Christopher S. Rizek is a tax attorney in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office. Mr. Rizek represents taxpayers in all types of federal civil and criminal tax controversy matters. He guides clients through IRS audits, prepares administrative claims and protests of IRS actions, and litigates tax and tax-related cases in U.S. district and appellate courts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and U.S. Tax Court.

In recent years, Mr. Rizek has represented numerous taxpayers, financial entities and professional firms in connection with IRS examinations of tax shelters and related compliance and professional ethics issues.

From 1984 to 1988, Mr. Rizek served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice's Tax Division, and he received the Outstanding Attorney Award in 1986. From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Rizek was an attorney-advisor and then associate tax legislative counsel with the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Tax Legislative Counsel, with substantial responsibilities for legislation and regulatory actions involving taxpayer rights, tax practice and procedure, and tax compliance.

Mr. Rizek's combination of practical and policy-level experience in government has given him special insight into the actual application of the tax laws and procedures to taxpayers. This experience has been of great value to his clients who are faced with complex tax controversies and litigation.

Mr. Rizek previously was an adjunct professor in the LL.M. tax program at Georgetown University Law Center and taught a Tax Practice & Procedure (Administrative) course to IRS personnel. He also has been a guest lecturer at other law schools and universities, and is a frequent speaker at conferences on tax procedure and ethics issues.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Rizek was a tax attorney for a national law firm in its Washington, D.C., office.