Professionals
Richard Nearhood
President/Designated Principal
Richard Nearhood has 40 years of experience as an Arizona licensed attorney and serves as the President of Ryan Legal Services. Mr. Nearhood was previously the Vice President of Legal for Ryan and was responsible for referring Ryan clients to law firms throughout the United States for tax-related services. Prior to joining Ryan, Mr. Nearhood spent eight years creating innovative tax solutions as the President of Software at Thomson Reuters and ePropertyTax. Mr. Nearhood is the co-inventor of a patented invention for handling multijurisdictional tax information, and his work was awarded the “Best of the Web” Award by Forbes magazine, the Smithsonian Institute Honors Award, and the Golden Web Award. For 13 years, he was the managing partner of a law firm specializing in tax litigation. He was the successful trial attorney for two of the largest Arizona decisions involving state and local taxation. Mr. Nearhood has a Master’s degree in law and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Arizona State University, and a Master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. Mr. Nearhood has also passed the certified public accountant (CPA) exam.
Dawn Gabel
Senior Counsel
Dawn Gabel is an Arizona state and local tax litigator focused on real and personal property tax reductions and sales and use tax litigation. Ms. Gabel represents clients across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, retail, multifamily residential, pipeline, utilities, low-income housing, amusement and entertainment, healthcare, renewable energy, golf course developments, data centers, office building/management, and construction and development. With more than 35 years of experience, she is a seasoned trial lawyer who has appeared before administrative tribunals, trial courts, and appellate courts. Ms. Gabel is a frequent speaker on property tax and sales tax topics. She holds an AV Martindale-Hubbell ranking, is recognized in Best Lawyers, and was named the Best Lawyers 2022 Phoenix Tax Lawyer of the Year. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Arizona State University and a law degree from The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law.
Bianca Van Deusen
Attorney
Bianca Van Deusen is an experienced litigator and licensed attorney in Arizona and New York. At Ryan Legal Services, Bianca manages tax controversies and litigation, developing effective strategies for tax savings for clients across a broad array of industries. Prior to joining RLS, Bianca defended automotive, consumer product, and medical device manufacturers and distributors in high-exposure product liability litigation and has also defended medical institutions and professionals in complex medical negligence cases. With her experience managing complex cases involving technical, financial, and regulatory issues through all aspects of litigation, including pre-suit investigation, discovery, alternative dispute resolution, trial, and appeal, she is an effective and thorough advocate for clients facing challenging tax issues. Bianca earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Arizona State University with minors in Economics and Russian and a law degree from Fordham University School of Law.
Joseph Caparis
Associate Attorney
Joseph Caparis is an associate attorney at Ryan Legal Services, where he focuses on property tax litigation throughout Arizona. Joseph earned both a Juris Doctor degree and Master of Sports Law and Business degree from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. While at Arizona State University, he also worked for numerous law firms, where he focused on a variety of litigation and regulatory issues. He also worked as a certified limited practice student in the ASU Entrepreneurship and Small Business Clinic. Joseph earned a B.A. from Pepperdine University where he was a member of the Division I Baseball Program. His attention to detail and analytical approach make him a strong advocate for property owners navigating complex tax issues throughout Arizona.
Holly Harris
Manager, Paralegal
Holly Harris has 25 years of experience as a tax paralegal and serves as the paralegal in charge of client and matter intake for Ryan Legal Services. Ms. Harris was previously a paralegal for Ryan and was responsible for assisting clients with the engagement of law firms throughout the United States for tax-related services.
Derilynn Showers
Senior Paralegal
Derilynn Showers has 12 years of experience as a litigation and contracts paralegal. Previously, she served as an Executive Assistant in the U.S. Operations department at Ryan, where she assisted team members with engaging outside professionals for client service delivery. Ms. Showers holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University.
Michelle Williamson
Senior Paralegal
Michelle Williamson is litigation paralegal with over 30 years of experience in civil and commercial litigation. She has practiced in several areas of law throughout her career including Tax, Real Estate, Condemnation, and Labor & Employment. Michelle has extensive trial experience assisting in cases in both Superior and Federal courts. At Ryan Legal Services, Michelle is the paralegal responsible for cases in the Arizona practice.