David Foster > Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C., 20004
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
David Foster photo

Position

David Foster is a partner in the Tax Disputes Practice Group in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. David advises a broad range of clients, including large corporations, private equity firms and hedge funds, partnerships, estates, exempt organizations and individuals, many of whom are subject to the IRS’ Global High Wealth initiative. His practice covers a diverse range of tax issues, including BBA partnership audit and litigation procedures, energy tax credits, international tax and transfer pricing, challenges to tax-exempt status, taxation of financial products, estate and gift taxes, deferred compensation, voluntary disclosures and criminal tax.

A former Supreme Court clerk for Justice Kennedy, David has prepared briefs and argued before many of the federal courts of appeals. Prior to joining Kirkland, he obtained a rare taxpayer victory striking down a Treasury Regulation in Hewitt v. Commissioner, 21 F.4th 1336 (11th Cir. 2021). He also represented five former IRS commissioners in a D.C. Circuit amicus brief in Loving v. IRS in support of licensing standards for tax return preparers, as well as the American College of Tax Counsel in amicus briefs in the Tax Court and the Supreme Court.

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Tax > US taxes: contentious

(Leading partners)

David FosterKirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP handles all aspects of tax controversy from pre-audit planning and audits through to administrative appeals, post-appeals mediation, and litigation. Alongside a solid track record of success in resolving complex matters at the administrative stage, it also scores victories in both federal and state courts across the US. The firm is particularly well known for representing high-profile companies in the energy sector, as well as prominent private equity funds and their portfolio companies in complex tax audits, transfer pricing matters, and administrative appeals. It also has significant experience in and defending corporations and individuals in tax enforcement matters before the IRS and DOJ. The group is led by Richard Husseini who works from the Houston office with key partner David Cole. Both assist private and public companies, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals with complex tax controversy issues. Natalie Keller in Chicago is skilled in transfer pricing audits and competent authority proceedings. David Foster in Washington DC also plays a key role in the practice.