Eric Solomon moves from EY to Steptoe & Johnson

Steptoe & Johnson LLP has announced that Eric Solomon, who has more than 40 years of tax experience in private practice and government service, has joined the firm’s Tax Group as a partner in the Washington office. He joins the firm from Ernst & Young LLP, where he was co-director of the national tax department.

Solomon served as assistant secretary for tax policy at the US Treasury Department from 2006–2009. In this role, he headed the Office of Tax Policy, which serves as the primary advisor to the Treasury secretary on legal and economic matters relating to domestic and international taxation.

Solomon joined the Treasury Department in 1999 and served in both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. He was senior advisor for policy, deputy assistant secretary (tax policy) and deputy assistant secretary (regulatory affairs) before his 2006 confirmation as assistant secretary.

Prior to his service with the Treasury Department, Solomon was a principal in Ernst & Young’s national tax mergers and acquisitions group. Previously, he was assistant chief counsel (corporate) at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), heading the IRS legal division responsible for all corporate tax issues. He began his career in private practice with law firms in New York and Philadelphia.

At Steptoe, Solomon will focus his practice on transactional work, including structuring, opinions, and ruling requests. He will also advise clients on tax policy issues, including regulatory issues arising from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as on IRS controversy matters.

In welcoming Solomon to the firm, Steptoe Chair Phil West remarked: “I’m thrilled to welcome my friend and esteemed colleague to Steptoe. I’ve worked closely with Eric for years, including when we overlapped at Treasury, and there are few, if any, tax professionals who are as well-respected and well-liked as Eric. His talents are valued by clients, colleagues, and government officials.”

 Solomon commented: “I know many of the partners in Steptoe’s Tax group quite well, having worked with them over the years in the government, on client matters, and in professional organizations. As I embark on this next phase of my career, I’m delighted to be joining Steptoe, where I will have the opportunity to serve clients in a collaborative team environment.”