Mr. Villa was named the Best Lawyers® 2024 Litigation and Controversy-Tax “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas/Fort Worth and recognized by Best Lawyers® from 2021 to 2026. He has also been named a Texas Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyer Magazines from 2013 to 2025. From 2010 to 2013, he was named a Texas Rising Star. Mr. Villa focuses on resolving federal tax controversies and white-collar crime, including securities, tax and bank fraud. He represents individuals, closely-held businesses, and large corporations in IRS audits, appeals, and litigation, as well as in business disputes and lawsuits involving fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, deceptive trade practices act violations, non-compete violations, business torts, and other commercial disputes. Mr. Villa represents athletes and specializes in NIL issues, tax strategies, entity formations, endorsement strategy, and long-term brand development for collegiate athletes.
Prior to joining the firm in 2007, Mr. Villa worked in Washington, D.C. as a Congressional intern to U.S. Senator John Breaux (Retired) and worked as an Associate with a regional law firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. From 2004 to 2005, he served as a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable James J. Brady, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana.
Mr. Villa was admitted to practice in Texas in 2005 and in Louisiana in 2004.
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Tax Lawyers for Tax Controversy and Litigation, 2025-2026
- The Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas/ Fort Worth for Litigation and Controversy – Tax, 2024
- The Best Lawyers in America® for Criminal Defense: White Collar, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, and Tax Law, 2021-2026
- Top Attorneys in Texas, Texas Monthly, 2019
- Texas Super Lawyers, Texas Super Lawyers Magazine and Texas Monthly for Tax, 2013-2025
- Texas Rising Stars, Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers – Rising Stars Edition, 2010-2013
- Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine for Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2022-2026
- America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys®, 2026
- LSU Law Center Moot Court Board Member/Officer
- LSU Law Center Class of 1931 Hebert Memorial Scholarship
- LSU Law Center Gene Hearn Memorial Scholarship
- LSU Law Center Chancellor’s List
- Mr. Villa was quoted in the MarketWatch article, “The IRS audited my husband’s 2021 tax return and, yes, he made some mistakes. Now it wants two years to look at his 2022 tax return. Is this normal?” by Andrew Keshner on July 9, 2024.
- Mr. Villa was quoted in the TaxNotes article, “New IRS Practice Unit Explains Penalty Relief,” by Kristen A. Parillo on July 10, 2020.
- Mr. Villa was quoted in the Bloomberg Tax article, “Tax Shelter Settlements Show Strength of IRS Position, Desmond Says (1),” on January 31, 2020.
- “IRS Criminal Investigation’s 2016 Annual Report on Illegal Tax Source Crimes”, Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure, April-May 2017
- “IRS Criminal Investigation Current Initiatives Update”, Penalties Column, Journal of Tax Practice and Procedures, June-July 2014.
- “The Alphabet Soup of Treasury: What in the World are BSA/AML Exams and Who are the Examiners?”, BarTabs published by the Collin County Bar Association, May 2012
- “Recent Trends in IRS Enforcement Activity & Specialized IRS Agents”, BarTabs published by the Collin County Bar Association, March 2012
- Texas Bank and Trust 2026 Taxation and Estate Planning Update for Professionals – Longview (Link)
- ABA 2026 May Tax Meeting (Link)
- Texas Bank and Trust 2026 Taxation and Estate Planning Update for Professionals – Tyler (Link)
- Dallas Bar Association CLE Session (Link)
- Meadows Collier March Monthly Webinar (Link)
- NIL Panel Discussion (Link)
- Meadows Collier February Webinar (Link)
- Meadows Collier January Monthly Webinar (Link)
- 2025 ABA Tax Section Criminal Tax Fraud and Tax Controversy Conference (Link)
- 2025 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- International Tax Group Two-Day Event (Link)
- State Bar of Texas Tax Section Leadership Academy (Link)
- 43rd Annual Tax Law in the Digital Age Course (Link)
- RISE 8th Annual Athlete Enterprise Symposium (Link)
- State Bar of Texas Tax Section Council Meeting (Link)
- State Bar of Texas Tax Section Tax Controversy Panel CLE Course (Link)
- 2024 ABA Section of Taxation 41st Annual National Institute on Criminal Tax Fraud and 14th Annual National Institute on Tax Controversy (Link)
- 2024 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- Willis-Knighton (WK) Eye Institute Seminar (Link)
- 2023 Louisiana Tax Conference (Day Two) (Link)
- 2023 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum (Link)
- Mike Villa and Damon Rowe are guest speakers on the Tax Rep Network (Link)
- Mike Villa – Tax Rep Network (TRN) Webinar (Link)
- Metroplex Practice Management Group (MPMG) Aug. 2022 (Link)
- TXCPA CPE Summit 2022 (Day Two) (Link)
- Wichita Falls Chapter Free CPE Day (Link)
- American Bar Association Virtual Midyear Tax Meeting (Link)
- How to Bring an IRS Whistleblower Claim: Dole Out Justice and Get Paid? Live Webinar (Link)
- How to Bring an IRS Whistleblower Claim: Dole Out Justice and Get Paid? (Link)
- 2021 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- IRS Representation Conference 2021 (Link)
- International Tax Symposium (Link)
- 2021 Austin Chapter/TXCPA Annual Tax Conference (Link)
- MPMG) Metroplex Practice Management Group (Link)
- How to Bring an IRS Whistleblower Case (Link)
- April 2021 Dallas Bar Association Tax Section Meeting (Link)
- CPA Academy (Link)
- Society of Louisiana CPAs’ Tax Conference (Link)
- 2020 IRS Representation Conference (Link)
- PODCAST: How to Bring a Whistleblower Claim (and Get Paid!) (Link)
- Accounting Continuing Professional Education Network (ACPEN) 2020 Business Fraud Update Webcast (Link)
- 38th Annual Course Tax Law 2020: A Practical Guide to Tax Law in the Real World – Day Two (Link)
- TexasBarCLE 2020 Governance of Nonprofit Organizations Course (Link)
- American Bar Association Section of Taxation Jan.-Feb. 2020 Midyear Tax Meeting (Link)
- 2019 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- ABA 36th Annual National Institute on Criminal Tax Fraud and 9th Annual National Institute on Tax Controversy 2019 (Link)
- 21st Annual Meadows Collier Tax Conference (Link)
- ABA Tax Section, 2019 Fall Tax Meeting (Link)
- Metroplex Practice Management Group (MPMG) 2019 (Link)
- IRS Nationwide Tax Forum (Link)
- Permian Basin Chapter TXCPA Free CPE Event (Link)
- Section of Taxation 2019 May Tax Meeting of the American Bar Association (Link)
- Dallas Bar Association May Tax Section Meeting (Link)
- Handling Your First (or Next) White Collar Crime Case (Link)
- 2019 Midyear Meeting American Bar Association Section of Taxation (Link)
- 2018 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- TSCPA 2018 CPE Expo – Houston (Link)
- TSCPA 2018 CPE Expo – San Antonio (Link)
- TSCPA 2018 CPE Expo – Dallas (Link)
- Federal White Collar Seminar (Link)
- 2018 ABA Section of Taxation May Meeting (Link)
- The Federal Bar Association (Link)
- 2018 American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting (Link)
- First Bank & Trust in Lufkin, TX (Link)
- 2017 ABA Tax Section Joint Fall CLE Meeting in Austin, TX (Link)
- TX Society of EAs – DFW Chapter of EA’s (Link)
- SBOT Advanced Tax Law Course (Link)
- TE/GE Councils (Link)
- American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (Link)
- East Texas Chapter/TSCPA Spring CE Expo (Link)
- 2016 Louisiana Tax Conference – New Orleans, LA (Link)
- 2016 TSCPA CPE Expo- San Antonio (Link)
- 2016 TSCPA CPE Expo- Arlington (Link)
- 2016 TSCPA CPE Expo- Houston (Link)
- 18th Annual Meadows Collier Tax Conference (Link)
- ASTPS Webinar (Link)
- Texas Association of CPAs (Link)
- ABA Tax Section 2016 Midyear Meeting (Link)
- ABA Tax Section 2016 Midyear Meeting (Link)
- Louisiana Society of CPAs Tax Conference (Link)
- New England IRS Representation Conference (Link)
- Circular 230: Oversight of the Tax Practitioner” “Hot Topics in IRS Audits and Investigations (Link)
- IRS Update: What are They Doing Now? (Link)
- Criminal & Civil Aspects of the Bank Secrecy Act (Link)
- What to do When CI Knocks on the Door: An Overview of Criminal Tax and Bank Secrecy Act Investigations (Link)
- Bank Secrecy Act Criminal Investigations” and IRS Investigations and Practices – “Enforcement Update (Link)
- How to Manage Criminal Cases When the C.I. Knocks on the Taypayer’s Door (Link)
- “IRS Investigations and Practices” “Department of Justice Tax Division Update” (Link)
- Ethical Issues Arising in Day-To-Day Tax Practice (Link)
- IRS Investigations and Practices Important Developments (Link)
- IRS Investigations and Practices Subcommittee Report: Penalty Abatement Procedures & Identity Theft Pilot Program (Link)
- Tax Litigation: What Is Involved in Taking a Tax Case from Exam to Appeal and When is it Worth it? (Link)
- How to Manage Criminal Cases When the C.I. Knocks on the Taxpayer’s Door (Link)
- Proposed Increased Funding in the Fiscal Year 2013 – Budget Proposal Summary for IRS Enforcement Activities (Link)
- Get Ready for the Newest Specialized IRS Civil Agents: The SBSE Fraud/Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Agent” (Moderator) (Link)
- Responding to Governmental Inquiries (Link)
- Recent Trends in IRS Enforcement Activity Regarding Efforts to Increase Collection and Reduce the Tax Gap and Title 31 Anti-Money Laundering Examinations (Link)
- “IRS Investigations and Practices Subcommittee Report: Recent Trends in IRS Enforcement Activity Regarding Structuring and The Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”)” and “Young Lawyers Address Ethical (Link)
- The Bank Secrecy Act: Currency Reporting Requirements, Related Federal Investigations, and Criminal Prosecutions (Link)
- Voluntary Disclosures & Tax Consequences of Ponzi Schemes (Link)
- Meadows Collier Congratulates Six Firm Partners Selected to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Tax Lawyers (Link)
- TXCPA Panhandle Tax Institute 2026 (Link)
- 2026 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- 18 Meadows Collier Lawyers Recognized by D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas (Link)
- TXCPA Fort Worth Member Appreciation Day (Link)
- Texas Bank and Trust 2026 Taxation and Estate Planning Update for Professionals – Longview (Link)
- ABA 2026 May Tax Meeting (Link)
- Texas Bank and Trust 2026 Taxation and Estate Planning Update for Professionals – Tyler (Link)
- Dallas Bar Association CLE Session (Link)
- Meadows Collier March Monthly Webinar (Link)
- NIL Panel Discussion (Link)
- Meadows Collier February Webinar (Link)
- Meadows Collier Congratulates Michael A. Villa, Jr. for His Selection for America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys® 2026 (Link)
- Meadows Collier January Monthly Webinar (Link)
- 2025 ABA Tax Section Criminal Tax Fraud and Tax Controversy Conference (Link)
- 2025 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- International Tax Group Two-Day Event (Link)
- Thirteen Firm Lawyers Recognized on the 2025 Texas Super Lawyers List (Link)
- State Bar of Texas Tax Section Leadership Academy (Link)
- 43rd Annual Tax Law in the Digital Age Course (Link)
- RISE 8th Annual Athlete Enterprise Symposium (Link)
- Meadows Collier Congratulates Six Partners Selected for Inclusion in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Tax Lawyers (Link)
- Meadows Collier Congratulates Sixteen Firm Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine (Link)
- State Bar of Texas Tax Section Council Meeting (Link)
- State Bar of Texas Tax Section Tax Controversy Panel CLE Course (Link)
- 2024 ABA Section of Taxation 41st Annual National Institute on Criminal Tax Fraud and 14th Annual National Institute on Tax Controversy (Link)
- 2024 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- Ten Firm Lawyers Recognized on the 2024 Texas Super Lawyers List (Link)
- 15 Meadows Collier Lawyers Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® (Link)
- Meadows Collier Congratulates 14 Firm Lawyers on being named D Magazine’s 2024 Best Lawyers (Link)
- Willis-Knighton (WK) Eye Institute Seminar (Link)
- 2023 Louisiana Tax Conference (Day Two) (Link)
- The Form 8300 Hazards for Businesses and Practitioners (Link)
- IRS Targets High-Income Individuals Illegally Claiming Puerto Rico’s Tax Benefits (Link)
- 2023 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum (Link)
- Michael A. Villa, Jr. appointed Chair of the American Bar Association Tax Section Civil & Criminal Penalties Committee (Link)
- Meadows Collier Congratulates 12 Firm Lawyers Named to D Magazine’s 2023 Best Lawyers (Link)
- Mike Villa and Damon Rowe are guest speakers on the Tax Rep Network (Link)
- Eight Meadows Collier Lawyers Recognized as 2022 Texas Super Lawyers (Link)
- Mike Villa – Tax Rep Network (TRN) Webinar (Link)
- TXCPA CPE Summit 2022 (Day Two) (Link)
- Metroplex Practice Management Group (MPMG) Aug. 2022 (Link)
- Meadows Collier Congratulates 12 Firm Lawyers Recognized by The Best Lawyers of America™ (Link)
- Thinking of Calling the IRS? Good Luck. (Link)
- Wichita Falls Chapter Free CPE Day (Link)
- Eleven Meadows Collier Attorneys Selected to D Magazine’s 2022 Best Lawyers Listing (Link)
- American Bar Association Virtual Midyear Tax Meeting (Link)
- How to Bring an IRS Whistleblower Claim: Dole Out Justice and Get Paid? (Link)
- How to Bring an IRS Whistleblower Claim: Dole Out Justice and Get Paid? Live Webinar (Link)
- 2021 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- IRS Representation Conference 2021 (Link)
- International Tax Symposium (Link)
- 2021 Austin Chapter/TXCPA Annual Tax Conference (Link)
- Employers Beware: Federal Government Continues its Laser Focus on Employment Tax Fraud (Link)
- Seven Meadows Collier Attorneys Recognized as 2021 Texas Super Lawyers (Link)
- 2022 Best Lawyers in America (Link)
- MPMG) Metroplex Practice Management Group (Link)
- How to Bring an IRS Whistleblower Case (Link)
- April 2021 Dallas Bar Association Tax Section Meeting (Link)
- CPA Academy (Link)
- The Department of Justice Announces First Guilty Pleas in Conservation Easement Transactions (Link)
- Society of Louisiana CPAs’ Tax Conference (Link)
- 2020 IRS Representation Conference (Link)
- PODCAST: How to Bring a Whistleblower Claim (and Get Paid!) (Link)
- Accounting Continuing Professional Education Network (ACPEN) 2020 Business Fraud Update Webcast (Link)
- 38th Annual Course Tax Law 2020: A Practical Guide to Tax Law in the Real World – Day Two (Link)
- TexasBarCLE 2020 Governance of Nonprofit Organizations Course (Link)
- The IRS Offers a Settlement Opportunity to Abusive Easement Cases (Link)
- American Bar Association Section of Taxation Jan.-Feb. 2020 Midyear Tax Meeting (Link)
- 2019 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- ABA 36th Annual National Institute on Criminal Tax Fraud and 9th Annual National Institute on Tax Controversy 2019 (Link)
- 21st Annual Meadows Collier Tax Conference (Link)
- ABA Tax Section, 2019 Fall Tax Meeting (Link)
- Metroplex Practice Management Group (MPMG) 2019 (Link)
- IRS Nationwide Tax Forum (Link)
- Permian Basin Chapter TXCPA Free CPE Event (Link)
- Section of Taxation 2019 May Tax Meeting of the American Bar Association (Link)
- Dallas Bar Association May Tax Section Meeting (Link)
- Handling Your First (or Next) White Collar Crime Case (Link)
- 2019 Midyear Meeting American Bar Association Section of Taxation (Link)
- 2018 Louisiana Tax Conference (Link)
- TSCPA 2018 CPE Expo – Houston (Link)
- TSCPA 2018 CPE Expo – San Antonio (Link)
- TSCPA 2018 CPE Expo – Dallas (Link)
- Reacting and Responding to the Commencement of an IRS Criminal Investigation (Link)
- Federal White Collar Seminar (Link)
- 2018 ABA Section of Taxation May Meeting (Link)
- Marinello v. United States – Supreme Court Opinion (Link)
- The Federal Bar Association (Link)
- 2018 American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting (Link)
- First Bank & Trust in Lufkin, TX (Link)
- 2017 ABA Tax Section Joint Fall CLE Meeting in Austin, TX (Link)
- TX Society of EAs – DFW Chapter of EA’s (Link)
- SBOT Advanced Tax Law Course (Link)
- “Doctor fights for return of Tyrannosaurus bataar skull.” (Link)
- “Feds try to seize dinosaur skull, but doctor says he bought his fair and square.” (Link)
- The RESPECT Act: Will Congress Pass Legislation to Limit IRS Civil Forfeiture in “Structuring” Cases? (Link)
- TE/GE Councils (Link)
- American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (Link)
- East Texas Chapter/TSCPA Spring CE Expo (Link)
- The Government Settlement Transparency & Reform Act (S.803): Are the Tax Benefits of Corporate Settlements in Jeopardy? (Link)
- 2016 Louisiana Tax Conference – New Orleans, LA (Link)
- 2016 TSCPA CPE Expo- San Antonio (Link)
- 2016 TSCPA CPE Expo- Arlington (Link)
- 2016 TSCPA CPE Expo- Houston (Link)
- 18th Annual Meadows Collier Tax Conference (Link)
- ASTPS Webinar (Link)
- Do You Have an “All Cash” Real Estate Deal in San Antonio or Bexar County, Texas? Additional Government Disclosures May Be Required (Link)
- IRS Announces Procedure for Seeking a Return of Property Seized in Legally Sourced Structuring Cases (Link)
- Texas Association of CPAs (Link)
- Perseverance Pays Off: IRS Returns Seized Cash to Store Owner (Link)
- ABA Tax Section 2016 Midyear Meeting (Link)
- ABA Tax Section 2016 Midyear Meeting (Link)
- Handling Taxpayers Who Have Forgotten Their Filing Obligations (Link)
- Louisiana Society of CPAs Tax Conference (Link)
- New England IRS Representation Conference (Link)
- Federal Agent Steals Virtual Currency and Receives Real World Prison Sentence (Link)
- TIGTA Report Weighs in on Penalty Abatements (Link)
- Eleventh Circuit Holds “Cash Hoard” Exceeding $10k Currently is Not Required for a Structuring Indictment (Link)
- Court Upholds FBAR Penalties, but Rejects Government’s Assessed Interest and Late Charges (Link)
- No Fifth Amendment Protection for Foreign Account Records, Government Prevails in the Third Circuit (Link)
- Combating the Growing Problem of Tax Fraud and Identity Theft (Link)
- Circular 230: Oversight of the Tax Practitioner” “Hot Topics in IRS Audits and Investigations (Link)
- IRS Update: What are They Doing Now? (Link)
- Criminal & Civil Aspects of the Bank Secrecy Act (Link)
- What to do When CI Knocks on the Door: An Overview of Criminal Tax and Bank Secrecy Act Investigations (Link)
- Bank Secrecy Act Criminal Investigations” and IRS Investigations and Practices – “Enforcement Update (Link)
- How to Manage Criminal Cases When the C.I. Knocks on the Taypayer’s Door (Link)
- “IRS Investigations and Practices” “Department of Justice Tax Division Update” (Link)
- Ethical Issues Arising in Day-To-Day Tax Practice (Link)
- IRS Investigations and Practices Important Developments (Link)
- IRS Investigations and Practices Subcommittee Report: Penalty Abatement Procedures & Identity Theft Pilot Program (Link)
- Tax Litigation: What Is Involved in Taking a Tax Case from Exam to Appeal and When is it Worth it? (Link)
- How to Manage Criminal Cases When the C.I. Knocks on the Taxpayer’s Door (Link)
- Proposed Increased Funding in the Fiscal Year 2013 – Budget Proposal Summary for IRS Enforcement Activities (Link)
- Get Ready for the Newest Specialized IRS Civil Agents: The SBSE Fraud/Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Agent” (Moderator) (Link)
- Responding to Governmental Inquiries (Link)
- Recent Trends in IRS Enforcement Activity Regarding Efforts to Increase Collection and Reduce the Tax Gap and Title 31 Anti-Money Laundering Examinations (Link)
- “IRS Investigations and Practices Subcommittee Report: Recent Trends in IRS Enforcement Activity Regarding Structuring and The Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”)” and “Young Lawyers Address Ethical (Link)
- The Bank Secrecy Act: Currency Reporting Requirements, Related Federal Investigations, and Criminal Prosecutions (Link)
- Voluntary Disclosures & Tax Consequences of Ponzi Schemes (Link)