IRS Chief Counsel William J. Wilkins to deliver keynote address at IIT Chicago-Kent's 31st annual Federal Tax Institute on May 17

William J. Wilkins, chief counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, will deliver the keynote address on the first day of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law's 31st annual Federal Tax Institute. The two-day program will be held May 17 and 18 at the law school, 565 West Adams St. (between Clinton and Jefferson streets), in Chicago. The program begins at 8 a.m. The keynote address is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

William J. Wilkins was sworn in as chief counsel of the Internal Revenue Service on August 3, 2009, following Senate confirmation by unanimous consent. As chief counsel, Wilkins is also an assistant general counsel in the Department of the Treasury.

Prior to his current position, Wilkins was a partner in the tax practice group of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in Washington, D.C., where his practice included counseling non-profit organizations, businesses, and investment funds on tax compliance, business transactions, and government investigations.  Wilkins has also served as staff director and chief counsel of the United States Senate Committee on Finance and as an associate with King & Spalding in Atlanta, GA. 

Wilkins held several offices in the Section of Taxation of the American Bar Association, including a one-year term as chair prior to his appointment as chief counsel. He has also served on the governing boards of the American College of Tax Counsel and the American Tax Policy Institute. Wilkins is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.

At IIT Chicago-Kent's Federal Tax Institute, nationally recognized tax advisors provide a comprehensive update on cutting-edge legal, legislative and policy developments and their impact on tax planning, compliance and controversy techniques. The program is geared toward experienced practitioners, including attorneys, accountants and corporate tax directors and staff. Registration is required. The Institute is approved for 9 hours of Illinois Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit, including 1.0 hour of ethics credit.

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law is the law school of Illinois Institute of Technology, a private, Ph.D.-granting institution with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, design and law. The law school offers a graduate program in taxation, which leads to an LL.M. degree, that is designed for both full-time students and practicing attorneys.