TAX DIVISION APPOINTS MARK V. HOLMES AS
CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eileen J. O'Connor, Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division, today announced that Mark V. Holmes, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Policy and Planning, is also Chief of Staff to the Assistant Attorney General. Holmes has served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General since September 10, 2001. As Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Chief of Staff, Holmes coordinates broad areas of the Division's litigation workload, manages special projects, and provides advice and counsel to the Assistant Attorney General on the legal, policy and administrative issues facing the Tax Division. He also oversees Division budgeting and personnel, and helps develop administrative and legislative proposals important to tax administration.

"Mark's superb knowledge of tax litigation and his prior government experience combine to make him eminently qualified to direct and oversee the administrative operations of the Tax Division," said Assistant Attorney General O'Connor. "In addition to his exceptional legal skills, which he brings to bear on the substantive and procedural issues involved in complex tax litigation, Mark has shown a keen ability to trouble shoot a wide variety of critical budgetary and personnel decisions facing the Tax Division."

Holmes is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Chicago School of Law. After working as an associate at Cahill Gordon in New York City, Mr. Holmes served as a law clerk to Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Following his clerkship, he worked at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York. From 1991 to 1996, Holmes served as Counsel to the Chairman of the United States International Trade Commission. Prior to his present government service, Holmes practiced law at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Miller & Chevalier, where he litigated tax cases and advised clients on tax, antitrust and trade matters.

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