Ian Comisky

Ian has more than 35 years of experience representing corporations and individuals in civil and criminal tax litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and complex corporate and commercial disputes.

His experience includes:

• tax controversy work such as IRS administrative and grand jury investigations, Tax Court, Claims Court and District Court trials and appeals, jeopardy and termination assessments, responsible officer penalty and collection matters;
• corporate compliance matters involving the Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act and FATCA issues for financial institutions including banks, broker-dealers and mutual funds;
• commercial litigation focused on accounting and legal malpractice cases as well as securities and class action matters, all involving tax and related accounting issues; and
• corporate internal investigations for financial institutions and other entities, including claims under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Ian frequently advises individuals on their U.S. tax and foreign asset reporting (FBAR and FATCA) obligations and has represented hundreds of individuals with undisclosed foreign bank accounts through the IRS voluntary disclosure programs. He also counsels individuals and corporations in civil audits and criminal investigations arising out of tax-sheltered investments.

Services

• Litigation
• White-Collar Criminal Defense & Regulatory Compliance
• Tax Controversy & Litigation

Before Fox Rothschild

Prior to joining Fox, Ian was co-chair of the white-collar practice at Blank Rome for more than three decades. Before that, he was an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia County, a special assistant U.S. attorney and an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida.

Beyond Fox Rothschild

Ian serves as special projects chair of the American Bar Association Tax Section. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar, where he serves as chair of the Investment Committee. Ian also serves on the boards of directors of the Citizens Crime Commission of the Delaware Valley, Historic Philadelphia, Inc. and the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life. He is also the secretary and a member of the board of directors of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, Ian is a member of the Brandeis Society, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Franklin Institute, among other local organizations.

Ian is the co-author of the two-volume treatise Tax Fraud and Evasion, has appeared on CNBC's Money Talk and CNN and is called upon frequently to comment on tax issues. He was elected in 1995 to the American College of Tax Counsel and is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Client Resources

Tax Controversy Sentinel

The increasingly complex area of tax law in the U.S. can cause a variety of legal setbacks for any business. The more notable the tax controversy, the more roadblocks that can be created between a company and its success. Ian addresses the latest developments in all aspects of tax controversy matters on the firm’s Tax Controversy Sentinel blog.

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• Florida
• District of Columbia

Court Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. Tax Court

Education

• University of Miami School of Law (LL.M.)
• University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D.)
• University of Pennsylvania (B.S., magna cum laude)

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• American College of Tax Counsel
• American Law Institute
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Brandeis Society
• Federal Bar Association
• Florida Bar Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Philadelphia Bar Association
• Public Liability Underwriters Society

Board of Directors

• Citizens Crime Commission of the Delaware Valley
• Historic Philadelphia, Inc.
• Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life
• Mann Center for the Performing Arts

Honors & Awards

• Recognized in the Chambers USA Guide for Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Pennsylvania (2022-2025)
• Selected to the "Best Lawyers in America" list for Criminal Defense: White-Collar Law in Philadelphia, PA by Best Lawyers (2006-2026)
• Selected to the "Super Lawyers" list for Tax in Pennsylvania (2017-2025)
• Named to the list of "Local Litigation Stars" in Pennsylvania by Benchmark Litigation (2018-2025)