Winston & Strawn taps 2 federal tax attorneys from Mayer Brown

Winston & Strawn LLP announced today that veteran federal tax attorneys, Daniel A. Dumezich and Gary S. Colton, Jr., have joined the firm’s Chicago office as partners. For more than two decades, Dumezich has represented numerous individuals and companies, including international financial institutions and public accounting firms, in complex tax controversies before the Internal Revenue Service and various state taxing authorities. He will head Winston & Strawn’s highly-regarded Federal Tax Controversy Practice. Colton is likewise experienced in all aspects of tax controversy work, ranging from IRS examinations through administrative appeals and litigation. Both join the firm from Mayer Brown.

Most recently, Dumezich has represented taxpayers in matters under IRS Examination or in IRS Appeals exceeding $4 billion in proposed adjustments or settlements. In one such representation of a large professional firm, he helped settle a potential IRS deficiency of $450 million for about 5 percent of that claimed amount. And he likewise helped settle an investment firm’s potential $62 million assessed deficiency, as well as $15 million in claimed penalties, for a little more than $1 million.
Colton has extensive experience with all aspects of tax-advantaged transactions, discovery disputes, and privilege issues. He has helped garner favorable outcomes over the years for such important entities as United Parcel Service of America and Comcast Corporation.
“We are very pleased that Dan and Gary have joined Winston & Strawn,” said managing partner Thomas Fitzgerald. “Our historically strong tax controversy practice has always been noted for its administrative audits and appeals work, and the depth of our tax litigation capabilities will be significantly enhanced by the proven talent, energy and focus of these highly-regarded attorneys.”
Said Dumezich: “I’m delighted to be leading the nationally-recognized tax controversy team at Winston & Strawn and adding to its litigation as well as its transactional bench strength. The firm’s international, full-service platform, and its ongoing commitment to providing exceptional service to its global clientele, was very attractive to me.”
Dumezich is a certified public accountant who earned his J.D. from John Marshall Law School and his M.S.T from DePaul University. Colton earned his J.D. from The Ohio State University, Michael E. Mortiz College of Law, and his LL.M. from The University of Houston Law Center; he is a former clerk for the Honorable Juan F. Vasquez, United States Tax Court.