US Tax Partner, David Colker, Appointed Head of DLA Piper’s International Tax Practice

DLA Piper announced today that David Colker, a partner in the firm’s tax practice has been named Head of the firm’s International Tax practice. In this newly created position, Colker will work closely with practice group heads, regional managing partners and local office managers to support the global coordination and development of the tax practice across the firm.

“The successful development of our International Tax practice over the last year has demonstrated significant potential to serve our clients with complex, cross-border tax needs on a global basis,” said Terry O’Malley, DLA Piper U.S. Managing Partner. “The International Tax practice benefits greatly from our global platform. David will help us continue leveraging our unique international strength to build client relationships.”

Colker will work closely with his DLA Piper colleagues throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. In the U.S., he will work with Baltimore partner Stephen Owen, Chair of the U.S. Tax Practice Group. In Asia he will work with Daniel Chan, head of the tax practice in China; and Alastair J. Da Costa. In Europe, Colker will be working with Gregory Morris, Director of Tax Consultancy services in the U.K. who heads up the EMEA tax group and Juan Picon, who is Group Head for Corporate.

Colker concentrates his practice on tax disputes and tax planning. In the area of tax disputes, Colker has more than 25 years of experience beneficially resolving federal, state and local tax disputes. He has successfully represented numerous clients in more than 200 tax cases, effectively evaluating government claims and identifying inherent weaknesses and winning defenses. He has discovered and successfully implemented strategies to turn tax deficiency claims into tax refunds, achieving extremely favorable results for clients.

In the area of tax planning, Colker is highly experienced in establishing, improving and evaluating business structures to achieve beneficial tax consequences. He has helped clients better prepare for government reviews of their business structures based on extensive experience in handling tax controversy matters and developed sound and realistic client-focused tax planning solutions based on client business operations and activities.

In 2006, Colker was recognized as one of the top tax lawyers in the Bay Area in a study published in the Bay Area Lawyer Magazine.