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Thomas D. Sykes

A Senior, Heavily Lauded, Coast-to-Coast Federal Tax-Dispute Lawyer

46 years of experience
Tax Law, Appeals & Appellate, Gov & Administrative Law ...
District of Columbia, Illinois, Wisconsin

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Claimed Lawyer Profile

Biography

National stature, practicing in Redmond, WA. One of the nation's premier federal tax litigators. Senior tax-dispute lawyer, practicing federal tax law since 1982. Formerly represented the IRS in court while with the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice, in DC; formerly a federal prosecutor; formerly a partner with a DC tax boutique and two ultra-large law firms in Chicago. Has litigated perhaps three or four billion dollars worth of federal tax cases; led the successful effort to recover about two billion dollars for the nation's teaching hospitals. Successfully persuaded DOJ and IRS to fully concede a $15 million bet-the-company tax case in federal court in the Southeast. First-chaired matters before IRS Exam, IRS Appeals, the Treasury Department, federal trial courts, and federal appellate courts. Extensively published. Moved to Seattle area in 2019, following spouse's career. Practices federal tax law nationwide, and state tax law in Wisconsin, Illinois, and DC.

Practice Areas

Tax Law: Business Taxes, Criminal Tax Litigation, Income Taxes, International Taxes, Payroll Taxes, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits

Appeals & Appellate: Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals

Gov & Administrative Law: Administrative Law, Legislative & Government Affairs

Intellectual Property

Municipal Law

Additional Practice Area

Filings with FinCEN, U.S. Treasury

Fees

Free Consultation
Free initial consultation, up to one hour.
Credit Cards Accepted
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Very detailed firm website allows potential clients to drill down. Not boilerplate.

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

District of Columbia: District of Columbia Bar
Since 1998

Illinois: Supreme Court of Illinois
Since 2002

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Court System
Since 1979

2nd Circuit

6th Circuit

7th Circuit

10th Circuit

11th Circuit

Court of Federal Claims

Federal Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Tax Court

Professional Experience

: United States Department of Justice, 1982-1998; Current

: Partner, DC Tax Boutique, 1998-2002; Current

: Partner, Chicago Office of International Law Firm, 2002-2010.; Current

: Partner, Chicago Office of International Law Firm, 2010-2013.; Current

: Partner, Chicago Law Firm, 2013-2015.; Current

: Law Offices of Thomas D. Sykes PLLC; 2016 - Current; Founded own law firm to pursue $600mm class action against IRS, seeking additional statutory interest for 300 of the nation's teaching hospitals.

Education

The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law: J.D. (1979) | Law; 1976 - 1979; Honors: Author of Note published at 41 Ohio St. L. J. 211 (1980)

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire: B.A. (1976) | History, Philosphy; 1972 - 1976; Honors: Magna cum laude

Awards

Top 100 High Stakes Litigator for Illinois: America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators; 2022; Award made to fewer than one-half of one percent of litigators. Non-compensatory selection.