Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered
295 Madison Avenue
12th Floor
New York, New York 10017
United States

Email firm Visit website 1 212 379 6000 1 212 379 6001

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 2

Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered is a Washington DC-based boutique known for its strength in both civil and criminal tax disputes that is hailed by clients as ‘true leaders of the tax litigation bar’. The group acts on behalf of both businesses and private individuals and is noted for its strength in matters involving undisclosed offshore bank accounts and assets, though it also routinely handles other complex international tax mandates. Leading the team are highly experienced criminal tax practitioner Scott Michel

and Christopher Rizek, whose practice covers conservation easements, estate and gift taxes, and tax shelter investigations. Michel and Rizek are praised for being ‘knowledgeable, accessible, and very sensitive in dealing with clients’. Niles Elber handles both civil and criminal matters and has recently demonstrated strengths in the conservation easement space, Mark Matthews is primarily active on behalf of high net worth individuals, including those holding assets internationally, and Charles Ruchelman is a key name for captive insurance matters. Other core team members include international tax specialist Victor Jaramillo as well as Benjamin Eisenstat.

Leading lawyers

Niles Elber – Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered

Hall of Fame

Scott Michel

– Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered

Practice head(s):

Scott Michel; Christopher Rizek

Other key lawyers:

Niles Elber; Mark Matthews; Charles Ruchelman; Victor Jaramillo; Benjamin Eisenstat; Leila Carney

Testimonials

‘The entire team is first-rate. Scott Michel, Mark Matthews, and Chris Rizek are as fine as any tax controversy lawyers in the land. Niles Elber and Victor Jaramillo are also formidable. They are all true leaders of the tax litigation bar, not just by their casework, but also by providing their time and talents to issues on behalf of taxpayers in general.’

‘The experience and judgment they provide on cases is profound. I appreciate their ability to evaluate cases and their strategic thinking on how to reach results that exceed expectations.’

‘Scott and Niles are knowledgeable, accessible, and very sensitive in dealing with clients who are vulnerable. They are respected by US tax administrators, which is critical in an area which can result in substantial penalties or incarceration.’

‘Scott and Niles are comforting in files which require a leap of faith.’

Work highlights

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 6

Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered’s transactional tax has a strong reputation for working closely with the firm’s private client practice to assist individuals and families with wealth structuring and tax and estate planning issues. Jonathan Brenner in New York has long-standing experience advising domestic and overseas businesses, US citizens, expatriates, and foreign nationals on tax structuring. He leads the group alongside Washington DC-based private client specialist Anne O’Brien. DC’s Richard Skillman focuses on federal taxation, while Josiah Child in New York counts sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and high-net-worth individuals as clients. Elizabeth Stevens in Washington DC advises partnerships, LLCs, and S-corporations. Former practice co-heads Beth Kaufman and Megan Wernke left the firm in May 2023.