Tax Controversies

Dean Mead’s Tax Department includes attorneys who focus their practice on tax controversies and regularly represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during all phases of a tax examination (audit) or controversy, including preparing written protests and representing taxpayers at the IRS Appeals Office and litigation in the United States Tax Court, the Federal Court of Claims, the federal district courts, the federal circuit courts of appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Individuals and Corporations

The types of tax issues our Department handles include income tax, employment tax, estate and gift tax, and federal excise taxes. We represent individuals, corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, and also tax-exempt organizations, regarding their tax issues.

Audit

Our attorneys work with clients from the inception of an audit to develop an audit strategy and to manage the audit in an effort to obtain favorable results through settlements, administrative hearings or judicial resolutions. Our lawyers also work with the certified public accountants representing the taxpayers.

“Up to Date”

Our practice is constantly evolving in response to changes in the way the IRS conducts examinations, develops alternative approaches to resolving disputes administratively and prepares cases for litigation. As the IRS involves its attorneys earlier in the process and for multiple purposes, taxpayers have found it essential and beneficial to do the same.

With extensive experience in both controversy procedures and tax law, we’re able to develop resolution strategies that are individually designed and factually based on each client’s particular circumstances. Our attorneys stay current on new developments in the tax laws in order to represent our clients in their tax controversies.

Litigation

Because we are sensitive to the fact that litigation is uncertain, costly and public, we constantly strive to resolve cases without litigation whenever possible. Our familiarity with the substantive, procedural and evidentiary rules allow us to counsel clients with a coherent and consistent strategy to obtain the desired resolution. In this regard, our attorneys often work at the development stages of a matter to document a transaction to minimize future disputes with the IRS. We also assist clients in responding to IRS inquiries at the earliest stages of an examination, with the objective of a consistent approach throughout the examination and IRS appeals process and, if necessary, in litigation. Throughout these processes, we are vigilant and creative in identifying potential settlement approaches while preparing the case for a full presentation at trial if that should prove unavoidable.