American College of Tax Counsel elects 18 new Fellows

The American College of Tax Counsel elected 18 new Fellows at an Oct. 30 Board of Regents meeting, expanding the ranks of tax attorneys and academics recognized for tax-law leadership. The move highlights the profession’s pipeline of senior practitioners who help shape U.S. tax policy and practice.

Why it matters: - The American College of Tax Counsel is adding senior tax lawyers and professors who are recognized for excellence, ethical conduct and substantial contributions to tax law. - Fellowship can signal influence in the tax-policy world because the College helps provide input into the development of U.S. tax laws and policy.

What happened: - At an Oct. 30, 2026 meeting, the Board of Regents elected 18 new Fellows. - The new Fellows are Lindsay L. Clayton, Phillip James Colasanto, Mardiros “Marty” Dakessian, Charlotte A. Erdmann, Garett M. Fischer, Professor William E. Foster, Anne Gordon, Karen Kelly, Professor Kathryn J. Kennedy, Kelvin M. Lawrence, Rafi William Mottahedeh, Professor Mary Leto Pareja, Matthew L. Roberts, Paul Sczudlo, Elizabeth Julia Smith, Elizabeth “Lisa” Sperow, Scott W. Vance and Michael J. Wilson. - The new Fellows come from law firms, academic institutions, a trade association and other tax-related legal roles across the U.S.

The details: - To become a Fellow, a candidate must be nominated by a current Fellow and then reviewed by a committee of the Board of Regents. - Eligibility requires at least 15 years as a member of a U.S. state bar, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. possession or territory before election. - The College requires a career principally devoted to tax law and tax-related matters. - Prospective Fellows must be engaged in full-time legal work, or be retired or semi-retired from it, in private practice, corporate legal or tax departments, government, trade associations, or law or business schools. - The College also requires a high standard of excellence and ethical conduct, including substantial bar association involvement and significant writing or speaking activity. - Ameek Ashok Ponda, president of the College, said the new Fellows reflect tax professionals whose work has earned peer respect and will help shape future tax-law discussions. - The College was founded in 1981. - The organization is a nonprofit association of tax attorneys in private practice, law, business and graduate-school teaching positions, and government. - The College’s Board of Regents has 19 members, including one Regent from each of the 13 federal judicial circuits, two at-large members and four Executive Committee officers.

Between the lines: - The election underscores how the College blends practitioners and academics in one professional network. - The mix of private practice lawyers, professors and trade-association counsel suggests the College is seeking broad expertise across tax controversies, policy and teaching.

What's next: - The newly elected Fellows will join the College’s membership and participate in its work around tax-law analysis and policy input. - The College continues to operate through its Board of Regents and Executive Committee structure. - More information is available in the College’s online announcement.