Joshua Wu, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) for Appellate and Review in the Tax Division of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), counsels and advocates for companies and high net worth individuals on all aspects of tax controversies and litigation.

Mr. Wu advises on issues ranging from tax accounting disputes, to corporate and partnership transactional issues, international questions, employee benefits matters, and tax exempt controversies. He brings a unique knowledge base and skillset to his clients, drawing on his experience both in senior leadership roles in the DOJ’s Tax Division and in private practice.

Most recently, when Mr. Wu served as DAAG, he oversaw virtually all appeals in civil federal tax cases throughout the country and managed a 40-lawyer team. He also represented the United States in appellate oral arguments, evaluated and approved significant civil settlement offers, and furnished advice to the Tax Division’s trial sections in complex tax cases.

Mr. Wu previously served as DAAG for Policy and Planning, where he led the Office of Management and Administration (OMA) at DOJ. In that role, he led the operational functions of the Tax Division, and led the Office of Legislation and Policy, which works with the Department of Treasury, the IRS, and other agencies on legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives. Prior to his government service, Mr. Wu was a partner at a large international law firm. He also worked as an associate at Latham.

Mr. Wu advises on a range of tax controversies. Select matters in private practice include:

  • Successfully representing partnerships and large corporations with respect to income tax, employment tax, summons enforcement, and civil and criminal penalties
  • Representing high net worth individuals with respect to the disclosure of foreign bank accounts and other foreign assets
  • Litigating (as lead counsel) a multimillion-dollar estate and gift tax case that went to trial in the Tax Court*
  • Working with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility to resolve disciplinary inquiries*
  • Representing a large labor organization in a litigation involving unrelated business taxable income*
  • Representing several oil and gas companies with respect to IRS audits and state tax matters
  • Working with professional firms and non-profits to evaluate internal tax and bank secrecy compliance procedures and proactively address areas of concern

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • Texas

Education

  • LL.M. in Taxation, Georgetown University Law Center, 2008
  • J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 2007
  • B.A. in Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia, 2004
    with distinction