Don Crawford

Don Crawford

Associate
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Biography

Don Crawford is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Global Tax Practice Group in the Washington, DC office. Don focuses his practice on tax controversy and litigation, and advises multinational corporations through all stages of tax disputes including audit, administrative appeal, and litigation before the United States Tax Court and other federal courts.

Practice Focus

Don has advised clients on a variety of controversies including transfer pricing disputes, deficiency litigation, refund litigation, estate litigation, and other domestic and international tax disputes.

He has also advised clients on the clean energy tax provisions contained in the Internal Revenue Code, such as clean energy tax incentives, credits for carbon capture, use, and storage, and electric vehicle tax credits.

Don maintains an active pro bono practice. He co-authored a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of a nonprofit advocacy organization in a lawsuit arising under the Fourteenth Amendment, litigated multiple civil rights cases on behalf of clients that were deprived of constitutional and civil rights in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and advised a local nonprofit organization on maintaining its tax exempt status, among other matters.

Don is a proud alumnus of Howard University School of Law.

Representative Legal Matters

  • AbbVie Inc. & Subs. v. Commissioner, U.S. Tax Court, No. 2597-23 (dispute concerning capitalization of termination fee under section 1234A)
  • Saunders v. Warden, et. al., U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, No. 1:22-cv-01895 (suit concerning deprivation of constitutional and civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983)
  • Facebook, Inc. & Subs. v. Commissioner, U.S. Tax Court, No. 21959-16 (transfer pricing dispute concerning temporary cost-sharing regulations under section 482)
  • Brief for YWCA USA, Girls Inc., Supermajority Education Fund and United State of Women as Amici Curiae Supporting Respondents, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 597 U.S. 215 (2022)

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • International Fiscal Association – Member
  • J. Edgar Murdock American Inn of Court, U.S. Tax Court - Member
  • American Bar Association, Section on Taxation - Member and Vice-Chair, Tax Practice & Technology Committee
  • District of Columbia Bar Association - Member

Admissions

  • U.S. Tax Court~United States (2022)
  • District of Columbia~United States (2021)

Education

  • Howard University School of Law (JD) (2020)
  • Duquesne University (BA) (2017)
  • Co-presenter, “The Court’s Consideration of a Regulatory Challenge,” J. Edgar Murdock Inn of Court, U.S. Tax Court Meeting, March 2025
  • Panelist, “Not as Easy as it Looks: Choosing the Ethical Path in Tax Matters,” USA Branch of the International Fiscal Association, USA Annual Conference, March 2025
  • Moderator, “Tax Technologies & Access to Justice: What Can the Latest and Greatest Technologies Do to Assist Unrepresented and Low-Income Taxpayers,” American Bar Association, Section on Taxation, 2025 Midyear Tax Meeting, February 2025
  • Moderator, “Beyond Boolean: Generative AI Research Skills for the Modern Tax Attorney,” American Bar Association, Section on Taxation, Tax Practice and Technology Committee, Fall Webinar, January 2025
  • Speaker, “Don’t Grow Weary in Well Doing: The Affirmative Use of ESG in Transfer Pricing Disputes,” Baker McKenzie East Coast Tax Chat, December 2024
  • Panelist, “Nuts & Bolts: Refund Claims,” American Bar Association, Section on Taxation, 2024 Midyear Tax Meeting, January 2024