David C. Blum

David C. Blum

Litigation and Controversy - Tax

3.0 (1 reviews)
Chicago, Illinois
28+ years experience
Akerman LLP
Updated:

Contact Information

71 South Wacker Drive, 47th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
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Bio

Ranked by Chambers USA for both taxation and tax controversy, The Legal 500, and Best Lawyers in America, David Blum provides transactional, tax planning, and tax litigation counsel to local and multinational businesses throughout the United States. His practice serves a variety of sectors, including telecommunications, automotive retail, equipment leasing, financial services, senior care, logistics, hospitality, and retail, among others. According to a client quoted in Chambers, “David is intelligent, client-focused and cares about the big picture in addition to the details.”David’s comprehensive multistate taxation practice includes nexus issues, income apportionment, sales and use tax, franchise tax, False Claims Act (qui tam), transfer taxes, and state registration and reporting requirements. In addition, he has significant experience in creating and implementing tax-efficient corporate and partnership structures for all types of U.S. and cross border transactions, including business start-ups, private equity, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, dispositions, restructurings, intellectual property, and corporate finance matters.A former state tax auditor, David has years of experience representing U.S. and multinational companies before the Internal Revenue Service and state and local taxing agencies throughout the country. He frequently defends large and complex audits at all stages of the audit and appeal process. He represents taxpayers in U.S. Tax Court, IRS Appeals Division, state court, state and city Administrative Hearings, and state and local taxing agencies across the country.David frequently writes and speaks on a variety of topics. He has written articles for national publications and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Forbes, CNBC, MSN, Crain’s, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Tax Analyst, Law360, and State Tax Notes. Ranked by Chambers USA for both taxation and tax controversy, The Legal 500, and Best Lawyers in America, David Blum provides transactional, tax planning, and tax litigation counsel to local and multinational businesses throughout the United States. His practice serves a variety of sectors, including telecommunications, automotive retail, equipment leasing, financial services, senior care, logistics, hospitality, and retail, among others. According to a client quoted in Chambers, “David is intelligent, client-focused and cares about the big picture in addition to the details.”David’s comprehensive multistate taxation practice includes nexus issues, income apportionment, sales and use tax, franchise tax, False Claims Act (qui tam), transfer taxes, and state registration and reporting requirements. In addition, he has significant experience in creating and implementing tax-efficient corporate and partnership structures for all types of U.S. and cross border transactions, including business start-ups, private equity, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, dispositions, restructurings, intellectual property, and corporate finance matters.A former state tax auditor, David has years of experience representing U.S. and multinational companies before the Internal Revenue Service and state and local taxing agencies throughout the country. He frequently defends large and complex audits at all stages of the audit and appeal process. He represents taxpayers in U.S. Tax Court, IRS Appeals Division, state court, state and city Administrative Hearings, and state and local taxing agencies across the country.David frequently writes and speaks on a variety of topics. He has written articles for national publications and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Forbes, CNBC, MSN, Crain’s, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Tax Analyst, Law360, and State Tax Notes. Ranked by Chambers USA for both taxation and tax controversy, The Legal 500, and Best Lawyers in America, David Blum provides transactional, tax planning, and tax litigation counsel to local and multinational businesses throughout the United States. His practice serves a variety of sectors, including telecommunications, automotive retail, equipment leasing, financial services, senior care, logistics, hospitality, and retail, among others. According to a client quoted in Chambers, “David is intelligent, client-focused and cares about the big picture in addition to the details.” David’s comprehensive multistate taxation practice includes nexus issues, income apportionment, sales and use tax, franchise tax, False Claims Act (qui tam), transfer taxes, and state registration and reporting requirements. In addition, he has significant experience in creating and implementing tax-efficient corporate and partnership structures for all types of U.S. and cross border transactions, including business start-ups, private equity, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, dispositions, restructurings, intellectual property, and corporate finance matters. A former state tax auditor, David has years of experience representing U.S. and multinational companies before the Internal Revenue Service and state and local taxing agencies throughout the country. David frequently writes and speaks on a variety of topics. He has written articles for national publications and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Forbes, CNBC, MSN, Crain’s, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Tax Analyst, Law360, and State Tax Notes.

Practice Areas

Litigation and Controversy - Tax

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Chicago (2026)
  • Recognized: Litigation and Controversy - Tax
  • Recognized: Tax Law

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018

Education

  • University of Illinois Chicago, John Marshall Law School, J.D., graduated 1997

Reviews

D

Donald Allen

2 weeks ago

Knowledgeable but communication could be more consistent

David Blum is clearly an expert in his field, as his recognition in Chambers USA and Best Lawyers for tax litigation and controversy attests. We engaged him for a complex tax dispute with the IRS regarding a business acquisition. His deep knowledge of transactional tax planning and his 28 years of experience were evident in his strategy. He successfully navigated the controversy, achieving a favorable settlement. However, the experience was marked by occasional communication lapses. While his legal analysis was thorough, responses to our emails were sometimes delayed, and we often felt we had to follow up for updates. For a matter of this importance, we expected more proactive communication from a senior partner at a firm like Akerman. He is undoubtedly a competent attorney who gets results, but the client service aspect felt just adequate.

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