Tax Legend Fred Goldberg Shares Insights From His 50 Years in Tax Law

GILTI Conscience

In this episode of the “GILTI Conscience” podcast, longtime Skadden tax partner Fred Goldberg joins our hosts Nate Carden and David Farhat to discuss his one-of-a-kind journey through the public and private tax sectors. Fred details the changes he’s seen, his hopes for the future of the field and his advice for those looking to begin a career in tax law.

As Fred notes, the tax system is the one set of regulations that every individual, family, business and nonprofit in the country must contend with each year. And for each, the challenge is the same: When you get your taxes right, everything is fine, but when you get them wrong, havoc ensues.

Many people who might consider a career in tax law are driven away by misconceptions about the work — e.g., a tax attorney can’t be altruistic or give back to society. However, Fred believes tax is not just transactional — it’s also relational: The field presents opportunities to collaborate, chase your passion and connect with others. The profession also needs a wide range of personalities and perspectives — you don’t have to change yourself to fit some preconceived notion of an ideal tax attorney. A career in the tax field requires only creativity, listening skills and authenticity.

Fred hopes that mentorship, education and a willingness to shift perspectives can enable tax law to become more diverse and inclusive. He regularly shares the same advice with aspiring lawyers, young professionals already in the tax sector and people on the street: Tax law can make for an outstanding career.

💡 Featured Guest 💡

Name: Fred Goldberg

What he does: Fred is of counsel in Skadden’s Tax Group. He represents business, tax-exempt, and individual clients in all phases of dispute resolution with tax authorities. A primary focus of his practice has been to resolve large and complex tax controversies related to a wide range of issues across all industries. Fred is a former IRS chief counsel, IRS commissioner and Department of the Treasury assistant secretary for tax policy.

Words of wisdom: “Saying it's easy, doing it's hard, but that's why the career is so wonderful. No matter who you are, how you think, what you care about, whether you go into it hammer and tong in a big fight, or whether you like three-dimensional chess, whatever turns you on, it is a spectacular profession.”

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GILTI Conscience is a podcast by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and Affiliates. Skadden’s tax team is recognized globally for providing clients with creative and innovative solutions to their most pressing transactional, planning, and controversy challenges. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is considered advertising under applicable state laws.