About
INSTITUTIONAL RIGOR,
BUILT FOR REAL ESTATE.
Bastion & Thorne advises real estate operators, developers, fund managers, GPs, and LPs on the tax decisions that define financial returns. We operate at the intersection of tax law and real estate economics.
about the firm
Bastion & Thorne is a real estate tax and advisory firm built for operators and investors who demand precision. We work across the full spectrum of real estate structures, including partnerships, funds, REITs, joint ventures, development deals, and §1031 exchanges, and we bring institutional rigor to every engagement.
Our process is deliberate by design. Every engagement is structured, transparent, and built to avoid surprises. From the first document request to the final filing, you’ll know where things stand and why.
how we work
01
Direct Access
You work directly with Chris. Your questions are answered by the person doing the work.
02
Technical Depth
We work through the tax law and the deal economics together, so your structure is positioned for both.
03
Structured Process
Every engagement follows a clear sequence: defined scope, organized intake, rigorous review, and clear communication throughout.
04
Built for Real Estate
We don’t generalize. Our systems, workflows, and technical approach were built for real estate from the ground up.
our values
01
Uncompromising
Character
We do the right thing, every single time. Technical positions are documented with the relevant assumptions, scope, and supporting analysis.
02
Punctual
Quality
High-quality work, managed to the timeline we agree on at the outset.
03
Seamless
Clarity
Plain-language answers, documented assumptions, and a clear view of where things stand.
meet the founder
Chris Rudolph, Principal
Chris founded Bastion & Thorne after completing four seasons in a Big 4 firm’s Orange County tax practice. During that time, he earned his license as a Certified Public Accountant before departing from his role as Senior Consultant. His work centered on real estate partnerships, REIT fund structures, and the transactions that run through them.
Chris Rudolph is individually licensed as a California CPA. Bastion Tax, LLC is not a CPA firm.
Experience includes:
Multi-property §1031 exchanges
Joint-venture and waterfall analysis
Lender-side foreclosures converted into operating assets
Cross-border entity structuring
Long-term lease structuring, including §467 analysis
That background informs the situations Bastion & Thorne works through today, including ownership restructuring, partnership economics, exchanges, and long-term lease terms.
Before the Big 4, Chris held roles in wealth management, corporate finance, commercial property management, and retail sales. He also founded and operated Home Advanced, a multi-state home services business, before winding down its operations.
Chris graduated magna cum laude from Loyola Marymount University with a B.B.A. in Finance and a minor in Accounting. At LMU’s College of Business Administration, he served as president of the Real Estate Society and rebuilt it into the college’s then-largest student organization. He is certified in Mergers & Acquisitions by the Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) and holds credentials in Real Estate Financial Modeling.
