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Thomas D. Sykes

Tax Attorney at Redmond, WA

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About Thomas

Learn Thomas’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas
  1. Tax
    55%
    Started out in 1983 representing the federal government in a criminal tax prosecution.

    42 years, 250 cases

  2. Litigation
    20%
    Within four months of graduating from law school, I was first-chairing cases in court. Substantial class-action experience.

    43 years, 325 cases

  3. Administrative law
    10%
    An excellent understanding of administrative law is necessary in tax cases that involve the application of a dubious and potentially invalid regulation.

    41 years, 50 cases

  4. Appeals
    5%
    Extensive experience in the federal courts of appeals and before IRS Appeals.

    41 years, 30 cases

  5. Class action
    5%
    Lead counsel in $190 million putative class action.

    8 years, 1 case

  6. White collar crime
    5%
    Former federal and state prosecutor.

    24 years, 35 cases

Having practiced tax law in Washington, DC, Chicago, and now Seattle, Tom has one of the nation's premier tax-dispute resumes.  For 40 years, he has first-chaired tax controversies at the highest reaches of the profession.  During the first half of his tax career, he represented the IRS in tax disputes across the nation; during the second half, he represented many institutions that are household names while a partner or shareholder with two of the nation's most prestigious law firms.  Tom has tried 25 jury trials, handled over 200 non-jury tax cases, and first chaired 15 cases in the federal courts of appeals.  He is a former federal prosecutor and former state prosecutor.  He is extensively published and cited -- a "thought leader."  He may properly be regarded as having a "360-degree" tax-dispute resume.      

Licensed for 43 years
State IL
Status Active And Authorized To Practice Law
Acquired 2002
Updated 01/05/2023
State DC
Status Good Standing
Acquired 1998
Updated 06/08/2022
State WI
Status Good Standing
Acquired 1979
Updated 12/05/2022
State MN
Status Not Authorized - Non-payment of fees
Acquired 1981
Updated 10/28/2022

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Thomas

Law Offices of Thomas D. Sykes PLLC
16625 Redmond Way Ste. M #151
Redmond, WA, 98052
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Reviews

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Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 400-675 per hour
Payment methods
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Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Member
  • The Law Offices of Thomas D. Sykes LLC
  • 2016 - Present
  • Partner
  • Gould & Ratner LLP
  • 2013 - 2015
  • Shareholder
  • Greenberg Traurig LLP
  • 2010 - 2013
  • Partner
  • McDermott Will & Emery LLP
  • 2002 - 2010
  • Partner
  • Scribner Hall & Thompson LLP
  • 1998 - 2002
  • Assistant Chief, Reviewer, Senior Trial Attorney, etc.
  • U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division
  • 1984 - 1998
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney
  • U.S. Attorneys Office, Madison, WI
  • 1982 - 1984
  • District Attorney
  • Barron County District Attorneys Office
  • 1980 - 1982
View all work experience

Education

  • The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1979
  • University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude
  • 1976

Legal Cases

  • Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education, Inc. et al. v. United States
  • Just recently filed.
  • The University of Chicago Hospitals v. United States
  • Win
  • National Health Corporation v. United States
  • Win
View all legal cases

Associations

  • Appellate Lawyers Association
  • 2014 - Present
  • American Bar Association
  • 2011 - Present
  • Federalist Society
  • Board Member, Chicago Lawyers Chapter
  • 2003 - Present
  • District of Columbia Bar
  • 1998 - Present
  • State Bar of Wisconsin
  • 1979 - Present
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2016
  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2015
  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2014
  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2013
  • Leading Lawyer
  • Leading Lawyers Network
  • 2012
  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2011
  • Identified
  • Legal 500
  • 2011
  • Leading Lawyer
  • Leading Lawyers Network
  • 2011
  • Identified
  • Legal 500
  • 2010
  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2010
  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2007
  • Achievement Mentioned
  • Legal 500
  • 2007
  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2005
  • Outstanding Attorney
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • 1998
  • Outstanding Attorney
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • 1991
  • Outstanding Attorney
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • 1988
  • Outstanding Attorney
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • 1986
  • Listed
  • Who's Who In American Law
  • N/A
View all awards

Publications

  • Journal of Accountancy
  • Ten Situations in Which a CPA Should Call "Timeout"
  • 2015
  • CFO Magazine
  • Ruling Favors Employer Tax Refunds on Layoffs
  • 2012
  • BNA Daily Tax Report
  • The Mayo Decision;s Problematic Tax Analysis
  • 2011
  • Health Lawyers Weekly (AHLA)
  • Update On Next Steps For Teaching Hospitals To Recover FICA Tax Paid On Stipends Paid To Medical Residents
  • 2010
  • Health Lawyers Weekly (AHLA)
  • IRS Concedes That Medical Resident Stipends are Not Subject to FICA Taxes for Quarters Before April 1, 2005: Now What?
  • 2010
  • American Bar Association, Criminal Litigation Newsletter
  • Navigating Voluntary Disclosure in the Wake of the Government’s Assault on Undisclosed Foreign Accounts
  • 2009
  • BNA Portfolio No. 524
  • Deductibility of Bribes, Kickbacks, Illegal Payments, Fines, and Penalties
  • 2007
  • Legal Times
  • Whose Tax Law Is It?
  • 2006
  • IP Law360
  • To Practice Law, You Need a Patent License
  • 2006
  • BNA's Tax Practice Series
  • Chapter 3850, Examinations: Audits, Assessments, Appeals
  • 2005
  • The Tax Executive
  • The Growing Controversy over Federal Excise Tax on Long-Distance Calls
  • 2003
  • Tax Notes
  • The Invalidity of the "For Everyone or No One" Rule, and a Tax-Recovery Strategy Suggested by the Analysis
  • 2003
  • Tax Notes
  • Powerful New Arguments Against the Duplicated-Loss Provisions of the LDR
  • 2001
  • 41 Ohio St. L.J. 211
  • Chart v. General Motors: Did It Chart the Way for Admission of Evidence of Subsequent Remedial Measures?
  • 1980
View all publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Webcast, American Bar Association, Business Law Section
  • Recent Judicial Developments Respecting Chevron Deference
  • 2016
  • ABA's Section of Taxation and Section of Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law (Boston, MA)
  • Litigation of Actions under Section 7408 and Related Sections,, Such as Section 7407 and 7402
  • 2012
  • Third Annual Institute on the Ethics of Tax Law Practice, John Marshall Law School
  • Shrinking Privileges, Expanding Responsibilities
  • 2010
  • NACUBO Tax Forum
  • Medical Resident FICA
  • 2010
  • Ernst & Young Conference
  • Medical Resident FICA and Other Employment Tax Issues
  • 2010
  • 29th Annual Federal Tax Institute, Chicago-Kent College of Law
  • Recent Development in Taxation
  • 2010
  • Tax Executives Institute's International Tax Forum
  • International Compliance Issue
  • 2009
View all speaking engagements

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Redmond Tax Lawyer Thomas D. Sykes
Thomas D. Sykes
Tax Attorney
Redmond, WA
Licensed for 43 years
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