Kostelanetz partner Caroline Ciraolo and Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez principal Sandra Brown will be honored on November 7, 2024, at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the California Tax Bar and Tax Policy Conference in Anaheim, California.
The Women in Tax Standing Committee plans to hold “A Toast to Women in Tax” from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm on Thursday of the conference, where they will honor and highlight the careers of Caroline and Sandra. All conference attendees are welcome to attend the Toast. In addition to a Q&A session, there will be valuable time to network, get involved with the Women in Tax Standing Committee, and meet other women attorneys and tax practitioners who have achieved professional excellence in their field of practice.
Both Caroline and Sandra’s careers have involved a commitment to public service. Caroline served as the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Justice Department Tax Division for nearly two years, where she was involved in all aspects of Tax Division operations and responsible for approximately 500 employees, including more than 360 attorneys in 14 civil, criminal, and appellate sections. At DOJ, Caroline oversaw the high-profile Swiss Bank Program, which led to non-prosecution agreements for more than 80 banks that were involved in tax-related offenses related to undeclared U.S.-related accounts. While in government service, Caroline received the IRS Chief Counsel Award, the highest honor that can be conferred by that office. In private practice, Caroline has been recognized by independent ranking agencies for her skill and knowhow in tax controversy and tax fraud, including being selected by her peers as 2025 Lawyer of the Year for Tax Law in DC by Best Lawyers and being ranked this year in the top tier of attorneys by Chambers for High-Net-Worth Tax: Private Client, Tax Fraud — Nationwide, and Tax — DC.
Sandra served as the Acting U.S. Attorney, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Chief of the Tax Division in the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Central District of California. During her 27 years as a trial lawyer, Sandra handled over 2,000 tax cases on behalf of the United States. While in government, Sandra received the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Chief’s Award and the IRS’s Mitchell Rogovin National Outstanding Support of the Office of Chief Counsel Award. In 2024, received the prestigious Richard Carpenter Excellence in Tax Award from the USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Controversy Institute.
For more than 75 years, Kostelanetz LLP has built a global reputation as a law firm of choice for clients facing high-stakes controversies and negotiations with government agencies. Our attorneys have extensive experience in tax controversy, tax fraud, government investigations, and white-collar criminal defense and are regularly called upon to handle the most challenging and sensitive cases and internal investigations. Important parts of the firm’s practice include tax and estate planning, commercial litigation, and government procurement and contracting. To learn more or to contact a Kostelanetz attorney, explore Our People and Practice Areas.
