One of the country’s foremost authorities in the areas of civil and criminal tax controversies and white collar tax crimes.
Author of Tax Controversies: Audits, Investigations, Trials, the definitive treatise on tax controversies recognized by courts, government officials and members of the private bar as the most authoritative text on the subject.
Handles matters relating to civil and criminal taxes, including obtaining favorable judgments in Tax Court and obtaining state and federal criminal acquittals and civil settlements with the government.

Robert focuses his practice on complex civil tax controversies and criminal tax and white collar tax crimes. He has reached favorable outcomes for thousands of clients in civil disputes against government agencies, and has frequently negotiated with government officials to civilly resolve matters rather than press criminal charges.

An experienced trial attorney, Robert has obtained an exceptional number of acquittals in criminal tax and white collar trials.

Robert has served as an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law’s Graduate Tax Program for 25 years. Previously, he was a visiting professor at the University of Peking in Beijing, China, teaching U.S. tax law.

Robert is an acclaimed lecturer and has spoken on civil and criminal tax procedures at tax symposiums and to the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service. Robert has also served as an expert witness on the IRS’s investigative powers before subcommittees of both houses of Congress, and has testified before the New York State Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee on tax legislation.

Education
LL.M., New York University School of Law, 1973
J.D., New York University School of Law, with honors, 1968

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
New York

Recognitions

Chambers USA, Tax, achieved the highest possible ranking (Band 1), named a “superstar tax fraud defender… a revered trial attorney who has made his name in civil and criminal tax and white collar criminal defense and is held in the highest regard for his litigation skills, insight into the government, and tremendous courtroom record.”
The Best Lawyers in America, New York City Lawyer of the Year, Litigation and Controversy – Tax.
The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation and Controversy – Tax.
Super Lawyers, New York, White Collar Crimes.
Martindale-Hubbell, highest AV rating.
American Bar Association, Jules Ritholtz Memorial Merit Award, “In Recognition of Outstanding Dedication, Achievement, and Integrity in the Field of Civil and Criminal Tax Controversies.”
American College of Tax Counsel, Fellow.

Affiliations and Public Service

Advisory Committee, Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice.
Co-chairman, IRS Northeast Regional Bar Liaison.
Committee Chairman, American Bar Association.
Committee Chairman, New York State Bar Association.
Committee Chairman, New York County Lawyers’ Association.

Speeches and Publications

Robert has published and lectured on the subject of tax controversies more than 200 times. Publications include:
- Tax Controversies: Audits, Investigations, Trials, Lexis/Nexis, 41st Ed., 2022.
- How to Defend Yourself Against the IRS, co-author, Simon & Schuster, 1985.
- You Can Protect Yourself from the IRS, co-author, Fireside, 1987, 1988.
- Journal of Taxation, department editor.