NEW YORK (June 18, 2026) — Kostelanetz LLP has been named a leading U.S. tax controversy firm by Legal 500 for 2026.
Partner Caroline D. Ciraolo has been selected for Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” for tax controversy, which recognizes “lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.”
In addition, partner Todd Welty has been named to the Legal 500 “Leading Partners” list for tax controversy, which recognizes the “strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.”
Respondents to Legal 500’s independent research had the following to say about attorneys at Kostelanetz:
The rankings agency referred to Kostelanetz as “a leading boutique” for civil and criminal tax controversies and white collar defense, including “regularly representing individuals and entities in high-stakes fraud investigations, enforcement actions, IRS examinations, and grand jury proceedings.”
In reviewing the firm’s strengths, Legal 500 cited the firm’s growth last year and the addition of partners Karen Kelly (a former head of the Justice Department Tax Division), Victor Suthammanont (former Enforcement Counsel to SEC Chair Gary Gensler), and Melissa Wiley (a 20-plus year veteran of the tax controversy bar), as well as the addition of tax bar legend Frank Agostino in 2025.
Earlier this year, Legal 500 selected Caroline D. Ciraolo, Sharon L. McCarthy, and Jay R. Nanavati to its Legal 500 US Elite list in the White-Collar Crime category. Legal 500 explains that its US Elite list “emphasizes lawyers who are handling work at the top of the legal market in their respective cities.”
Legal 500 selects firms for ranking that engage in “high-level, nationally significant work across practice areas.” The Legal 500 rankings are based on client and peer feedback and independent research, which are updated annually.
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.