NEW YORK (May 1, 2026) — Kostelanetz LLP is proud to announce that Guy Ficco, the immediate past Chief of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS‑CI), has joined the firm as a Senior Investigator. Ficco’s arrival marks an expansion of the firm’s nationally recognized tax controversy, investigations, and white‑collar defense practices.
Ficco brings more than 30 years of federal law enforcement experience, culminating in his leadership of IRS‑CI, where he oversaw a global workforce of special agents and professional staff, directed complex domestic and cross-border criminal tax and financial crime investigations, and led major initiatives involving cryptocurrency, cybercrime, international tax enforcement, and public‑private partnerships.
Ficco joins an elite team at Kostelanetz of some of the most experienced former U.S. tax enforcement officials, including two former heads of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Tax Division, (now) two former Chiefs of the IRS Criminal Investigation, several attorneys with experience in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, a former Special Trial Attorney for the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in New York, several attorneys with criminal and civil DOJ Tax Division experience, and several former Assistant United States Attorneys.
During Ficco’s tenure, IRS‑CI achieved record enforcement results, expanded its international footprint, and strengthened collaboration with domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies. As Chief, Ficco also played a central role in the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), working closely with counterparts in the U.K., Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands to combat transnational financial crime.
“Guy Ficco is one of the most respected leaders in federal tax enforcement,” said Bryan C. Skarlatos, partner at Kostelanetz LLP. “His experience at the highest levels of IRS‑CI will be invaluable to our clients and will significantly enhance our ability to navigate the most complex civil and criminal tax matters.”
Ficco will advise clients on criminal tax exposure, parallel civil‑criminal investigations, Bank Secrecy Act and AML matters, cryptocurrency enforcement, corporate compliance, and cross‑border financial crime.
“I am excited to join Kostelanetz, a firm I am extremely familiar with and have long admired over the last 30 years as a leader in tax controversy and white-collar issues,” said Guy Ficco. “Throughout my career, I have worked to protect the integrity of the tax system. I look forward to helping clients anticipate risks, respond strategically, and strengthen their compliance posture.”
Ficco joins a team that includes several top former government officials, including Don Fort, former Chief of IRS‑CI and current Senior Investigator at Kostelanetz; Karen Kelly, the immediate past head of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and current firm partner; and Caroline D. Ciraolo, a former head of the Tax Division and co-founder of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
“Guy is a tremendous addition to the firm,” said Don Fort. “I had the privilege of working closely with him at IRS‑CI, and I know firsthand the depth of his expertise, his leadership, and his commitment to public service. Clients will benefit enormously from his insight into how enforcement decisions are made and how complex financial crime investigations unfold.”
Kostelanetz LLP is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier tax controversy and white‑collar defense boutiques. With nearly 80 legal professionals across New York, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey, the firm represents individuals, businesses, and institutions in high‑stakes civil and criminal tax matters, government investigations, and complex litigation. The addition of Ficco further strengthens the firm’s position as a leader in tax enforcement defense and financial crime matters.
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.
