Robert J Chicoine

Robert Chicoine advises clients in matters of state and federal taxation, be it planning to minimize tax disputes, effectively resolving administrative scrutiny by taxing authorities, or defending clients in litigation when tax controversies cannot be settled. He has been called upon to assist accountants and lawyers as an expert on issues of federal taxation and has been engaged by tax agencies in U.S. territories as a lead lawyer in complex litigation. His clients typically include corporations, partnerships, estates, and individuals.

Mr. Chicoine is a seasoned lawyer who has tried cases throughout the United States in the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. district courts. He has appeared before several appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Over his distinguished legal career, Mr. Chicoine has represented clients in administrative, civil and criminal tax proceedings involving diverse issues in all phases of tax controversy. He has handled hundreds of cases before the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice, and revenue departments of state governments. Many of his most successful results are those that have never been published because they were resolved by negotiation. His priority is to cost effectively settle tax disputes without litigation, but if that is not possible, he will passionately defend his clients in court.

Mr. Chicoine offers his clients the benefit of having worked for the Chief Counsel’s Office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where he gained valuable experience as a Senior Trial and Tax Attorney for the IRS, and then as the founder of a law firm with a national reputation. He knows how the process works from the perspective of both sides. He also offers his clients the practical experience of having “worked in the trenches” as a court room lawyer who is responsible for the outcome of his client’s case.

Prior to starting the Chicoine Law Group to practice with his son, Christopher Chicoine, Mr. Chicoine was a founder of Chicoine and Hallett where he practiced for over 40 years and was instrumental in its achievement as a tax specialty firm of national repute.

As an offshoot of his tax practice, it is not unusual for Mr. Chicoine to be asked by clients to assist them with his negotiating skills in business transactions such as the valuation and sale of operating corporations and the resolution of commercial disputes.

Mr. Chicoine is admitted to practice in the States of Washington, California, and Arizona.

Academic and Professional Contributions

Mr. Chicoine has taught as an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Taxation for the University of Washington School Of Law, and as an adjunct lecturer at the Golden Gate University Graduate, School of Taxation. He has authored many articles on matters of taxation, ethics, white-collar criminal defense, and Internal Revenue Service administrative practice. Mr. Chicoine has served as a chairman, participant, or moderator of numerous Continuing Legal Education seminars for various organizations including the ABA, WSBA, King County Bar Association, Hawaii State Bar Association, Northwest Tax Institute, Washington Attorney-CPA Tax Clinic, Washington State CPA Society and ALI-ABA Criminal Section.

Mr. Chicoine has served as President of the Tax Section for the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) and Editor-in-Chief of its Newsletter. He is also a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Administrative Tax Procedures Committee and the American Bar Association Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties Committee.

 Admissions and Affiliations

California State Bar

Washington State Bar

Arizona State Bar

United States Supreme Court

United States Tax Court

United States Court of Federal Claims

United States Courts of Appeal for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits

U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington

U.S. District Court, Guam

U.S. District Court, Colorado

U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

U.S. District Court of Alaska

U.S. District Court of Arizona