Tax Controversy Partner, Dwight Mersereau, joins Crowell & Moring

Crowell & Moring has announced the addition of prominent tax controversy partner Dwight N. Mersereau to the firm’s Tax Group.

Mersereau has more than 20 years’ experience in tax dispute matters and has served inside the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as attorney advisor to the Office of Chief Counsel. He has been involved in shaping tax policy through legislation, U.S. Department of the Treasury regulation projects, revenue rulings, and private letter rulings. Mersereau joins the firm from McDermott Will & Emery.

Based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, Mersereau represents large, multinational corporations in high-stakes policy, planning, and federal controversy matters, typically involving complex tax accounting issues. He has represented individual clients, industry associations, and client coalitions before Congress, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the IRS. Mersereau also advises clients on capitalization issues relating to the tangible property “repair regulations.”

“Dwight offers his clients an unparalleled understanding of complex tax accounting issues gained through years of experience working with the IRS, including serving in the Office of Chief Counsel,” said David B. Blair, Chair of Crowell & Moring’s Tax Group. “Our corporate clients will benefit from Dwight’s experience on both sides of tax controversies, which allows him to navigate the federal tax code and regulations and identify solutions to the most challenging IRS controversies and tax accounting issues.”

Mersereau began his career as an appellate and trial lawyer in the Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy. In addition to briefing dozens of cases, he argued ten cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review. Mersereau served as Head Trial Counsel at the Charleston Naval Base and was the lead prosecutor in more than 50 felony cases. While in the Office of Chief Counsel, IRS, Mersereau was awarded the Technical Guidance Award for his publication of procedures for making accounting method changes.

“Crowell & Moring has a leading reputation for its ability to serve the tax needs of large, multinational corporations. I am proud to be part of this well respected and dynamic team, and I am confident that my experience will serve the firm’s clients well,” said Mersereau.