NEW YORK (Aug. 24, 2026) — Best Lawyers in America® has named partner Bryan C. Skarlatos as its 2027 Lawyer of the Year for Litigation and Controversy – Tax in New York.
This year marks the fourth time Bryan has been selected Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in the Litigation and Controversy – Tax practice area. He also won the award in 2025, 2017, and 2014.
In winning the award this year, Bryan joins several other Kostelanetz partners who have been recognized as Lawyer of the Year, including Caroline Ciraolo, who has been selected for the honor five times.
Best Lawyers notes that the Lawyer of the Year accolade is awarded to “individual lawyers who received the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for a specialty and metropolitan location per edition.”
Bryan has also been recognized for 2027 as a leading New York attorney in Tax Law and Criminal Defense: White Collar.
About Bryan
For nearly four decades, 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.
Chambers and Partners has ranked Bryan in its top tier of lawyers in the U.S. for Tax Fraud and for Tax: Private Client. Chambers’ testimonials describe Bryan as “on every level so far above anyone else I have encountered in this field. His ability to deliver is extraordinary.” Another commenter said, “Bryan has created the most elite tax firm in the US.”
This year, Bryan also received the 2026 Jules Ritholz Memorial Merit Award, presented by the American Bar Association Tax Section’s Civil & Criminal Tax Penalties Committee. The award recognizes “outstanding legal work in the highly complex field of criminal and civil tax controversy litigation.”
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. Our partners also serve as consulting and testifying experts and independent mediators in tax-related disputes. Important parts of the firm’s practice also include commercial litigation and government procurement and contracting.