
Since joining the firm of Chicoine & Hallett, P.S., in 1991,
Mr. Colvin has concentrated his practice in federal tax controversy matters and federal white-collar criminal defense. Mr.
Colvin has represented clients before every level of the Internal Revenue
Service, before the United States Tax Court and the Court of Federal Claims, in
the federal district courts, before the Circuit Courts of Appeals, and before
the Supreme Court of the United States.
Recent reported tax cases for which Mr. Colvin had primary or significant
responsibility include Gitlitz v. Commissioner, 531 U.S. 206, 121 S. Ct. 701
(2001), rev’g 182 F.3d 1143 (10th Cir. 1999); St. Charles Investment Co. v.
Commissioner, 232 F.3d 773 (10th Cir. 2000), rev’g 110 T.C. 46 (1998); and Oak
Harbor Freight Lines, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-291. Mr. Colvin also
successfully represented some of the taxpayers in United States v. Guess, et.
al., S.D.Cal. 04-2184, a case in which the government sought to obtain a
preliminary injunction and receivership over an offshore insurance company with
approximately $500 million in assets, alleging that the company and its clients
were participating in an illegal tax shelter. Mr. Colvin also has significant
experience in white-collar cases involving fraudulent medical billings, customs
violations, securities and commodities fraud, software piracy, bank and
bankruptcy fraud, environmental crimes, and Lacey Act violations.
Mr. Colvin is
a frequent lecturer on tax-related topics for professional groups. He is the
Chairman of the Subcommittee for Legislative and Administrative Developments for
the ABA Taxation Section, Civil and Criminal Penalties Committee.Mr. Colvin
earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Reed College in 1985, where he
was admitted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a Juris Doctor degree from the
University of Washington School of Law in 1991. Mr. Colvin received a fellowship
at Columbia University from 1986 to 1988, where he pursued graduate studies in
17th and 18th century Chinese history. Mr. Colvin was designated as a Telluride
Scholar in 1980 at Deep Springs College, California.