Caplin & Drysdale appoints Kaufman as President of the Firm

Caplin & Drysdale today announced that Beth Shapiro Kaufman has been named President of the Firm.

Scott D. Michel, who held the reins for eight years, will continue as a member of the Board of Directors, and also maintain his thriving Tax Controversy practice. “Beth brings significant and proven leadership skills, as well as extensive knowledge, experience, and wisdom to the position,” said Mr. Michel. “Under Beth’s leadership, we will continue to strengthen our client-focused philosophy and collegial culture.” Ms. Kaufman, an active member of the Firm’s Private Client Group and a long-time member of the Firm’s Board of Directors, added, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and look forward to working with our lawyers and support staff to undertake strategic initiatives that not only enhance our relationships with existing clients, but that grow our practice regionally, nationally, and globally.”

Ms. Kaufman rejoined Caplin & Drysdale’s Private Client Group in 2001 after working for over six years in the Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy. Serving first as Attorney Advisor and then as Associate Tax Legislative Counsel, Ms. Kaufman had principal responsibility for all tax policy matters affecting trusts and estates, including estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, as well as income taxation of trusts and estates.

Wealthy clients rely on Ms. Kaufman’s counsel on matters involving their estate planning needs. She also advises lawyers and other professionals on complex issues regarding estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. Ms. Kaufman is frequently retained by counsel to assist in estate and gift tax audits, to advocate a taxpayer’s position before the Internal Revenue Service, or to seek a private letter ruling.

While with the government, Ms. Kaufman was the primary Treasury representative involved in the legislative and regulatory developments affecting the taxation of trusts and estates. Legislative projects included the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. Regulatory projects included regulations on qualified domestic trusts, generation-skipping transfer tax, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, adequate disclosure for gift tax purposes, separate share, definition of foreign and domestic trusts, and valuation tables.