WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 2026) — Kostelanetz partner Bryan C. Skarlatos received the 2026 Jules Ritholz Memorial Merit Award, presented by the American Bar Association Tax Section’s Civil & Criminal Tax Penalties Committee.
The award, which recognizes “outstanding legal work in the highly complex field of criminal and civil tax controversy litigation,” was presented to Bryan on May 8, 2026, at the ABA’s 2026 May Tax Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Established in 1994, the Jules Ritholz Memorial Merit Award is named in honor of former Kostelanetz partner Jules Ritholz, who founded the Tax Section’s Civil & Criminal Tax Penalties Committee and was a leading tax controversy practitioner during his storied career. The award also honors lawyers “who have devoted themselves to advancing the tax bar, to thought leadership, and to teaching and mentoring younger lawyers.”
At the awards luncheon, Bryan was introduced by his Kostelanetz partners Megan L. Brackney, Jay R. Nanavati, and Michael Sardar.
"Bryan doesn’t just advocate for clients; he truly and deeply cares about the tax system and advocates on behalf of society,” said Megan, who also currently serves as the Chair of the ABA Tax Section. “That’s part of our firm’s culture and our legacy, and much of that is due to Bryan’s influence and his commitment to professional ethics. We want to honor him for his integrity in that respect.”
Jay noted in his remarks that Bryan “inspires confidence and calm in a client going through a difficult situation … he can empathize with the client he’s dealing with, and it’s incredibly valuable.” Michael highlighted that, for him, “Bryan’s greatest legacy in culture is the mentorship he’s built at Kostelanetz. He’s a rare veteran of the professional world who … opens the door and allows the younger folks to walk through first."
In his acceptance speech, Bryan reflected on his own experiences working with Jules Ritholz and the importance of mentorship, saying, “From Jules, I learned to combine the knowledge of technical tax rules with the art of persuasion.”
For more than 40 years, Bryan has represented corporations and individuals in sensitive matters, many of which involve negotiation or litigation with government agencies. He is internationally recognized for his work on tax controversies, audits, appeals and litigation, criminal tax investigations, and white-collar criminal prosecutions. Bryan also has an active practice providing tax and estate planning advice.
Bryan serves as an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law, where he teaches a course on tax penalties, and he created and co-chairs the annual New York University Tax Controversy Forum, which brings together representatives from the government and expert private practitioners to discuss issues related to tax compliance and enforcement.
Chambers and Partners ranks Bryan in its top tier of lawyers in the U.S. for Tax Fraud in its USA Guide and for Tax: Private Client in its High Net Worth Guide. Best Lawyers in America has named Bryan “Lawyer of the Year” for Tax Litigation in New York three times.
About Kostelanetz LLP
For 80 years, Kostelanetz LLP has built a global reputation as a law firm of choice for clients facing high-stakes controversies, negotiations with government agencies, and complex domestic and international tax planning decisions. Our attorneys have extensive experience in tax controversy, tax fraud defense, white-collar criminal defense, securities enforcement defense, trust and estate planning, transactional tax planning, and government investigations. We are regularly called upon to handle the most challenging and sensitive matters and internal investigations. Important parts of the firm’s practice also include commercial litigation and government procurement and contracting.
