Chief Counsel

Chief Counsel, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

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The Chief Counsel, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), supervises a Deputy Chief Counsel and 15 other attorneys in Washington, D.C., and in field offices around the country. The Office of the Chief Counsel provides legal advice to TTB officials across the full range of their responsibilities.

TTB is responsible for enforcement of Federal laws related to alcohol and tobacco, and the collection of excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, alcohol and tobacco. These issues involve interpretations of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, Webb Kenyon Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

The Office of Chief Counsel attorneys advise TTB on issues related to the regulated industries concerning licensing, product labeling, international trade and regulatory inspections. Legal advice is provided on tax issues related to the products that TTB regulates. Attorneys also represent TTB in alcohol and tobacco permit revocation and other administrative proceedings.

The Office of the Chief Counsel also provides advice concerning ethics, labor relations, equal employment opportunity, personnel, fiscal, contract and disclosure law, and represents TTB before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority and the Board of Contract Appeals. Attorneys review and advise on claims and suits by and against TTB and its employees in areas such as the Federal Tort Claims Act and employee claims.