Washington, DC, July 1, 2010 – Miller & Chevalier Chartered today announced that Stephen F. Gertzman has joined the Tax Department as a Member. He comes to the firm from Ernst & Young LLP, where he was a Principal and had served as its National Director of Federal Tax Accounting and Director of the Accounting Methods and Inventories Group in Ernst & Young's National Tax Department.

Gertzman is widely recognized as one of the nation's preeminent lawyers in the area of tax accounting, and his treatise, Federal Tax Accounting, is considered the leading authority on the topic. He has advised clients on the full scope of tax accounting issues and his industry experience covers virtually every major sector of the economy. His advice has often been sought by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and his writings have been cited in a number of court decisions.

"We are so delighted to welcome Steve to Miller & Chevalier," said Marianna Dyson, Chair of Miller & Chevalier. "He brings an absolute wealth of knowledge and instant credibility in the area of tax accounting."

"In addition to Steve's recognized experience in tax accounting and his reputation for achieving extraordinary results for his clients, he has a reputation for great integrity in his dealings with the IRS and clients," said Patricia Sweeney, Chair of Miller & Chevalier's Tax Department. "The addition of such a preeminent legal authority strengthens and deepens our existing tax accounting capabilities and provides clients with an incredible level of knowledge, experience and value. Miller & Chevalier is extremely well positioned to advise clients in the current environment."

Congress remains focused on identifying new sources of tax revenue, placing the IRS under ever-increasing pressure to close the "tax gap." At the same time, the IRS is shifting much of its own investigative role to taxpayers themselves, putting unprecedented emphasis on transparency and disclosure. Pressure from other sources, including FIN 48, adds to the increasing stresses faced by corporate tax departments to "get it right."

In this environment, however, getting it right is not always enough. By centralizing issue management, the IRS has changed dramatically the traditional dynamic encountered by taxpayers in defending their tax positions. This new landscape is particularly acute in the tax accounting area. Many of the issues identified by the IRS as raising the highest compliance concerns -- and most likely to attract scrutiny on audit -- are tax accounting issues. This heightens considerably the pressure on businesses in preparing, and equally importantly in defending, their tax accounting positions.

About Miller & Chevalier's Tax Accounting Practice

Tax accounting has been a core element of Miller & Chevalier's internationally-recognized tax practice since the firm's founding in 1920. Miller & Chevalier is an acknowledged firm of choice for many of the largest and most respected companies in the world, who value the team's unique combination of top-tier tax accounting capabilities, senior government experience, and record of successful and cost-effective issue resolution. The firm's Tax Accounting practice handles the full range of tax accounting issues from planning or defending a tax accounting position, arguing a case before the Tax Court or other federal courts, or discussing pressing tax policy issues at the highest levels of the IRS, Treasury and Congress. The practice is routinely engaged in representing clients in issues involving inventory accounting methods, the domestic production deduction of Section 199, capitalization, the deferral of advance payments, installment obligations, depreciation and amortization, accounting for environmental costs, income and expense accruals, and the economic performance rules.

"Miller & Chevalier has an established and stellar reputation in tax accounting and controversy. I am looking forward to collaborating with the firm's team of extremely talented and insightful lawyers," Gertzman said. "I share the firm's enthusiasm for providing the best quality advice and service to clients and to delivering value-added solutions in this very complex and highly scrutinized area."

About Stephen F. Gertzman

Before joining Ernst & Young, Gertzman was a partner for over twenty years at the law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. He was an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Law and taught its course in tax accounting from 1973 to 1993. He has chaired the Committee on Tax Accounting Problems of the American Bar Association's Tax Section, its Subcommittee on Tax Accounting Controversies, and numerous task forces on tax accounting issues. Gertzman is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, a Trustee of the Southern Federal Tax Institute, and a former trustee of the Georgia Federal Tax Conference.

Gertzman holds a B.S.B.A. with high honors and an M.A. in accounting from the University of Florida. He also earned a J.D. with high honors from the University of Florida School of Law where we was a member of the Order of the Coif and Executive Editor of the Florida Law Review.

About Miller & Chevalier

Founded in 1920, Miller & Chevalier is a Washington, DC law firm with a global perspective and leading practices in tax; employee benefits, including ERISA; international law and business; complex litigation; and government affairs. For more information on the firm, visit www.millerchevalier.com.  

Contacts

Laura Miller, Media Relations, Greentarget, 312-252-4104
Stephen F. Gertzman, Member, Miller & Chevalier Tax Department, 202-626-6080
Patricia Sweeney, Member, Miller & Chevalier Tax Department, 202-626-5926
Marianna Dyson, Chair, Miller & Chevalier, 202-626-5867