John Mark Colvin

Since joining the firm of Chicoine & Hallett, P.S. in 1991, Mr. Colvin has concentrated his practice in federal tax controversy matters and federal white-collar criminal defense. Mr. Colvin has represented clients before every level of the Internal Revenue Service, before the United States Tax Court and the Court of Federal Claims, in the federal district courts, before the Circuit Courts of Appeals, and before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Recent reported tax cases for which Mr. Colvin had primary or significant responsibility include Gitlitz v. Commissioner, 531 U.S. 206, 121 S. Ct. 701 (2001), rev'g 182 F.3d 1143 (10th Cir. 1999); St. Charles Investment Co. v. Commissioner, 232 F.3d 773 (10th Cir. 2000), rev'g 110 T.C. 46 (1998); and Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-291. Mr. Colvin also successfully represented some of the taxpayers in United States v. Guess, et. al., S.D.Cal. 04-2184, a case in which the government sought to obtain a preliminary injunction and receivership over an offshore insurance company with approximately $500 million in assets, alleging that the company and its clients were participating in an illegal tax shelter. Mr. Colvin also has significant experience in white-collar cases involving fraudulent medical billings, customs violations, securities and commodities fraud, software piracy, bank and bankruptcy fraud, environmental crimes, and Lacey Act violations.

Mr. Colvin is a frequent lecturer on tax-related topics for professional groups. He is the Chairman of the Subcommittee for Legislative and Administrative Developments for the ABA Taxation Section, Civil and Criminal Penalties Committee.

Mr. Colvin earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Reed College in 1985, where he was admitted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1991. Mr. Colvin received a fellowship at Columbia University from 1986 to 1988, where he pursued graduate studies in 17th and 18th century Chinese history. Mr. Colvin was designated as a Telluride Scholar in 1980 at Deep Springs College, California.