Before you hire an attorney
Choosing a law firm to represent you in a case where you provide information to the IRS about tax fraud, tax evasion or tax underpayments will be one of the most important decisions affecting whether you get a reward for your information. The internet is a good tool for getting information about lawyers. You should be aware, however, that some websites misrepresent law firms’ experience and success in whistleblower cases. Here are some issues to consider:
1) Success with whistleblower cases: Make sure the law firm has had extensive experience and success with whistleblower cases. Some law firms’ websites claim that the firms have won large cases but fail to mention that the cases were not whistleblower cases. Or, they rely on high-value estimates of their cases’ values before receiving any reward. An “estimate” is just that. Ask for specific examples of the firm’s success and how much their whistleblower cases have recovered.
2) Recognized expertise in tax fraud cases: Have the IRS and Congress sought out the advice and opinion of the firm’s lawyers? Have newspapers and other independent media used the firm’s attorneys as resources?
3) Experience working with the IRS: Familiarity with the IRS Whistleblower Office and its procedures can be helpful. The IRS is flooded with hundreds of IRS informant claims each year and doesn’t have the time or resources to investigate them all. It’s important that the whistleblower has strong and experienced advocates who are well-known to the Whistleblower Office.
4) Knowledge of tax code: Determine whether the law firm uses a variety of tax experts and specialists, and what the experience and reputation of those tax experts are. Be sure that the firm is willing to retain experts in the area of tax law that your submission concerns.
5) Is it a law firm or a referral service: Referral companies have websites that make them look as if they are law firms. Those companies take cases then sell them to law firms willing to pay a fee. Make sure you are hiring the person who actually will work on your tax fraud case.
6) Location: Lawyers can represent whistleblowers all over the country in tax cases. Any lawyer who’s considering taking your case should offer to pay your travel costs to meet with him or her.
Phillips & Cohen is the most successful law firm representing whistleblowers in America. Whistleblower cases brought by our attorneys have resulted in recoveries totaling more than $6.89 billion.
Our success has been recognized by the National Law Journal (“Most Influential Attorneys” in the U.S. and “Hot List” of plaintiffs’ attorneys), Lawdragon (the “500 Leading Attorneys in America”) and other publications that follow the legal profession.
To support our tax whistleblower cases, Phillips & Cohen has created a team that has in-depth and specialized knowledge of the tax code and a close working relationship with the IRS Whistleblower Office.
Phillips & Cohen attorneys have published articles about the IRS whistleblower law and have been frequently quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other publications. At the invitation of the IRS Whistleblower Office, a Phillips & Cohen attorney was a speaker at an IRS training session on whistleblower cases. The firm’s attorneys also were invited participants in a U.S. Senate committee roundtable about the IRS whistleblower law.
Phillips & Cohen handles cases of whistleblowers who live in the U.S. and overseas. Our main office is in Washington, DC, which enables us to work closely with officials and lawyers at the IRS Whistleblower Office. We also have an office in San Francisco.
If you would like Phillips & Cohen to consider handling your whistleblower case involving major federal tax violations, please contact us.