$ 450-800 per hour
Thomas D. Sykes
About Thomas
Biography
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.
Practice Areas
6
Practice Areas
Tax
55%
45 years | 250 cases
Litigation
20%
46 years | 325 cases
Administrative Law
10%
44 years | 50 cases
Appeals
5%
44 years | 30 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Illinois for 23 years
State: Illinois
Acquired: 2002
No misconduct found
Licensed in District of Columbia for 27 years
State: District of Columbia
Acquired: 1998
No misconduct found
Licensed in Wisconsin for 46 years
State: Wisconsin
Acquired: 1979
No misconduct found
Licensed in Minnesota for 44 years
State: Minnesota
Acquired: 1981
No misconduct found
Location
Law Offices of Thomas D. Sykes PLLC
16625 Redmond Way Ste. M #151, Redmond, WA, 98052
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Experience
Honors
2025
Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
2016
Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2015
Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2014
Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2013
Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2011
Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2011
Identified, Legal 500
2011
Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
2010
Identified, Legal 500
2010
Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2007
Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2007
Achievement Mentioned, Legal 500
2005
Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
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
Outstanding Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
N/A
Listed, Who's Who In American Law
Work Experience
2016 - Present
Member, The Law Offices of Thomas D. Sykes LLC
2013 - 2015
Partner, Gould & Ratner LLP
2010 - 2013
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP
2002 - 2010
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP
1998 - 2002
Partner, Scribner Hall & Thompson LLP
1984 - 1998
Assistant Chief, Reviewer, Senior Trial Attorney, etc., U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division
1982 - 1984
Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorneys Office, Madison, WI
1980 - 1982
District Attorney, Barron County District Attorneys Office
Associations
1998 - Present
District of Columbia Bar
1979 - Present
State Bar of Wisconsin
Sample of Legal Cases
Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education, Inc. et al. v. United States
Concluded.
The University of Chicago Hospitals v. United States
Win
Various
Few losses; mostly wins and settlements
Education
1979
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1976
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
BA - Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude
Speaking Engagements
2022
Conference, National Association of State Bar Tax Sections
FinCEN's New Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements
2016
Webcast, American Bar Association, Business Law Section
Recent Judicial Developments Respecting Chevron Deference
2012
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
2010
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
2009
Tax Executives Institute's International Tax Forum
International Compliance Issue
Publications
2015
Journal of Accountancy
Ten Situations in Which a CPA Should Call "Timeout"
2012
CFO Magazine
Ruling Favors Employer Tax Refunds on Layoffs
2011
BNA Daily Tax Report
The Mayo Decision;s Problematic Tax Analysis
2010
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?
2009
American Bar Association, Criminal Litigation Newsletter
Navigating Voluntary Disclosure in the Wake of the Government’s Assault on Undisclosed Foreign Accounts
2007
BNA Portfolio No. 524
Deductibility of Bribes, Kickbacks, Illegal Payments, Fines, and Penalties
2006
Legal Times
Whose Tax Law Is It?
2006
IP Law360
To Practice Law, You Need a Patent License
2005
BNA's Tax Practice Series
Chapter 3850, Examinations: Audits, Assessments, Appeals
2003
Tax Notes
The Invalidity of the "For Everyone or No One" Rule, and a Tax-Recovery Strategy Suggested by the Analysis
2003
The Tax Executive
The Growing Controversy over Federal Excise Tax on Long-Distance Calls
2001
Tax Notes
Powerful New Arguments Against the Duplicated-Loss Provisions of the LDR
1980
41 Ohio St. L.J. 211
Chart v. General Motors: Did It Chart the Way for Admission of Evidence of Subsequent Remedial Measures?
Languages
English