What Caplin & Drysdale does

Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered is a Washington, D.C.-based law firm founded in 1964 that provides specialized legal services in tax controversy, tax litigation, criminal tax defense, international tax, private client/estate planning, exempt organizations, political law, bankruptcy, and complex commercial litigation. The firm serves high-net-worth individuals and families, corporations and executives, financial institutions, and tax-exempt organizations, with a client roster spanning 41 countries. Its practice is built around attorneys with prior senior roles at the IRS and DOJ, which the firm positions as the basis for its credibility in high-stakes tax enforcement and white-collar defense matters.

The firm operates a traditional professional services model, billing clients at attorney hourly rates with occasional fixed-fee or contingency arrangements depending on matter type. It has no disclosed productized offerings, proprietary technology platform, or API/SDK surface; service delivery is conducted through its Washington, D.C. headquarters and a New York regional office by partners and associates. Caplin & Drysdale does not have external ownership, public listing, PE/VC backing, or disclosed revenue figures, consistent with traditional partnership-owned law firm structures.

The firm sustains its pipeline primarily through reputation-driven channels: industry analyst rankings (Legal 500, Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Chambers High Net Worth), thought leadership publications (61% of attorneys have published in the last two years), participation in industry conferences (NYU Tax Controversy Forum, ABA Tax Controversy conferences), and earned media coverage in outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Law360. It does not disclose pricing, does not sell through resellers or intermediaries, and does not employ a productized or self-serve channel.

Name

Caplin & Drysdale

Legal name

Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered

Website

https://caplindrysdale.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Caplin & Drysdale is a Washington, D.C.-based law firm founded in 1964 that provides specialized tax controversy, tax litigation, criminal tax defense, international tax, and private client legal services to high-net-worth individuals, corporations, financial institutions, and exempt organizations, with a second office in New York.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services (Tax Controversy and Litigation)

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Tax controversy law
• Tax litigation services
• Estate planning
• International tax advisory
• White collar defense

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Traditional hourly billing for professional legal services in tax controversy, litigation, and advisory matters. Fee arrangements include hourly rates for attorneys and associates, with some matters handled on fixed-fee or contingency arrangements where appropriate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caplin & Drysdale is a private law firm providing a full range of tax, tax controversy, and litigation legal services across nine practice areas: Bankruptcy, Complex Litigation, Exempt Organizations, International Tax, Political Law, Private Client, Tax Disputes & Tax Litigation, Business/Investment/Transactional Tax, and Criminal Tax Cases & White Collar Defense. Services are delivered by attorneys and supported by paralegals and administrative staff at the firm's Washington, D.C. headquarters and New York office, serving high-net-worth individuals, corporations, financial institutions, and exempt organizations.

Product overview

Caplin & Drysdale is a law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services organized around core practice areas. The firm's offerings include Bankruptcy, Complex Litigation, Exempt Organizations, International Tax, Political Law, Private Client, Tax Disputes & Tax Litigation, Business/Investment/Transactional Tax, and Criminal Tax Cases & White Collar Defense. These practice areas work together to serve clients across tax planning, tax controversy, corporate matters, and litigation needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bankruptcy Legal services for bankruptcy proceedings and creditor rights matters, including representation of official committees of claimants in Chapter 11 cases.
• Complex Litigation Legal representation in complex business, financial, and commercial disputes, representing both defendants whose businesses are in peril and plaintiffs seeking to vindicate their rights through the court system.
• Exempt Organizations Legal counsel for tax-exempt organizations and nonprofits on tax exemption compliance, political activity compliance, IRS examinations, and Form 990 issues.
• International Tax Cross-border tax planning and controversy resolution for multinational entities, covering offshore account compliance, FBAR enforcement, voluntary disclosure programs, and international tax enforcement.
• Political Law Legal guidance on political activity, campaign finance, and lobbying compliance for individuals, organizations, and political entities.
• Private Client Estate planning, trust structures, foundations, and wealth management legal services for individuals and families on domestic and cross-border tax and estate planning issues.
• Tax Disputes & Tax Litigation Representation in tax controversies and litigation spanning the full range of the Internal Revenue Code, with skilled litigators translating substantive knowledge and courtroom experience into winning litigation strategy in tax dispute forums.
• Business, Investment & Transactional Tax Tax planning for business entities and their principals with respect to operations and transactions, advising domestic and foreign manufacturing and service companies, fund managers, financial institutions, and insurance companies.
• Criminal Tax Cases & White Collar Defense Defense representation in criminal tax investigations and white collar criminal matters, including voluntary disclosures, offshore account cases, and DOJ Tax Division proceedings.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kostelanetz & Fink LLP: A New York-based boutique specializing in tax controversy, criminal tax defense, and white collar matters, with a comparable specialty profile and similarly high-end partner-driven practice serving HNW individuals and corporations.
• Miller & Chevalier Chartered: A Washington, D.C.-based tax and litigation boutique of comparable size with a similarly deep focus on tax controversy, complex litigation, and federal regulatory matters; widely viewed as Caplin & Drysdale's closest direct competitor in the D.C. tax controversy bar.
• Ivins, Phillips & Barker Chtd. A Washington, D.C. tax boutique with a comparable exclusive focus on tax planning, tax controversy, and benefits-related matters, competing for the same sophisticated tax counsel engagements.
• Steptoe LLP: A Washington, D.C. law firm with a strong tax controversy and complex litigation practice that directly competes for the same corporate and HNW tax controversy engagements.
• Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C. A Beverly Hills / Florida-based tax controversy and criminal tax defense boutique that competes for high-stakes tax dispute work, particularly in offshore account and voluntary disclosure matters.

Broad incumbents

• BakerHostetler LLP: A national law firm with a recognized tax controversy group that competes for similar corporate tax disputes and high-net-worth tax controversy work, while offering broader full-service capabilities.
• Holland & Knight LLP: A large national law firm with a sizable tax practice and significant private client and tax controversy capabilities, competing for HNW wealth planning and corporate tax engagements.
• Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP: A major global law firm with a large tax controversy and white collar practice that competes with Caplin & Drysdale on large, complex tax matters, particularly those involving financial institutions.
• Sidley Austin LLP: A global elite law firm with a premier tax practice, competing for complex tax controversy, criminal tax defense, and international tax matters at the top of the market.
• McDermott Will & Emery LLP: A larger global law firm with one of the strongest tax controversy practices in the U.S., competing with Caplin & Drysdale for sophisticated tax litigation and white collar defense matters at the higher end of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caplindrysdale
• Facebookfacebook.com/Caplin-Drysdale-Chartered-126391344041703
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/43939/admin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Caplin & Drysdale