Tax Controversy Associate

Talent Search Pro; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Fox Rothschild is seeking a mid-level tax controversy associate in a growth hire within the Litigation department. JD and an LLM in Taxation are required for this role, with 3–5 years of tax controversy experience ideally from government or a law firm.

The position supports a senior partner highly experienced in civil and criminal tax litigation. You will handle audits, appeals, and IRS proceedings and litigate in Tax Court and other courts.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years tax controversy experience.
• JD and LLM in Taxation required or in progress by Fall 2028.
• Experience with IRS Office of Chief Counsel, DOJ Tax Division, Tax Court clerkship, or law firm tax controversy practice.

Responsibilities

• Support a senior partner with 35+ years of experience across civil and criminal tax litigation.
• Handle IRS administrative proceedings including audits, appeals, and summons enforcement matters.
• Litigate tax controversy cases in Tax Court, federal district court, and the Court of Federal Claims.
• Conduct legal research and draft briefs, memoranda, and other written work product.
• Advise clients on tax procedures, reporting and disclosure requirements, penalty avoidance and abatement strategies.
• Collaborate with Fox Rothschild's Litigation department on tax-related matters.

Skills

Tax controversy

Legal research

Litigation support

Client counseling

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

LLM in Taxation

Job description

Salary range: $230K - $250K

Location: New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Washington, DC

Visa Sponsorship Details: Not open to any visas (e.g. US citizen, Green Card holders)

Hybrid work policy: Hybrid --- minimum 3 days per week in office (firm-wide policy). Available offices: New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA (preferred); or Washington, DC.

About this role

What we're looking for:

We need a mid-level associate with 3-5 years of tax controversy experience who holds a JD and an LLM in Taxation (or is completing one by Fall 2028 at the latest). You should have hands-on experience from the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, DOJ Tax Division, a Tax Court clerkship, or as a tax controversy associate at a law firm. Bonus points if you have exposure to both civil and criminal tax litigation matters.

What you'll do:

• Support a senior partner with 35+ years of experience across civil and criminal tax litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and complex corporate commercial disputes
• Handle IRS administrative proceedings including audits, appeals, and summons enforcement matters
• Litigate tax controversy cases in Tax Court, federal district court, and the Court of Federal Claims
• Conduct legal research and draft briefs, memoranda, and other written work product for tax controversy and litigation matters
• Advise clients on tax procedures, reporting and disclosure requirements, penalty avoidance and abatement strategies
• Collaborate with attorneys across Fox Rothschild's 400+ member Litigation department on matters involving tax dimensions, including white-collar defense and accounting/legal malpractice cases

What you should know:

• This is a growth hire within Fox Rothschild's Litigation department (one of the two largest departments in the firm) --- you'll be building out the tax controversy practice alongside a deeply experienced senior partner in Philadelphia
• Fox Rothschild is an Am Law 100 firm with ~1,000 attorneys across 30 offices, recognized on the BTI Client Service 30 and as one of BTI's "Most Feared Law Firms in Litigation"
• Hybrid work environment --- minimum 3 days per week in office (firm-wide policy)
• Three office options: New York, Philadelphia (preferred --- the senior partner sits here), or Washington, DC
• You must be barred in the state where you'll work (NY, PA, or DC) --- this is a firm-wide requirement and candidates cannot start until admitted
• LLM in Taxation is required --- in-progress LLMs are acceptable if completing by Spring 2027 or Fall 2028
• Compensation: $230,000--$250,000 base salary. Bonus eligibility starts at 1,900 billable hours with incremental bonuses every 25 hours above that threshold, plus 10% of fees billed and collected above $1,000
• Signing bonuses are considered on a case-by-case basis for candidates walking away from year-end compensation, and deferred start dates (e.g., January) are negotiable