Thomas D. Sykes

Thomas D. Sykes, a prominent federal tax litigator, has been practicing since 1982 and is now based in Redmond, Washington. He is recognized as one of the nation's leading experts in federal tax litigation. Sykes began his career with the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he represented the IRS in court. His experience includes roles as a federal prosecutor and partner at a D.C. tax boutique and two major law firms in Chicago.

Throughout his career, Sykes has litigated federal tax cases valued at approximately three to four billion dollars. Notably, he led a successful initiative to recover about two billion dollars for the country's teaching hospitals. His expertise also extends to persuading the DOJ and IRS to concede a $15 million high-stakes tax case in federal court in the Southeast.

Sykes has first-chaired proceedings before the IRS Examination, IRS Appeals, the Treasury Department, and both federal trial and appellate courts. He is extensively published in his field. In 2019, he relocated to the Seattle area, following his spouse's career. While he practices federal tax law nationwide, he also handles state tax law in Wisconsin, Illinois, and D.C.