Speaker 12.11.25
12.11
ABA 2025 Criminal Tax Fraud and Tax Controversy Conference
Wynn Las Vegas
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Darianne De Leon is a U.S. Tax Court–trained attorney representing companies and individuals in high-stakes federal tax disputes, bringing sound judgment and administrative and litigation experience to tax enforcement-facing matters.
Darianne advises corporations, private clients and other organizations in federal tax controversies, administrative appeals and litigation involving the IRS and U.S. Department of Justice. She draws on her clerkship experience at the U.S. Tax Court to efficiently evaluate procedural options, negotiate with government agencies and guide clients through disputes that materially affect their business and reputational interests.
Representative Experience
- Assisted the defense of taxpayers in multimillion-dollar income tax deficiency cases involving valuation disputes before the U.S. Tax Court.
Professional Highlights
- Former Co-Vice Chair, ABA Women in Tax Forum
- Frequent speaker at ABA Tax Section meetings on tax litigation and professional development
- Ambassador and Junior Board alum, Girls Inc.
View More
- “What Matters More: Preserving a Fundamental Right to Privacy or Tampering with Another’s Dignity Through Searches Because of “Reasonable Suspicion,” Darianne De Leon, American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law: Vol. 27 : Iss. 4, Article 3, 2019
- Trustee, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- ABA Tax Section Member; NYSBA Member
- First-generation immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago, committed to mentorship and mobility initiatives.
- Publications
- “General Ethical Considerations for Tax Controversy Attorneys and Proposed Amendments to Circular 230—Implications for Tax Practitioners,” both Wolters Kluwer publications. Contributing author.
- Speaking Engagements
- “Talking Across the Years: Generational Diversity in Tax Practice,” ABA 2025 Criminal Tax Fraud and Tax Controversy, December 12, 2025. Teaching introducer.
- “Promoting Diversity in the Legal Profession: Sponsors, Mentors, and Navigating Company Culture,” ABA Section of Taxation May Tax Meeting, May 3, 2024. Moderator and panelist.
- “Tax Litigation in a Resource-Constrained Environment: Trends, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations for Practitioners.” Speaker and moderator.
- “Representation of Return Preparers & Taxpayer Defenses.” Moderator.
- “Beyond Moore and Loper Bright – Additional Supreme Court Tax Cases That Even Tax Practitioners May Have Missed.” Panelist.
- “Ethics in Representation – How to Counsel Taxpayers.” Panelist.
- “Navigating Law Firm Life & Bringing Your Authentic Self.” Panelist.
- “Email Etiquette,” Thurgood Marshall Summer Internship Program. Panelist.
- “Women in Tax Forum Tea – Judges Panel,” ABA Women in Tax Forum. Moderator.
- “Women in Tax: Law Student Outreach Panel,” American Bar Association. Panelist.
- “Real Scholars,” Fordham University School of Law. Panelist.
- Georgetown Minority Pre-Law Conference. Panelist.
- The Washington Center Pre-Law Conference. Panelist.
- “2025 1L Conference: Perspectives and Pathways,” Jones Day. Panelist.
- “Practical Law: Practicing Law in the Real World,” Council on Legal Education Opportunity. Panelist.
- “Principal for a Day,” PENCIL. Participant.
- Volunteer Teaching Engagement(s)
- Rutgers Law School, Federal Tax Clinic, March 2026
Education
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LL.M., Taxation, Georgetown University Law Center, 2021
J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, 2020
B.A., John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, 2015
Admissions
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New York
District of Columbia
Courts
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U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Supreme Court
Clerkships
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U.S. Tax Court (clerkship, Hon. Tamara W. Ashford)
Bronx County Supreme Court (internship, Hon. Richard Lee Price)