David B Robison

David B. Robison, formerly National Chief of Appeals and a 32-year veteran of the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), is a Senior Advisor, Tax Resolution Strategies, in the New York and Washington, D.C., offices of Skadden, Arps. While at the IRS, Mr. Robison served in a wide variety of positions, including postings in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia; District Director for the IRS International District; and management positions in northern California, Idaho, Minnesota, Massachusetts and New York. During 2005, Mr. Robison served as the IRS liaison to President Bush's Advisory Panel on Tax Reform. Subsequent to enactment of 1998 legislation restructuring the IRS, Mr. Robison led the design teams responsible for IRS Appeals and the Large and Mid-Sized Business (LMSB) Division. He was later appointed as the first LMSB Director of the Financial Services Industry in 2000. While with LMSB and Appeals, Mr. Robison was actively involved in developing and implementing innovative approaches to dealing with large corporate taxpayers, including pre-filing agreements, the industry issue resolution program, limited issue focused examinations (LIFE audits), the compliance assurance program, fast track appeals and post-appeals mediation and arbitration. Mr. Robison also played a significant role in developing the IRS position on numerous substantive matters, ranging from individual and corporate tax shelters to appeals-coordinated issues and emerging international issues. As Senior Advisor, Tax Resolution Strategies, Mr. Robison works with tax attorneys throughout the firm, matching their considerable experience and substantive skills on tax controversy matters with Mr. Robison's own experience and knowledge of IRS practice and procedures to achieve the optimal resolution, based on the client's particular need and objective, including substantive focus on outcome, costs, timing and other strategic considerations. Mr. Robison was a 2002 recipient of the Presidential Rank Award and a seven-time recipient of the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner's Award.