Mark E. Matthews is a Member in Caplin & Drysdale's Tax Controversies, Tax Litigation, and Exempt Organizations practice groups. Prior to joining Caplin & Drysdale, Mr. Matthews practiced tax controversy and litigation at an international law firm. He also served as IRS Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement from October 2003 through December 2006, overseeing a period of unprecedented growth in enforcement activity. He was responsible for the IRS's four civil operating divisions, the Criminal Investigation Division, and the Office of Professional Responsibility, which regulates tax practitioner ethics.
Services
Mr. Matthews focuses his practice on criminal tax enforcement, broad-based civil tax compliance, white collar matters, and anti-money laundering matters. He also advises clients on the IRS voluntary disclosure program, with particular focus on disclosure related to offshore banking accounts.
Highlights
Mr. Matthews was Chief of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the agency's investigative and law enforcement arm, renowned for its expertise in investigating financial crime, including tax, money laundering, narcotics, and terrorism-related matters. Other government positions Mr. Matthews has held include Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division (1994-1998), where he led the Department's criminal tax enforcement program. Mr. Matthews was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York and then a Deputy Chief of that office's Criminal Division, as well as special assistant to Director William H. Webster, first at the FBI and then at the CIA.,
With respect to anti-money laundering experience, he was previously Global Co-Head of Anti-Money Laundering at Deutsche Bank, where he oversaw implementation of the Patriot Act. Prior to that, he was Senior Advisor to the Treasury Department's Assistant Secretary for Enforcement (1993-1994), where he was Director of the Treasury Department's Anti-Money Laundering Task Force.
Admissions & Education
Bar & Court Admissions
- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
Education
M.P.A., Princeton University, 1985
J.D., New York University School of Law, 1985
A.B., Harvard College, 1981, magna cum laude
Recognitions & Noteworthy
Honors & Recognitions
- Chambers USA, 2010-Present
- Chambers High Net Worth Guide, USA, Tax: Private Client, 2022
- The Legal 500, Recommended, 2013-2020, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America, 2016-Present
- Internal Revenue Service, Commissioner's Award
- American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), International Justice-Sector Education and Training (IJET) Program International Pro Bono Award, 2018
- The American Lawyer's Global Legal Award, Global Dispute of the Year: Investigations, Swiss Tax Settlements, 2015
- Super Lawyers, Washington, D.C., 2016-Present
- The Washingtonian, Top Lawyer, 2017-Present
Professional Activities & Affiliations
Other Professional Affiliations
Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
Member, American Bar Association, Criminal Justice and Tax Sections
Member, American Citizens Abroad, Professional Tax Advisory Council
Member, International Bar Association
Newsroom & Publications
News
- 08.15.2024 | Firm Release
- 07.18.2024 | Firm Release
- 06.12.2024 | Firm Release
- 06.06.2024 | Firm Release
- 04.22.2024 | Firm Release
- 08.17.2023 | Awards & Rankings
- 07.20.2023 | Awards & Rankings
- 06.27.2023 | Awards & Rankings
- 06.01.2023 | Awards & Rankings
- 04.24.2023 | Awards & Rankings
- 08.24.2022 | Law360 Tax Authority
- 08.18.2022 | Awards & Rankings
- 07.18.2022 | Awards & Rankings
- 06.03.2022 | Awards & Rankings
- 05.02.2022 | Awards & Rankings
- 04.18.2022 | Law360 Tax Authority
- 01.03.2022 | Tax Notes
- 11.02.2021 | Tax Notes
- 08.19.2021 | Awards & Rankings
- 08.06.2021 | Law360 Tax Authority
- 07.19.2021 | KPCW's Mountain Money
- 06.29.2021 | Time
- 05.20.2021 | Awards & Rankings
- 04.29.2021 | Super Lawyers, Awards & Rankings
- 02.09.2021 | Bloomberg Law
- 10.05.2020 | The Wall Street Journal
- 08.20.2020 | U.S. News & World Report, Awards & Rankings
- 08.04.2020 | Tax Notes
- 07.28.2020
- 07.13.2020 | Tax Notes
- 07.06.2020 | The Legal 500, Awards & Rankings
- 05.05.2020 | Awards & Rankings
- 05.04.2020 | Super Lawyers, Awards & Rankings
- 04.17.2020 | Law360 Tax Authority
- 04.03.2020 | Law360
- 02.13.2020 | Law360 Tax Authority
- 10.04.2019 | Washington Post
- 08.20.2019 | Tax Notes
- 08.15.2019 | Awards & Rankings
- 08.12.2019 | MLex US Tax Watch
- 07.19.2019 | POLITICO
- 06.04.2019 | The Legal 500, Awards & Rankings
- 04.25.2019 | The Wall Street Journal
- 04.25.2019 | Chambers USA, Awards & Rankings
- 04.22.2019 | Super Lawyers, Awards & Rankings
- 04.02.2019 | Associated Press
- 03.06.2019 | Caplin & Drysdale
- 01.14.2019 | Law360
- 10.29.2018 | ABC News
- 10.10.2018 | AML Conversations
- 10.04.2018 | The Associated Press
- 10.03.2018 | POLITICO Pro
- 09.14.2018 | The Wall Street Journal
- 09.12.2018 | The Wall Street Journal
- 08.17.2018 | Tax Notes
- 08.15.2018 | Awards & Rankings
- 08.02.2018 | Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered, Both
- 06.20.2018 | Tax Notes
- 05.31.2018 | The Legal 500, Awards & Rankings
- 05.30.2018 | Bloomberg Law, Daily Tax Report
- 05.03.2018 | Chambers USA, Awards & Rankings
- 04.23.2018
- 04.23.2018 | Tax Notes
- 04.19.2018 | Tax Notes
- 03.14.2018 | Tax Notes
- 12.11.2017
- 12.01.2017 | Bloomberg BNA
- 09.05.2017 | Bloomberg BNA
- 08.29.2017 | Bloomberg BNA
- 08.15.2017 | Awards & Rankings
- 06.02.2017 | The Legal 500, Awards & Rankings
- 06.02.2017 | Chambers USA, Awards & Rankings
- 05.30.2017 | Tax Notes
- 05.26.2017 | Bloomberg BNA
- 04.27.2017 | Super Lawyers, Awards & Rankings
- 02.27.2017
- 12.02.2016 | Tax Analysts
- 10.17.2016 | Bloomberg BNA
- 08.15.2016 | U.S. News & World Report, Awards & Rankings
- 08.01.2016 | Tax Analysts
- 06.29.2016 | Caplin & Drysdale, Press Release
- 06.16.2016 | The Legal 500, Awards & Rankings
- 06.02.2016 | Tax Notes
- 06.01.2016 | Tax Notes
- 06.01.2016 | Chambers USA, Awards & Rankings
- 05.10.2016 | Tax Notes
- 04.26.2016 | Super Lawyers, Awards & Rankings
- 04.19.2016 | U.S. News & World Report
- 04.11.2016 | Tax Notes Today
- 04.05.2016 | Tax Notes
- 04.05.2016 | Politico
- 04.04.2016 | Bloomberg BNA
- 03.28.2016 | Tampa Tribune
- 02.29.2016 | Worldwide Tax Daily
- 02.05.2016 | Global Investigation Review
- 01.04.2016 | Tax Notes
- 10.27.2015 | Tax Notes Today
- 08.18.2015 | Tax Notes Today
- 08.09.2015 | Financial Times
- 07.31.2015 | The American Lawyer, Awards & Rankings
- 07.30.2015 | Worldwide Tax Daily
- 06.08.2015 | Both
- 05.19.2015 | Chambers USA, Awards & Rankings
- 04.09.2015 | Corporate LiveWire, Awards & Rankings
- 04.02.2015 | Worldwide Tax Daily
- 01.06.2015 | Worldwide Tax Daily
- 12.15.2014 | The Wall Street Journal
- Worldwide Tax Daily Quotes Mark Matthews: IRS Investigators to Focus on Cybercrime, Virtual Currency07.09.2014 | Worldwide Tax Daily
- 07.09.2014 | POLITICO
- 07.01.2014 | The Legal 500, Awards & Rankings
- 06.26.2014 | The Economist
- 05.28.2014 | Chambers USA, Awards & Rankings
- 05.26.2014 | Bloomberg
- 05.21.2014 | Daily Tax Report
- 05.06.2014 | ABC News
- 03.07.2014 | Tax Notes Today
- 02.27.2014 | Arise Xchange
- 12.20.2013 | Bloomberg
- 12.19.2013 | Tax Directors Handbook, Awards & Rankings
- 10.31.2013 | Press Release
- 10.28.2013 | Tax Notes
- 09.16.2013 | New York Times
- 08.30.2013 | Tax Notes
- 08.30.2013 | Thomson Reuters, International Taxes Weekly
- 08.29.2013 | Press Release
- 08.21.2013 | CCH
- 06.28.2013 | The Wall Street Journal
- 06.17.2013 | Press Release
- 06.13.2013 | Bloomberg's Daily Tax Report
- 05.29.2013 | Chambers USA, Awards & Rankings
- 05.06.2013 | Tax Notes
- 03.21.2013 | Tax Notes
- 03.10.2013 | SonntagsZeitung
- 03.06.2013 | The Wall Street Journal
- 02.11.2013 | Tax Analysts
- 02.08.2013
- 01.23.2013 | Tax Analysts
- 01.21.2013 | Tax Notes
- 12.26.2012
- 12.17.2012 | Tax Notes
- 12.17.2012 | Tax Notes
- 09.18.2012 | Reuters
- 09.18.2012 | Reuters
- 09.10.2012 | Tax Notes
- 06.29.2012 | CNBC's The Kudlow Report
- 06.12.2012 | Chambers USA / The Legal 500, Both
- 04.13.2012 | Wall Street Journal
- 04.12.2012 | Legal Bisnow
Speaking Engagements
- 12.09.2021
- Mark Matthews Addresses New Frontiers in Tax Fraud at Berkeley Fraud Fest06.25.2021
- 09.19.2019
- 03.08.2019
- 06.22.2018
- Mark Matthews Discusses Aggressive Tax Planning at International Tax Conference03.22.2018
- Mark Matthews Analyzes Criminal Actions Against Advocates at International Tax Conference03.22.2018
- Mark Matthews Explores Role of Private Practitioners and Disclosure in Tax Administration at International Tax Conference03.22.2018
- Mark Matthews Examines Anti-Money Laundering at International Tax Conference03.22.2018
- 12.07.2017
- 12.01.2017
- 11.10.2017
- 10.25.2017
- Mark Matthews Discusses Automatic Exchange of Financial Information at 71st Congress of the International Fiscal Association08.28.2017
- Mark Matthews and Scott Michel to Discuss Future of U.S. Cross-Border Criminal Tax Enforcement at Dubai Conference05.18.2017
- 05.15.2017
- Mark Matthews to Speak on FBAR Cases at Private Client Forum Americas 201702.15.2017
- Mark Matthews to Speak on International Tax andMoney Laundering Enforcement at STEP NY Event02.08.2017
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Compliance Initiatives/Voluntary Disclosure at ALI CLE International Trust and Estate Planning Program10.28.2016
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Using Financial Intelligence at ACAMS 15th Annual AML & Financial Crime Conference09.26.2016
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Financial Transparency and Common Reporting Standards at 2016 IBA Annual Conference09.20.2016
- Mark Matthews to Speak on How Non-Compliant Clients Can Deal with the IRS at Transcontinental Trust: International Forum 201605.09.2016
- Matthew Hicks and Mark Matthews to Speak on Civil & Criminal Tax Penalties' Subcommittee at 2016 ABA May Meeting05.07.2016
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Investigation Stage of Criminal Tax at Federal Bar Association Tax Law Conference03.04.2016
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Voluntary Disclosure at Private Client Forum Americas02.10.2016
- Mark Matthews to Speak at the Annual LITC Grantee Conference12.09.2015
- Mark Matthews to Speak on U.S. Global Tax Enforcement11.18.2015
- Mark Matthews to Speak at the 2015 Legal Week International Private Client Forum11.12.2015
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Asset Forfeiture Actions and Money Laundering at Procopio International Tax Institute10.23.2015
- Mark Matthews to Speak on IRS International Criminal Investigations at Procopio International Tax Institute10.22.2015
- 08.14.2015
- 05.09.2015
- Mark Matthews to Speak on the Status of OVDP Programs03.12.2015
- 12.11.2014
- 11.06.2014
- 11.06.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Recent Developments in International Criminal Tax10.31.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Recent Developments in Compliance Initiatives10.21.2014
- 09.20.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak at Annual Income Tax Seminar06.26.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Global Private Wealth Industry06.18.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Information Exchange and Privacy06.18.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak at 29th Annual Transcontinental Trusts Conference06.17.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak at ACAMS Conference03.06.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak at 28th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime03.06.2014
- Scott Michel and Mark Matthews to Co-Chair Concurrent Symposia at FBA Tax Law Conference02.28.2014
- Mark Matthews to Speak at FBA's 2014 Tax Law Conference02.28.2014
- 12.13.2013
- 12.12.2013
- 11.19.2013
- Mark Matthews to Speak on Corporate Compliance10.24.2013
- 10.24.2013
- 10.23.2013
- 10.17.2013
- 09.23.2013
- 07.08.2013
- 05.24.2013
- 03.20.2013
- 03.01.2013
- 01.16.2013
- 12.06.2012
- 11.26.2012
- 05.02.2012
- 05.02.2012
Publications & Alerts
- 01.12.2021 | Bloomberg Tax: Daily Tax Report, Article
- 07.22.2020 | Tax Alert
- 07.23.2019 | Tax Alert
- 12.03.2018 | Tax Alert
- 03.14.2018 | Tax Alert
- 11.06.2017 | Tax Alert
- 12.16.2016 | International Law Office, Article
- 12.02.2016 | Tax Alert
- 06.29.2016 | Bloomberg BNA's Tax Management Portfolio, Book
- 05.18.2016 | Tax Alert
- 03.14.2016 | Tax Notes, Article
- 03.07.2016 | Tax Alert
- 08.10.2015 | Tax Alert
- 07.01.2015 | IFC Review, Article
- 12.16.2014 | Tax Alert
- 10.31.2013 | Tax Alert
- 10.30.2013 | Exempt Organizations Alert
- 09.24.2013 | Bloomberg BNA, Article
- 10.17.2011 | Tax Notes, Special Report, Article