equity and Debt Financings: structuring to optimize tax efficiency
- Tax controversy: defending clients in complex high stakes audits, in particular 1031 exchanges
She has worked with clients in many industries, including technology, fashion, art, beauty, real estate, and food & beverage.
Vanja is constantly sharpening her decision strategy skills as a competitive pool player and her talents as a classical pianist, gourmet chef, and interior designer show that she is multidisciplinary in all aspects of her life.
Representative Matters
Represented the lead investor in his $10MM Series A investment in a financial services platform
Structured a complex 1031 exchange for a partnership with partners desiring to cash out
Represented a beer distributor in a sale of its distribution rights for $180MM
Represented Todd Pipe & Supply LLC, a plumbing wholesaler, to Reece Limited for $160MM
Represented seller in an asset sale of their insurance subrogation business
Negotiated tax and executive compensation issues on behalf of a technology company in a tax-free merger
Honors & Affiliations
Honors & Recognitions
Legal 500 Los Angeles Elite Tax, 2026
Beauty & Fashion Visionaries, L.A. Times, 2025
The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, 2025
Women’s Leadership Awards, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2022
Women of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021, 2025
Super Lawyers: Southern California Super Lawyers, 2020-2026
Super Lawyers: Southern California Rising Stars, 2013-2014, 2017-2019
Best Lawyers in America, 2026
Legal Visionaries: Southern California, Los Angeles Times, Business of Law Magazine, 2026
Community & Professional
State Bar of California
Real Estate Broker in California, 01860429
Media & Events
Client Alerts
Blog Posts
Publications
Speaking Engagements
Successes
Education
J.D., Stanford Law School
B.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
- California
- U.S. Tax Court
Languages
- Croatian
- Spanish
