Mortimer Caplin, lawyer and educator, is the founding member of Caplin & Drysdale, one of the nation’s leading tax law firms. He holds B.S. and LL.B. degrees from University of Virginia, and Doctor of Juridical Science degree from New York University.
First in his class at UVA School of Law, and Editor-in-Chief of Virginia Law Review, Mr. Caplin served as a law clerk to U.S. Circuit Judge Armistead M. Dobie. He then practiced law in New York City from 1941 to 1950, with time out for military service in the U.S. Navy. During the Normandy invasion he served as U.S. Navy beachmaster, cited as member of initial landing force on Omaha Beach.
In 1950, Mr. Caplin returned to UVA as professor of law, specializing in tax and corporate law and publishing extensively in these fields. He also engaged in practice as counsel to a Virginia law firm.
Following President John F. Kennedy's election, Mr. Caplin served on the President's Task Force on Taxation and in January 1961 was appointed U.S. Commissioner of Internal Revenue. He remained in that post until July 1964 when he resigned to form the law firm of Caplin & Drysdale.
In his law practice, Mr. Caplin uses his broad experience dealing with U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Justice Department and the various tax committees of Congress. He represents a broad range of clients in tax planning, negotiation and dispute resolution, and trials and appeals before all federal courts.
Mr. Caplin has served as Trustee of many educational and charitable organizations: UVA Board of Visitors; UVA Law School Foundation; George Washington University; Board of Overseers, University of the Virgin Islands; Peace Through Law Education Fund; Arena Stage; Shakespeare Theatre; Wolf Trap Foundation.
Mr. Caplin served for over 10 years as Chair, UVA Council for the Arts and recently was named Honorary Chair. He now serves on Governing Council of UVA Miller Center of Public Affairs; board of directors, Environmental & Energy Study Institute; Chair, Board of Advisors of the Hospitality & Information Service, Washington, D.C. He is also on the board of directors of Danaher Corporation and Presidential Realty Corporation.
Mr. Caplin has deep commitments to public service, teaching and the educational process itself. His contributions have been recognized by numerous organizations over many years. Most recently, he was presented with the Thomas Jefferson Medal in Law, University of Virginia’s highest honor. On leaving the U. S. government, he received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the highest award conferred by the Secretary of the Treasury for his "distinguished leadership." He is also the recipient of the Achievement Award from the Tax Society of New York University; Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award, American Jewish Committee; Tax Executives Institute Distinguished Service Award; Veterans of Foreign Wars Public Service Award; Virginia State Bar and Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants Award. Mr. Caplin is Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia, after having served as Professor of Law (1950-1960) and Visiting Professor of Law (1965-1987).