Overview
(July 26, 2021, New York) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce that Richard Nessler, a seasoned litigator who concentrates his practice on representing clients in tax litigation and IRS controversy matters, has joined the firm’s tax practice as of counsel. At Steptoe, Nessler reunites with Larry Hill, a renowned first-chair litigator who joined the firm in June as co-head of its tax controversy practice. Both lawyers reside in the firm’s New York office.
Nessler brings more than 20 years' experience representing multinational corporations and individuals in complex federal tax controversy matters and internal and governmental investigations. He has handled a broad range of complex tax issues including tax shelters, option trading transactions, financial structures and products, privilege issues, summons enforcement actions, tax fraud, subpoena requests, valuation and residency disputes. Nessler's practice includes the representation of clients in New York state tax controversy matters. He is a frequent writer on tax controversy and litigation issues.
Steptoe Chair Phil West, who co-chairs the Tax Group and is a premier international tax lawyer, commented: "President Biden has stated that he wants to raise money for his economic agenda by ramping up enforcement at the Internal Revenue Service. Therefore, the need for experienced tax controversy litigators is going to significantly increase. Richard is another solid addition to our long-established tax controversy practice, and combined with Larry's recent arrival, will further strengthen our group’s presence in the New York market."
Steptoe's tax practice has long been known as one of the top resources for clients facing IRS audits, appeals, and tax litigation. The firm has been the professional home for generations of renowned tax controversy lawyers, including Jim Holden, Matt Zinn, Art Bailey, and Mark Silverman, and has more recently attracted other preeminent practitioners with tax controversy practices. In addition to West and Hill, they include Eric Solomon, Bob Rizzi, Lisa Zarlenga, Greg Kidder and Matt Frank, a recognized and respected authority on transfer pricing, who joined the firm at the end of 2020.
"I am delighted to be a part of the Steptoe team," said Nessler in joining the firm. "Steptoe has a long and storied history of being a leader in the tax field providing innovative tax solutions to client around the world and handling complex domestic and international tax controversy matters. I look forward to working with Steptoe’s incredibly smart and talented team of tax professionals to help grow and enhance the tax practice and to continue to provide outstanding tax controversy and litigation services to its clients."
Steptoe's Tax Group advises global businesses and high-net-worth individuals across all industries on their most important and complex international and domestic tax matters. The group includes former senior government officials from Treasury, the IRS, the Justice Department, and congressional tax-writing committees. Steptoe's highly regarded Tax Group has earned top rankings and recommendations from the legal directories Chambers USA and The Legal 500, among other publications.
Nessler is a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Tax Section, and a past chairperson of the ABA Tax Section’s Court Practice and Practice Subcommittee. He is a lecturer and past director of the New York University School of Law Tax Clinic.
Nessler received his bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton. He obtained his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law where he served as a member of the St. John's Law Review, achieved Dean’s List, and received the St. Thomas Moore Scholarship.
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.