Experienced Representation And Effective Solution
Biography
Ms. McKarden began her legal career with Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles and has practiced tax law internationally. During her first two years of practice, she was selected as a Washington, D.C. delegate by the State Bar of California and the Los Angeles County Bar Association Taxation section. She later clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York City. Prior to joining the faculty of Pepperdine School of Law, Professor McCarden practiced tax law in Paris and in London with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
McCarden has been named as a top scholar in the field of social entrepreneurship and impact investing by an Oxford University/SAID Business School study sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation. Her scholarship focuses on tax law and policy, especially international taxation and the tax treatment of charitable giving. McCarden has published articles in the U.S. and in the U.K., and she has been invited to present her scholarship throughout the country and internationally.
McCarden has been named as a top scholar in the field of social entrepreneurship and impact investing by an Oxford University/SAID Business School study sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation. Her scholarship focuses on tax law and policy, especially international taxation and the tax treatment of charitable giving. McCarden has published articles in the U.S. and in the U.K., and she has been invited to present her scholarship throughout the country and internationally.
She has been elected to the AALS Nonprofit and Philanthropy Law Section's Executive Committee and was chosen to present her scholarly work on alternative U.S. approaches to cross-border charitable giving rules at the 2016 AALS Annual Conference. Professor McCarden has presented a leading paper as a selected participant of the International Research Symposium held as part of the Annual Congress of the International Fiscal Association in Boston, Mass.
Professional Associations
- AALS Section on Nonprofit and Philanthropy Law Executive Committee, Treasurer, 2018 Elected 2013
- Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS), Selected as 2019 presenter for Tax Policy in the 21st Century workshop and for Works-In-Progress Workshop
- National Center for Philanthropy and the Law (NCPL), New York University School of Law, Annual Conference Auditor
- Junior Tax Scholars Group, Selected for membership in 2012 and selected participant in Junior Tax Scholars Workshops in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- Critical Tax Scholars Group, Selected participant for 2017-2019 Annual Critical Tax Theory Conferences; Assisted with organizing 2019 Annual Critical Tax Theory Conference
- Nonprofit Law Professors Blog, Selected as Contributing Editor
- International Fiscal Association (IFA) Member, Selected Participant in at the 66th Annual Conference-International Tax Research Symposium in Boston, Massachusetts
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tax Section Member, Selected to Design and Participate in 2019 Midyear Conference on Impact Investing Panel and as a Presenter for 2019 Annual Meeting
- Tulane Tax Institute Planning Committee, Selected as Member in 2018
- New Orleans Planned Giving Council, Selected as Presenter for June 2019 meeting
Past Positions
- Tulane University Law School, New Orleans, LA, Hoffman Fuller Associate Professor of Tax Law, 2018-Present
- Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, CA, Associate Professor, 2011-2018
- Pepperdine University School of Law, London, UK, Adjunct Professor, 2009-2010
- Morgan, Lewis & Brockius, London, UK, 2009-2010
- Withers LLP, London, UK, 2007-2009
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Court, New York, NY, 2005-2006 Term Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Barrington D. Parker
Pro-Bono Activities
- Harvard Law School Class of 2003 Reunion Committee
- Harvard Club of Southern California, Prospective Board Member and College Interviewer
- Lay Pastor, Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB)
- Harvard Law School Alumni of the UK, Board Member
- Harvard Class of 1998 Reunion Officer and Fundraising Committee Member
- Harvard Alumni Marshall for 2008 Commencement
- Harvard Law School Class Agent
- Integrity, Inc., Young Professionals Committee. Organized and participated in fundraising activities for substance abuse prevention and related service programs.
- Served as presenter at 2015 Med-Air concert for Syrian and Iraqi children relief efforts
- Organized fundraiser in support of water pump purchase through collaboration with Med-Air
- Organized inter-church social fundraiser in support of Med-Air’s Haiti relief effort
- Organized event to raise awareness on homelessness; participated in Global Poverty Project meetings
- Collaborated on elderly projects, including Concerts for the Elderly, visits to nursing homes, and teas
- Participated in activities for low-income families residing in housing developments in London
Practice Areas
- Taxation
Education
- Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- J.D. - 2003
- Honors: cum laude
- Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- B.S. - 1998
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: John B. Harvard Scholarship for Academic Achievement of the Highest Distinction
- Honors: Elizabeth Cary Agassiz Scholar
- Honors: Harvard Faculty Scholarship
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Honors: University Endorsement for the Rhodes Scholarship
- Honors: Radcliffe College Presidential Commendation
- Honors: Kappa Alpha Theta Scholarship Award
Bar Admissions
- California, 2003