Ivins, Phillips & Barker Chartered

Natanya is a highly respected wealth planning attorney who appreciates the sensitive and technical nature of her practice. A specialist in estate planning and charitable matters, she places a high priority on understanding her clients’ concerns and goals at a holistic level, so her legal work meets each client’s unique needs. Natanya approaches every estate planning engagement with empathy, honesty and pragmatism. She communicates in a way that her clients understand, and ensures ...

Jamie's representations have involved the taxation of financial instruments, the timing of income and deductions, corporate reorganizations, deductions for worthless investments, the substance-over-form and economic substance doctrines, civil tax penalties, and other areas of tax law. From 2006 to 2013, Jamie was a trial attorney with the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he was lead counsel for the government in over 100 civil tax cases, and he received two Outstanding At...

Jodi H. Epstein is a partner in Ivins, Phillips & Barker's Employee Benefits practice. She focuses on qualified plans, with particular expertise in integrations after acquisitions, setting up benefit platforms, and advising qualified plan committees regarding their fiduciary duties. Jodi’s practice includes day-to-day compliance issues, such as assisting with implementation of new legislation and regulations, filing determination letter applications for qualified plans, trouble-shoo...

Mr. Fox is the managing partner of Ivins, Phillips & Barker. He was named in 2012 by the Washingtonian Magazine for the fourth straight year as one of the outstanding tax lawyers in Washington, D.C., in the Washington Post Magazine's list of Super Lawyers for the third straight year, and has been named in Best Lawyers in America in each of the last ten consecutive years. Although, during his 47 years with the firm, Mr. Fox devoted a substantial portion of his activities to international a...

Benjamin Grosz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law. Benjamin, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Harry L. Gutman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice and Tax Law. Harry L., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 1997. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Harry L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Carter provides tax advice and other guidance to domestic and foreign individuals and their closely held businesses. In addition to preparing wills and a wide variety of trusts, Carter has established family limited partnerships and limited liability companies and implemented the sale of family businesses to grantor and non-grantor trusts. He has administered estates, established private foundations, advised clients on pre- and post-nuptial agreements, provided post-mortem tax planning advice...

Brenda Jackson-Cooper is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law. Brenda, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brenda is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin P. O’Brien is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice. His practice has concentrated in employee compensation and benefits for over 30 years. Kevin is widely known as a leader in a wide variety of subjects, including innovative defined benefit plan design, flexible benefits, ERISA fiduciary matters and executive compensation. Before joining the firm, Kevin worked in the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration at the Labor Department ...

Mr. Savage joined Ivins, Phillips & Barker's in 1963. Since 1968, before the development and enactment of ERISA, Mr. Savage’s practice has focused primarily on the benefits field for many years. He has been the senior partner in the firm’s Executive Compensation and Benefits practice. Mr. Savage has had extensive experience in advising clients on plan design and operational matters and in handling a comprehensive spectrum of legislative, regulatory, and compliance and controve...

Leslie J. Schneider is a partner in Ivins, Phillips & Barker's Washington office. His practice concentrates in accounting methods, the timing of revenue and expenses, the valuation of inventories, and capital v. expense issues. Mr. Schneider is most often recognized for his three-volume treatise, Federal Income Taxation of Inventories, published by Matthew-Bender. Mr. Schneider has developed a reputation as the premier attorney in the United States in the field of tax accounting and inven...

Eric Solomon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Eric, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eric is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Spencer F. Walters is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Spencer F., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Spencer F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bob Wellen, a partner of the firm, has practiced tax law for nearly 35 years. His practice involves planning, structuring and negotiating business transactions and representing taxpayers seeking private letter rulings from IRS and tax policy determinations from IRS and the Treasury Department and in controversies with IRS. He also serves as an arbitrator and as an expert witness in commercial disputes involving tax issues. Bob grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. He graduated from Yale College...

Jennifer Chau is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Jennifer, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Alexander Maged is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Alexander, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alexander is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrea Ricka is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. Andrea, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrea is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.