Senior Litigation Manager – Specialized Tax Litigation
About the Firm:
Zerbe Miller Fingeret Frank & Jadav (“ZMF”) is a boutique litigation firm representing businesses and individuals in complex civil and tax-related disputes. Our attorneys regularly appear before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Courts, and Federal Courts of Appeal, advocating for clients in high stakes matters involving tax credits, refund claims, and tax penalties. The firm also represents companies in federal commercial disputes. The firm’s culture combines federal practice sophistication with small-firm collaboration, offering direct client engagement and meaningful courtroom experience early in one’s career.
Please check out our firm at: https://zmflaw.com or our LinkedIn profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zmffj/
Position Summary:
As the Senior Litigation Manager, you will be responsible for strategically directing the organization’s Tax Controversy function while leading, developing, and managing a high performing team of tax professionals. You will oversee tax disputes with the IRS on behalf of our clients.
The Senior Litigation Manager serves as a primary leader for the controversy team, fostering a collaborative, proactive environment focused on risk mitigation and efficient resolution. You must possess deep technical tax expertise while also possessing strong people management skills to mentor team members, evaluate and allocate resources, drive overall team performance, and ensure alignment with business objectives.
The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in federal litigation, tax procedure, and administrative law, and will thrive in collaborative, intellectually rigorous environment. This role provides the opportunity to litigate substantive tax and financial matters for small to mid-sized businesses across the country, from pre-litigation strategy through trial and appeal.
As a premier consulting and technology firm, alliant is focused on providing solutions to help businesses transform and thrive while being their ongoing growth partner.
Responsibilities:
- Drive strategy and execution for all tax audits, disputes, and appeals to achieve optimal outcomes
- Oversee interactions with tax authorities, clients, and internal teams
- Drive process improvements, case management, documentation standards and best practices within the team
- Monitor evolving tax laws and provide thought leadership and proactive guidance to senior leadership on emerging controversy risks
- Draft motions, discovery requests, and briefs in U.S. District Court and U.S. Tax Court
- Conduct factual investigations, witness interviews, and expert coordination
- Develop case strategies and advise clients through all phases of litigation
- Manage, review, and digest large amounts of discovery to help support case strategy
- Collaborate closely with staff, senior attorneys, and clients on trial preparation and oral argument
- Research complex procedural and statutory issues involving tax, jurisdiction, and federal claims
- Manage and maintain client relationships and collaboratively work with multi-disciplinary teams in a constructive fashion to drive results
Qualifications:
- JD or equivalent, and active license to practice law
- Preferred 15+ years of litigation experience, preferably in federal court or as a federal clerk
- Demonstrated leadership skills to lead and develop high performing teams
- Collaborative team leader
- Strong business judgment with the ability to navigate complex shareholder environments
- Strong advocacy, negotiation, and communications skills; expertise in leading negotiations with tax authorities and stakeholders
- Excellent legal writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills
- Admission to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- Preferred background or coursework in tax, accounting, financial regulation, or a technical field such as engineering
- Experience drafting dispositive motions, legal briefs, and analyzing discovery is highly valued
- High sense of urgency with the ability to meet deadlines and changing priorities
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task, work independently, manage team deadlines, and handle client-facing responsibilities
- Receptiveness to performance feedback and continuous improvement within a team environment is essential
- Available to travel 25% within the United States
- Candidate must reside or relocate to Houston, TX
Why Join Us
- National scope practice with a small firm feel
- Comprehensive compensation and benefits package including 100% employer paid medical/dental premiums for single coverage, 401(k) matching, PTO, company provided life insurance and disability, onsite gyn and group fitness classes, paid covered parking, daily allowance for onsite café and Starbucks, and more!
