Photo of Nikki E. Dobay

Nikki Dobay serves as a co-chair of the U.S. State and Local Tax (SALT) practice and is nationally known for her deep experience and understanding of state tax policy and the legislative process. She also advises her clients on sophisticated multistate tax issues as well as the consequences and planning opportunities related to corporate M&A transactions and oversees state and local tax controversy matters, ranging from audits to appellate litigation, and involving sales and use taxes, income and franchise taxes, property taxes, and constitutional issues.

Nikki regularly engages on key SALT issues impacting multijurisdictional taxpayers with national and statewide business and taxpayer associations, national tax administrator organizations, including the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA), the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) and Streamlined Sales Tax (SST), and state legislator organizations, including the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the Institute for State Policy Leaders (ISPL). She is also a frequent speaker on a broad array of SALT issues at various conferences across the country, including Council On State Taxation (COST), Tax Executives Institute (TEI), ABA, NYU, Hartman, Deloitte SALT Symposium, and various other regional conferences.

Prior to returning to private practice, Nikki spent five years as senior tax counsel for the COST, a national trade association representing large multistate businesses. While at COST, Nikki focused on the 13 most western states (including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon Utah, Washington and Wyoming), and has a strong working knowledge of the tax regimes in all of these states. Nikki’s time at COST as well as her continual work with state tax administrators through the FTA, MTC and SST have resulted in her having strong relationships with state tax administrators across the country.

Nikki’s broad experience and in-depth knowledge of tax regimes in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho inform her handling of litigation and strategic tax matters in these states. Over the past 20 years, Nikki has consistently worked with taxpayers to address complex state and local tax issues in Oregon, including corporate income excise tax disputes, residency issues, and local tax home rule challenges. She played a pivotal role in drafting Oregon’s Corporate Activity Tax legislation and has represented clients in the Oregon Tax Court on issues ranging from business/non-business income litigation to challenges involving Portland and Metro taxing authority.

In Washington, Nikki advises her clients on all aspects of B&O tax, including handling audits and litigation. She is also involved in efforts to consolidate and streamline B&O tax filing through legislative advocacy and coalition-building, as well as advising clients on sales tax and residency matters. Her work in Idaho includes drafting and successfully passing updated apportionment provisions, as well as advising on corporate tax matters and disputes and legislative initiatives.

 

On July 21, 2026, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) held its first implementation workshop meeting regarding Senate Bill 122 (SB 122), which extends California’s sales and use tax to digital software and software-as-a-service (SaaS) effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Continue Reading California SB 122 – CDTFA Workshop Addresses Software and SaaS Tax Rules Effective Jan. 1, 2027

In this mid-year GeTtin’ SALTy podcast episode, host Nikki Dobay and MultiState Associates’ Morgan Scarboro break down the state and local tax developments shaping 2026 — from digital advertising taxes and NOL caps to key legislative battles in Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania — and look ahead to what the second half of the year may hold.
Continue Reading GeTtin’ SALTy Episode 79 | Mid-Year SALT Legislative Roundup: Digital Ads, Data Brokers, and the States to Watch in 2026

California’s tax landscape is shifting fast. This episode breaks down Governor Newsom’s newly signed budget, including a SaaS sales tax and credit limitations, alongside the ballot measures California voters will face in 2026 – from a proposed billionaire wealth tax to a personal income tax surcharge extension.

Continue Reading GeTtin’ SALTy Episode 78 | California Dreamin’ of More Taxes: Budget Surprises, Taxation of SaaS, and a Crowded Ballot

A California budget trailer bill would extend sales tax to software and SaaS and adjust business credit limits, with potential implications for tax planning and compliance.

Continue Reading California Advances Budget Trailer Bill to Tax Software, SaaS, and Limit Business Credits

This discussion covers Keith’s vision for the MTC’s future, including his focus on organizational excellence, talent development, expanded engagement with local taxing jurisdictions, and deeper outreach to the business and practitioner communities.

Continue Reading GeTtin’ SALTy Episode 77 | Leading the MTC: A Conversation with New Executive Director Keith Richardson


In this episode of the GeTtin’ SALTy podcast, host Nikki Dobay is joined by Greenberg Traurig colleagues Brad Marsh and Jennifer Vincent to discuss a significant recent victory in the California Court of Appeal – First Appellate District: Xavier Garcia-Rojas v. Franchise Tax Board.

The case involved a Texas-based radiologist who performed all of

In this episode of Greenberg Traurig’s GeTtin’ SALTy podcast, host Nikki Dobay is joined by Peter Blocker, vice president of policy at the California Taxpayers Association, and Alan Pasetsky, owner and founder of Tax Policy LLC, for an in-depth discussion of California Assembly Bill 1790 — a measure that, if passed, would repeal California’s Water’s