Michael Desmond

Michael Desmond is Chair of the Tax Department and Co-Chair Tax Controversy and Litigation Group. Mike’s practice focuses on working with the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other tax authorities on a variety of approaches to resolving unsettled tax matters. He also represents clients before the examination divisions of the IRS, the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, in the United States Tax Court and in federal district courts, the Court of Federal Claims and various federal courts of appeal.

Mike served as the 48th Chief Counsel of the IRS. As Chief Counsel, he was the principal legal officer for the IRS, overseeing a staff of nearly 1,500 lawyers responsible for interpreting and providing advice on all aspects of the federal tax law. Mike previously served as Tax Legislative Counsel at the U.S. Department of Treasury, where he was the principal legal advisor to the Treasury Secretary and Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) on domestic, non-benefits aspects of the federal tax law. Earlier in his career he served as a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division.