Assistant General Counsel Tax

Our General Counsel’s Office (GCO) supports EY’s business by serving as trusted advisors to the EY community and providing the highest quality legal services to EY’s service lines and business enablement functions

The Opportunity:

The Assistant General Counsel for the Tax service line will be part of EY’s General Counsel Office, and he/she will serve as a key legal advisor to the tax practice. Candidates are expected to have a background in substantive and procedural tax rules at the federal level, ideally with some background on comparable rules at the state level. The Assistant General Counsel also responds to subpoenas, inquiries, and investigations by state and federal regulatory entities; represents the firm in such matters; and coordinates the production of information to those entities.  The Assistant General Counsel will assist on a range of legal matters such as potential claims against the firm, practice standards and policies, contracting issues particularly impacting the tax practice, and legal process served on the firm and its professionals.  This position serves a critical advisory and risk management function, addressing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and firm policies governing all service lines comprising the firm’s business with a primary focus on the Tax service line.

Your key responsibilities:

• Work with and advise firm leadership and engagement teams in evaluating and addressing issues raising potential legal and business risk.
• Report to and work with other members of the U.S. legal team, including the senior tax counsels, on a range of issues involving EY’s tax service line.
• Assist on a range of legal matters such as potential claims against the firm, practice standards and policies, contracting issues particularly impacting the tax advisory practice, and legal process served on the firm and its professionals.
• Stay abreast of significant developments in federal tax law.
• Respond to government and third-party subpoenas and investigations.
• Prepare and defend witnesses in depositions, and prepare witnesses for trial testimony.
• Collaborate with and manage outside legal counsel on significant legal matters.
• Conduct internal investigations in response to allegations of professional code of conduct violations as well as civil or criminal malfeasance by firm personnel.

To qualify for this role, you must have:

Education:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) with strong academic credentials required.

Professional Licensure:

• Requires membership in the State Bar as an attorney qualified to practice law in the state where the resident EY office is located.
• Must remain in good standing with the State Bar, including being current on individual state Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8+ years of legal experience, including from a top-tier law firm and/or at the U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Tax Policy, Internal Revenue Service (Office of Chief Counsel) or the U.S. Department of Justice (Tax Division, Civil Division - Tax Litigation Branch, or Criminal Division - Tax Section).
• Tax controversy experience at the administrative and judicial levels.
• Deposition defense and responding to legal process.
• Experience with practice and penalty standards applicable to federal tax advisory services is highly desirable.

Ideally you’ll also have:

• Ability to practice autonomously and be highly responsive to requests for support from the business.
• Must be an excellent, strategic and pragmatic lawyer; this role requires outstanding judgment and reasoning skills.

• Capable of independently managing and developing effective solutions to high stakes, complex legal matters.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to interface and communicate effectively and diplomatically with all levels of EY personnel, including firm leaders and managing partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills with high emotional intelligence and ability to work in a highly collaborative environment.

• Self-starter and ability to work independently and “own” projects.
• Enthusiastic “roll-up-the-sleeves” work ethic and high client service orientation.
• Ability to multi-task and handle and prioritize a large volume of work and efficiently meet deadlines.
• Open and engaging personality; someone who both clients and colleagues will respect and enjoy working with on a daily basis.
• Unquestionable ethics and moral compass.
• Demonstrates accountability, integrity, respect, team orientation and the courage to lead.