Brian Ferrel's Death (8/17/16)

Brian Ferrel, a long-time DOJ Tax attorney (Trial Attorney, Assistant Chief & special counsel), died July 21, 2016.  The Washington Post Obituary is here.  From the obituary:

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2016 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Potomac, MD. A memorial service and burial are also planned at the Mariner Sands Chapel in the fall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to (www.lls.org). More information is available at www.martin-funeral.com.

Academic Opportunity of Potential Interest to DOJ Tax Attorneys or Alumni (8/16/16)

I was asked to post this opportunity on the DOJ Tax Alumni blog.  I would appreciate readers considering this opportunity and passing it on to others who might be interest.

The University of Richmond School of Law seeks to fill two entry-level tenure-track positions for the 2017-2018 academic year, including one in tax law.  Candidates should have outstanding academic credentials and show superb promise for top-notch scholarship and teaching.  The University of Richmond, an equal opportunity employer, is committed to developing a diverse workforce and student body and to supporting an inclusive campus community.  Applications from candidates who will contribute to these goals are strongly encouraged.   

Inquiries and requests for additional information may be directed to Professor Jessica Erickson, Chair of Faculty Appointments, at lawfacultyapp@richmond.edu.  

Another Sumner Redstone Article (8/4/16)

Gabe Friedman, Viacom Drama’s Cast of Lawyers (Bloomberg Law 8/3/16), here.

Sumner Redstone: Built a $40 billion media empire, that includes Viacom, which owns MTV and Nickelodeon and also Paramount Pictures and CBS Corp. In 1947, Redstone graduated Harvard Law School and started his career as an appellate lawyer in the tax division of the U.S. Department of Justice. 

“When I got out of law school, I was offered jobs at several major Wall Street firms … I was not interested in either making a lot of money or limiting myself to academics,” Redstone wrote in his 2001 biography, A Passion to Win. 

Instead, he travelled the country and argued 50 or 60 appellate cases at the DOJ, according to the biography.

The link to purchase on Amazon is here.