Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie announced today that Lindsay Clayton has joined the Firm as a partner in its Tax Practice Group in Washington, DC. She joins Baker McKenzie from the US Department of Justice (DOJ), where she most recently served as Assistant Director in the Tax Litigation Branch of the Civil Division.
At the DOJ, Lindsay oversaw complex civil litigation nationwide, supervising teams of attorneys and paralegals and guiding strategy in matters involving Administrative Procedure Act challenges, employee retention credits, foreign banking and information reporting penalties, Chapter 11 bankruptcies, IRS summons disputes, jeopardy levies, white collar fraud, tax procedure issues and listed transactions. She also advised Division and Department leadership, coordinated with stakeholders across the DOJ and US Treasury Department to align legal strategy and resources, and played a key role in implementing critical enterprise management technology and developing training programs to strengthen the pipeline of senior litigators and managers.
"Lindsay brings an exceptional combination of technical strength and leadership that will be a tremendous asset to our team," said Maria Eberle, Americas Chair of Baker McKenzie's Tax Practice Group. "Her experience leading high-value, high-stakes tax controversy matters at the DOJ, together with her ability to work seamlessly across teams and stakeholders, will further enhance the sophisticated counsel we provide to clients."
"We’re thrilled to welcome Lindsay, who will bring additional depth and experience to our team,” added George Clarke, who leads Baker McKenzie’s Tax Controversy sub-practice in North America. "Her knowledge gleaned from handling complex civil tax litigation on the other side of the aisle will be invaluable for our clients and she will be a strong resource to our broader US and global tax controversy capabilities."
Baker McKenzie’s global Tax Controversy team advises clients on complex tax audits, disputes and litigation across jurisdictions. The team supports multinational businesses at all stages of the controversy lifecycle, including audits, administrative appeals and court proceedings, drawing on an integrated group of practitioners across more than 40 countries. The practice also regularly handles matters involving interactions with tax authorities and government agencies, including high-stakes and sensitive disputes.
Lindsay’s arrival builds on recent momentum in Washington, DC, where the Firm has added several high-profile attorneys from the US government over the past year, including former US Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, former DOJ Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General Mark Hamer, former senior official at the US Federal Bureau of Investigation Sumon Dantiki, former US DOJ Antitrust and Consumer Protection litigator Tim Finley, former IRS officials Jennifer Best and Donna McComber, former US trade enforcement official Nat Halvorson and former US Treasury official Scott Levine.
"I’m excited to join Baker McKenzie’s globally recognized Tax Practice at a time when companies are facing increasingly complex and high-stakes challenges," Lindsay commented. "I look forward to collaborating with colleagues to help clients navigate disputes, manage risk and achieve practical, forward-looking solutions in a rapidly evolving tax landscape."
Lindsay earned her BA from Dartmouth College and her JD from Yale Law School. She is admitted to practice in California and the District of Columbia.