Directors' College 2018
Emily Lam
Partner, Office Leader (Palo Alto), Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP
Emily M. Lam is the head of Skadden’s Palo Alto office and a partner in the firm’s Tax group. She advises clients on a broad range of tax controversy matters, focusing on complex audits and appeals. Drawing on her prior experience at the U.S. Department of Treasury and her almost two decades of practice, she provides clients with sophisticated tax counseling on the most sensitive matters.
Ms. Lam, who began her career in Skadden’s Washington, D.C. office, rejoined the firm in 2010 after serving as an attorney adviser in the Office of Tax Policy at the U.S. Department of Treasury. While at the Treasury Department, Ms. Lam worked closely with the Internal Revenue Service on administrative guidance, consulted with Congressional staff regarding legislation and interfaced with other government agencies on various tax policy matters.
Ms. Lam also advises tax-exempt organizations and counsels on charitable giving issues.
On the strength of her professional achievements, Ms. Lam has been recognized numerous times as a leading tax lawyer both in California and nationwide. She received a 2017 Women in Business Law award from Euromoney and Legal Media Group, recognizing her as one of the country’s outstanding tax dispute resolution attorneys. The Daily Journal has named her several times to its list of Top Women Lawyers in California and previously recognized her as one of the state’s top 20 Lawyers Under 40. She also was recognized as one of the world’s leading tax advisers in the 2016 Tax Advisers Expert Guide and has been selected annually by International Tax Review for its Women in Tax Leaders Guide, which identifies leading women tax practitioners from more than 25 countries. Ms. Lam is selected annually for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. In 2013, the Silicon Valley Business Journal recognized her as one of its Women of Influence.
Ms. Lam is a frequent speaker and panelist before private bar and industry groups, including the Tax Executives Institute and the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation.
Ms. Lam also is active in recruiting, development and retention within Skadden. She holds numerous positions in the Palo Alto office, including chair of the diversity committee, co-hiring partner and one of the attorney development partners. She also serves on the firmwide diversity and pro bono committees.
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