Joshua Wu, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) for Appellate and Review in the Tax Division of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), counsels and advocates for companies and high net worth individuals on all aspects of tax controversies and litigation.
Joshua advises on issues ranging from tax accounting disputes, to corporate and partnership transactional issues, international questions, employee benefits matters, and tax exempt controversies. He brings a unique knowledge base and skillset to his clients, drawing on his experience both in senior leadership roles in the DOJ’s Tax Division and in private practice.
Most recently, when Joshua served as DAAG, he oversaw virtually all appeals in civil federal tax cases throughout the country and managed a 40-lawyer team. He also represented the United States in appellate oral arguments, evaluated and approved significant civil settlement offers, and furnished advice to the Tax Division’s trial sections in complex tax cases.
Joshua previously served as DAAG for Policy and Planning, where he led the Office of Management and Administration (OMA) at DOJ. In that role, he led the operational functions of the Tax Division, and led the Office of Legislation and Policy, which works with the Department of Treasury, the IRS, and other agencies on legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives. Prior to his government service, Joshua was a partner at a large international law firm. He also worked as an associate at Latham.
Experience
Joshua advises on a range of tax controversies. Select matters in private practice include:
Successfully representing partnerships and large corporations with respect to income tax, employment tax, summons enforcement, and civil and criminal penalties
Representing high net worth individuals with respect to the disclosure of foreign bank accounts and other foreign assets
Litigating (as lead counsel) a multimillion-dollar estate and gift tax case that went to trial in the Tax Court*
Working with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility to resolve disciplinary inquiries*
Representing a large labor organization in a litigation involving unrelated business taxable income*
Representing several oil and gas companies with respect to IRS audits and state tax matters
Working with professional firms and non-profits to evaluate internal tax and bank secrecy compliance procedures and proactively address areas of concern
*Matter handled prior to joining Latham
Qualifications
Bar Qualification
District of Columbia
New York
Texas
Education
LL.M. in Taxation, Georgetown University Law Center, 2008
J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 2007
B.A. in Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia, 2004 with distinction
Firm honored by Law360 for advising startups, financial institutions, VCs, digital asset and Web3 participants, and corporations on their most innovative and complex transactions, investigations, litigation, and regulatory matters.
Taxpayers must act quickly to determine if further action is necessary to obtain relief. Delinquent returns must be filed on or before September 30, 2022.
Joshua Wu brings a wealth of high-level government experience to the firm’s Tax Controversy Practice in Washington, D.C.
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