Veteran IRS senior counsel and litigator Laurie Humphreys joins Jones Day's Tax Practice in Chicago
Laurie Humphreys has joined Jones Day as of counsel in its Tax Practice. She is based in the Firm's Chicago Office. Ms. Humphreys arrives from the Internal Revenue Service, where she served as senior counsel and special trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel, the agency's legal arm responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of the nation's tax laws.
During more than two decades in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, Ms. Humphreys managed large-case litigation involving some of the most complex federal tax issues in the country, including cross-border transactions, financial products, transfer pricing, property and casualty insurance, economic substance, and valuation matters. She oversaw litigation strategy, discovery, motions and briefs, trial preparation, and settlement negotiations on behalf of the federal government. Ms. Humphreys also advised IRS examination teams on legal positions and procedures for complex corporate and partnership cases, collaborating with stakeholders to coordinate positions with the national office, practice networks, and division headquarters.
"Over more than two decades at the IRS, she developed a rare combination of litigation skill and strategic advisory experience — managing some of the most consequential federal tax cases in the country while also advising examination teams on complex corporate and partnership matters," said Ed Kennedy, co-leader of Jones Day's Tax Practice. "Her deep understanding of how tax enforcement, from audit through trial, will be great for our clients. She's a great addition and welcome her to Jones Day.”
At Jones Day, Ms. Humprey’s joins a global Tax Practice that provides creative solutions to challenging tax issues, advising multinationals, banks, funds, and other sophisticated businesses resolve the most complex tax challenges arising from their transactions, controversies, and business operations. The Practice's lawyers offer practical answers in plain language, drawing on deep experience across the full spectrum of tax disciplines — from including tax controversy, tax policy, transactional tax planning, transfer pricing, and tax-exempt organizations. The Firm’s internationally recognized tax litigators utilize decades of experience in tax court, district court, and state and local courts, representing clients in controversy matters from audit to appeals—and in court, if necessary.
"Laurie's years of experience handling complex corporate and partnership matters at the IRS—including transfer pricing, cross-border transactions, and financial products—give her a perspective that is immediately valuable to our clients," said Tina Tabacchi, Partner-in-Charge of the Firm's Chicago Office. "She brings both the strategic judgment of a seasoned litigator and the practical insight of someone who has worked closely with examination teams on the government's most consequential cases. Our clients in Chicago and across the Firm will benefit from Laurie's counsel."
Ms. Humphreys has received numerous honors, including the IRS National Litigator of the Year Settlement Award (2024), the National Litigation Award (2010, 2022), and the Commissioner's Outstanding Achievement Award (2012). She earned her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University and her B.A. in Economics from Cleveland State University.
"Throughout my career in public service, I saw firsthand how the most complex tax challenges require not just deep technical experience, but also the ability to work seamlessly across disciplines — from tax law to valuation and economics to litigation," said Ms. Humphreys. "The Firm's collaborative approach to serving clients across jurisdictions and practices is a great fit with my background and I look forward to working with my new colleagues."
