Alston & Bird Adds Former Federal Prosecutor

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – October 11, 2013 – Alston & Bird LLP today announced the addition of veteran attorney George Abney to its national tax practice.  Abney is a former federal prosecutor with the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and a former assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Florida.  His extensive public-sector experience informs his practice representing clients facing complex civil and criminal tax investigations at IRS audit and appeals levels, as well as cases before the IRS, the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. district courts and the U.S. bankruptcy courts.

While with the Justice Department, Abney directed and oversaw complex tax fraud investigations and successfully litigated numerous matters in federal courts throughout the southeastern United States.  In 2001, he was recognized by then Attorney General John Ashcroft as a Tax Division Outstanding Attorney.  

After serving four years with the Tax Division, Abney joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, where he prosecuted a wide variety of criminal matters that ranged from financial fraud offenses to narcotics and firearms offenses, and handled numerous appeals to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  In 2004, he received special recognition from FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, for his work in successfully prosecuting United States v. Dugas, a case involved kidnapping, Mann Act and firearms charges.

“George’s presence adds to the firm’s already highly regarded tax practice,” said Alston & Bird’s Managing Partner Richard Hays.  “His extensive experience in the public sector provides our clients with a unique and valuable expertise in tax controversy matters.”

About George Abney

George Abney is a partner in the firm’s Tax Controversy Group whose practice focuses on civil and criminal tax controversy matters.  Abney has significant trial and appellate experience gained from years as a federal prosecutor with the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Florida.  In private practice, he has successfully represented clients in civil tax controversies before the IRS, the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. district courts and the U.S. bankruptcy courts, as well as in federal grand jury investigations and IRS criminal investigations.

Abney earned his J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law, with high honors, where he served as executive editor of the law review, and his B.A. from Columbia University.

About Alston & Bird

With more than 800 attorneys, Alston & Bird is a leading national AmLaw 50 firm.  The firm’s core practice areas are intellectual property, complex litigation, corporate and tax, with national industry focuses in health care, financial services and public policy.  The firm has built a reputation as one of the country’s best employers, appearing on FORTUNE magazine’s ranking of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” 14 consecutive years, an unprecedented accomplishment among law firms in the United States.  The firm has offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Charlotte, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Research Triangle, Silicon Valley, Ventura County and Washington, D.C.

For more information on Alston & Bird, please visit www.alston.com.