Richard W. Skillman is a Member in Caplin & Drysdale's Washington, D.C., office focusing in federal taxation. Mr. Skillman's practice covers a broad cross-section of domestic and international tax matters and includes the representation of taxpayers in tax controversies as well as tax planning. His practice focus includes insurance companies and products, executive compensation and other employee benefits, corporate tax, tax accounting, and international tax.
Between 1999 and 2002, Mr. Skillman served as Deputy Chief Counsel and Acting Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service. As Acting Chief Counsel, Mr. Skillman was the chief legal official of the IRS. He held final authority for all legal and litigating positions of the IRS and management responsibility for approximately 2500 Chief Counsel employees in more than 50 offices nationwide.
Mr. Skillman is a member of the Tax Sections of the ABA and of the D.C. Bar. He formerly taught Corporate Tax as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center and has lectured and written articles on a broad range of tax subjects.
Mr. Skillman holds a B.A. from Amherst College and a J.D. from New York University Law School, where he graduated first in his class and served as Editor-in-Chief of the N.Y.U. Law Review. After law school, he served as law clerk to Judge Gibbons of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and to Chief Justice Burger of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Recent News
- Caplin & Drysdale Earns Top Ranking in 2021 "Best Lawyers in America", U.S. News & World Report, August 20, 2020
- 17 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Recognized in 2020 Legal 500 Ranking, The Legal 500, July 6, 2020
- Caplin & Drysdale D.C. Attorneys are Recognized by Super Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, May 4, 2020
- Law360 Comments on Incoming Timing Rules Letter from Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys, Law360 Tax Authority, December 16, 2019
- Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Listed as "Best Lawyers In America", August 15, 2019
- The Legal 500 Recognizes 19 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys, The Legal 500, June 4, 2019
- Super Lawyers® Recognizes 22 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys in D.C., Super Lawyers, April 22, 2019
- Caplin & Drysdale Improves Ranking in 2019 "Best Lawyers in America", August 15, 2018
- 2018 Legal 500 Distinguishes 18 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys, Firm Renews "Top-Tier Firm" Ranking for Tax Controversy, The Legal 500, May 31, 2018
- 18 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in D.C., April 23, 2018
- Wall Street Journal Quotes James Salles and Richard Skillman on AT&T Corporate Tax Savings, The Wall Street Journal, December 21, 2017
- Caplin & Drysdale Earns Top Ranking in 2018 "Best Lawyers in America", August 15, 2017
- 7 Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers Listed as Leaders in Their Field by Expert Guides, Expert Guides, July 25, 2017
- 18 Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers Recognized in 2017 Legal 500 Ranking, The Legal 500, June 2, 2017
- Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers Improve Their 2017 Chambers' Rankings, Chambers USA, June 2, 2017
- Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers Listed Among D.C.'s Most Prominent Practitioners, Super Lawyers, April 27, 2017
- Best Lawyers in America Lists 18 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys, U.S. News & World Report, August 15, 2016
- Caplin & Drysdale Recognized for Cutting Edge Advice, The Legal 500, June 16, 2016
- Caplin & Drysdale Listed Among Top Lawyers for Tax, Bankruptcy, Estate Planning and Political Law, Chambers USA, June 1, 2016
- Tax Notes Quotes Richard Skillman: Transfer Pricing Needs a "Save Shot", Tax Notes Today, May 2, 2016
- Super Lawyers Recognizes Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers from Several Practice Areas, Super Lawyers, April 26, 2016
- Washingtonian Names Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Among Washington's Top Lawyers, November 19, 2015
- Caplin & Drysdale Named Top Tier Firm for Tax Controversy, June 8, 2015
- Clients and Peers Distinguish Caplin & Drysdale in Chambers' Rankings, Chambers USA, May 19, 2015
- Super Lawyers Lists Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers, Caplin & Drysdale, April 23, 2015
- Caplin & Drysdale's Employee Benefits Group Earns Recognition from Finance Monthly, Finance Monthly, February 5, 2015
- Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers Listed Among World's Leading Tax Advisers, Expert Guides, October 16, 2014
- Fortune Magazine Lists Patricia Lewis and Richard Skillman as Top Rated Lawyers, Fortune Magazine, August 25, 2014
- Caplin & Drysdale Lawyers Earn Best Lawyers Ranking, August 21, 2014
- Clients and Peers Recommend Caplin & Drysdale in 2014 Legal 500 Ranking, The Legal 500, July 1, 2014
- Caplin & Drysdale Earns Top Honors in 2014 Chambers USA, Chambers USA, May 28, 2014
- The Washington Post Lists Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Among the Top Attorneys in D.C., The Washington Post, April 30, 2014
- Washingtonian Recognizes Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Among Washington's Best Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine, December 3, 2013
- 19 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Achieve Best Lawyers in America Ranking, U.S. News & World Report, October 21, 2013
- The Legal 500 Recommends Caplin & Drysdale As a Leading Firm For 2013, The Legal 500, June 3, 2013
- 14 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Recognized in Chambers USA 2013, Chambers USA, May 29, 2013
- Super Lawyers Lists Nineteen Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys, Super Lawyers, April 29, 2013
- Chambers and Legal 500 Recognize Caplin & Drysdale in 2012 Top Rankings, Chambers USA / The Legal 500, June 12, 2012
- The Washingtonian Lists Eight Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys as Top Lawyers in Washington, Washingtonian Magazine, December 30, 2011
- The Best Lawyers in America Ranks 19 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys as Leaders in Their Field, U.S. News & World Report, September 1, 2011
- Chambers and Legal 500 Recognize Caplin & Drysdale in 2011 Top Rankings, Chambers USA / The Legal 500, June 16, 2011
- Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Ranked in Legal Media Group's Expert Guides, Expert Guides, March 1, 2011
- 19 Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America, U.S. News & World Report, August 4, 2010
- Chambers USA and Legal 500 Recognize Caplin & Drysdale in 2010 Top Rankings, Chambers USA / The Legal 500, June 15, 2010
- PLC's Which Lawyer? Ranks Caplin & Drysdale's Tax and Private Client Practices in 2010 Top Rankings, Practical Law, June 1, 2010
- Washingtonian Magazine Lists Six Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys as Top Lawyers in Washington, Washingtonian Magazine, November 1, 2009
- Super Lawyers Recognizes Nine Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys in Five Practice Areas, Super Lawyers, March 27, 2009
- PLC's Which Lawyer? Recommended Caplin & Drysdale as Leading in Tax, Practical Law, March 2, 2009
- Four Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Recognized as Top Tax Practitioners in the World, Expert Guides, December 1, 2008
Click here for a full list of media coverage.
Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, The Administrative Procedure Act and the Impact of Challenges to IRS Regulations, Bloomberg BNA and Baker & McKenzie's 6th Annual Global Transfer Pricing Conference: Washington, DC, June 8, 2016
- Panelist, Ponzi Scheme Update: Tax Treatment of Clawbacks and Other Items, American Bar Association, 2013 Midyear Meeting, January 26, 2013
- Speaker, Executive Compensation and Related Issues, Tax Executives Institute, Inc., Virginia Chapter Meeting, November 18, 2010
Click here for a full list of speaking engagements.
Recent Publications
- "Tax Plans Compared (December 2016) Corporate Tax,"
with Jonathan S. Brenner, Mark D. Allison, Kirsten Burmester, and Peter A. Barnes, Global Tax Weekly, January 5, 2017
- "Tax Plans Compared (December 2016) Corporate Tax,"
with Jonathan S. Brenner, Mark D. Allison, Kirsten Burmester, and Peter A. Barnes, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, December 16, 2016
- "Muhammad Ali in the Time of the 'Maxi Tax',"
Tax Notes, August 8, 2016
- "The Final OECD BEPS Tome Has Arrived,"
with H. David Rosenbloom, Patricia Gimbel Lewis, J. Clark Armitage, and Peter A. Barnes, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, October 8, 2015
- "IRS Finalizes Program for Pre-Approval of 403(b) Plan Documents,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 24, 2013
- "The Impact of the Fiscal Cliff Legislation,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, January 4, 2013 - UPDATED January 23, 2013
- "New Retirement Plan Fee-Disclosure Rules Now Finalized,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 5, 2012
- "Before It's Too Late: Reconsidering The IRS Relief for Madoff Losses,"
Tax Notes, February 20, 2012
- "Executive Compensation Plans,"
Bloomberg Law Reports, November 8, 2010
- "PPACA and Beyond – Implications for Employers Today,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, April 30, 2010
- "More Foreign Financial Account Reporting,"
with James E. Salles and Scott D. Michel, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, March 26, 2010
- "Section 457A and Interim Guidance under Notice 2009-8,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 10, 2009
- "Income Inclusion and Correction under Section 409A,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 10, 2009
- "403(b) Plans,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 10, 2009
- "Bona Fide Severance Plan and Substantial Risk of Forfeiture under Section 457,"
Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, February 10, 2009
- "Tax Alert,"
Caplin & Drysdale, May 1, 2007
- "Tax Accoutning: Proposed Capitalization Regulations - Not All Good News,"
Caplin & Drysdale, April 1, 2003
- "Tax Shelters: Treasury Finalizes Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations,"
with Christopher S. Rizek, Caplin & Drysdale, April 1, 2003
Click here for a full list of publications.