Best Law Firms in District of Columbia for Litigation and Controversy - Tax

Ivins, Phillips & Barker is exclusively engaged in the practice of federal tax, benefits and compensation and estate and gift tax law. Our lawyers are nationally recognized to be among the best and brightest, bringing years of government service and corporate experience to bear on our clients' tax problems. We provide seasoned counsel in all major areas of tax law, and we offer prompt and efficient attention, whether with respect to the most detailed and intricate of issues, or for rapid responses to emergency situations.

Founded by two of the original judges on the United States Tax Court in 1935, our decades of focus on the intricacies of the Internal Revenue Code and Department of Labor regulations have led numerous Fortune 500 companies, as well as smaller companies, tax-exempt organizations, and high net worth individuals to rely on us for answers to their most complicated and sophisticated tax planning problems as well as for complex tax litigation. Our experience has taught us that while the tax code is ever-evolving, for most taxpayers it remains dauntingly complex; we keep up on the latest developments in tax reform so that we can provide timely advice on how changes to the law will affect you and your business.

We believe our clients are best served by a practice environment in which lawyers concentrate on an area of specialization within the tax law, so that they see all the issues that come to the firm in that area. Unlike other firms that use unnecessarily large teams to solve simple problems, IPB keeps clients costs to a minimum with extreme efficiency, outstanding intellect, and practicality. 

We are committed to providing the highest-quality, timely responses to our clients’ needs. We also recognize an obligation to be forward-thinking and to bring potentially beneficial tax planning ideas to your attention, whether you're the Tax Director at a multinational corporation, or an individual taxpayer. 

Our loyal national and international clients know that they can rely on us for the finest, most timely tax advice and tax controversy services available anywhere in the United States.

For 80 years, Kostelanetz LLP has built a global reputation as a law firm of choice for clients facing high-stakes controversies, negotiations with government agencies, and complex domestic and international tax planning decisions. Our attorneys have extensive experience in tax controversy, tax fraud defense, white-collar criminal defense, trust and estate planning, transactional tax planning, and government investigations. We are regularly called upon to handle the most challenging and sensitive matters and internal investigations. Important parts of the firm’s practice also include commercial litigation and government procurement and contracting.

Kostelanetz attorneys are highly skilled and approach each matter strategically based on decades of administrative and litigation experience and as advisors on domestic and international tax compliance issues. Many of our attorneys have served as former senior officials within the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal and state prosecutors’ offices. Several of the firm’s attorneys have served as federal judicial law clerks and/or have master’s degrees in taxation.

The firm and its attorneys have been honored and recognized by major, independent national and international legal rankings agencies, including Chambers USA, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers.

Kostelanetz LLP attorneys are thought leaders who frequently write articles for The CPA Journal, Tax Notes, The Journal of Tax Practice & Procedure, Law360, and other respected publications on the latest topics and trends in tax law, civil and criminal tax enforcement, transactional tax planning, estate and trust planning, commercial litigation, and white-collar criminal defense & government investigations, including recent developments in IRS audits, IRS criminal investigations, state and local enforcement actions against alleged tax evasion, and enforcement measures taken by the Justice Department, the SEC, FinCEN, and various government regulatory agencies.

Several of our partners teach at top law schools (such as NYU and Georgetown), present CLE/CPE courses on tax-related and legal ethics topics, and are often hired as expert witnesses or consultants in tax controversy litigation.

Our individual and institutional clients have immediate access to the firm’s partners and most senior attorneys. The firm focuses on providing value to its clients and is sensitive to the balance between cost and benefit inherent in every legal assignment. As a result, we have the depth and flexibility to add attorney strength as the needs of the client or matter demand.

McDermott Will & Schulte is an international law firm serving businesses, institutions and individuals across a wide range of legal matters. With offices throughout the United States and Europe, including Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt and Washington, D.C., the firm advises clients on complex transactions, regulatory concerns, litigation and industry-specific challenges. Since first earning attorney recognition in 1983, the firm has continued to build a broad legal practice shaped by changing markets and evolving client needs.

The firm is known for its work in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, tax law, health care law, intellectual property and high-stakes litigation. Its attorneys also counsel clients in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence law, fintech, privacy and data security, biotechnology and life sciences. McDermott Will & Schulte represents clients ranging from growing companies to multinational organizations, helping them navigate business decisions, disputes and regulatory matters with practical legal guidance.

McDermott Will & Schulte has earned recognition across numerous practice areas in Best Law Firms rankings, including bankruptcy and restructuring, employment law, real estate law, securities regulation, patent law, antitrust law and international trade and finance law. The firm also has 357 lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers, reflecting peer-reviewed acknowledgment across a broad range of legal disciplines.

Clients turn to McDermott Will & Schulte for counsel that is strategic, business-minded and tailored to the industries they serve. Whether handling cross-border transactions, intellectual property disputes, health care compliance or complex commercial litigation, the firm focuses on delivering clear legal solutions that align with each client’s long-term objectives.