Company Profile
Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered
Company Overview
Caplin & Drysdale was founded as a federal tax specialty firm in 1964 by Mortimer M. Caplin, Commissioner of Internal Revenue under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. A substantial part of the firm's practice is now devoted to civil and criminal litigation in both state and federal courts. On the tax side, the firm assists individuals and corporations on a full range of domestic and international tax problems, including structuring business transactions, dealing with the Internal Revenue Service in tax controversies, designing employee benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements, and representing clients with an interest in tax legislation and Treasury regulations. Individual lawyers specialize in international tax, corporate tax, state and local tax, employee benefits, taxation of insurance companies and products, partnerships, leasing transactions, estate planning, and litigation of tax cases at the trial and appellate levels. Other lawyers in the firm specialize in representing foundations, public philanthropies and other tax-exempt organizations. On the litigation side, the firm represents business entities and individuals in tax and other white collar prosecutions at all stages of the federal criminal process, both pre- and post-indictment. The civil litigation practice includes the representation of plaintiffs and defendants in litigation involving RICO, securities laws, ERISA, products liability, legal malpractice, forfeiture, bankruptcy, contract and other commercial disputes before courts, arbitration panels and regulatory agencies in the securities and banking areas. Recently, the firm added a political activity practice group which advises clients on compliance with federal, state, and local campaign finance and PAC laws, government ethics requirements, lobbying registration, and related government affairs issues. The group also represents clients in FEC proceedings and civil or criminal litigation arising from political activities.
Company History
Message from the Founders
When we started this firm over 40 years ago, our commitment was to provide comprehensive tax legal services of the highest quality. In the beginning, we recruited heavily from the top staff at IRS, Treasury, and Justice Department, amassing an unmatched reserve of technical expertise as well as insider knowledge on how tax law is made and administered. As the firm grew, we continued to hire former government lawyers and added breadth to our cadre by hiring and training young lawyers who had served in judicial clerkships or had otherwise demonstrated exceptional promise.
Our style of practice was aimed at minimizing our clients' tax liabilities without compromising the ethical principles that are essential to the integrity of the tax system. We soon earned a reputation among clients for mastering the complex and ever changing tax laws and for finding well-conceived, innovative solutions to tax problems. At the same time, we earned the trust and respect of government officials - a benefit to clients who are planning transactions, seeking rulings from the IRS, or trying to resolve tax controversies. To meet client needs, we later recruited experienced practitioners who could provide non-tax legal services such as commercial litigation and corporate counseling.
Along the way, we were pleased to find ourselves in a collegial workplace surrounded by first rate attorneys dedicated to excellence in the profession and service to clients. As the younger generation has assumed the management of the firm, we are delighted to see that its culture and focus remain fundamentally the same as they were at inception.
-Mortimer Caplin & Douglas Drysdale, Founders
Message from the President
For over 40 years, Caplin & Drysdale has been synonymous with the highest level of responsive, creative, and sophisticated legal services. Our clients view us not just as effective advocates and excellent legal technicians, but also as trusted advisors who give straight answers and anticipate problems before they become costly. Our goal is to produce the highest quality work product to help meet the client's strategic objectives.
In an era of mega-firms we remain small and nimble. Our staffing is lean, and our clients have immediate and direct access to the right attorney who has the expertise and background needed to work on the specific problem at hand. We are proud to offer the know-how and experience to rival the largest firms combined with the specialized expertise and efficiency that characterize a legal boutique.
To learn more about Caplin & Drysdale, please review the information on the website or contact any of our attorneys. We look forward to serving you.
-Scott D. Michel, President
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
www.caplindrysdale.com