IR-2019-79, April 25, 2019 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service’s Chief Counsel today announced the appointment of Peter Blessing to the position of Associate Chief Counsel, International, Office of Chief Counsel. Blessing has many years of experience in private practice and has focused primarily on international tax law. “We are very fortunate to attract an individual of his caliber and expertise,” said Michael Desmond, IRS Chief Counsel. The Associate Chief Counsel, International, is responsible for coordinating and directing all activities of the international organizational component of the Office of Chief Counsel. That organization provides legal advisory services on all international and foreign tax matters, including all matters relating to the activities of non-U.S. persons or entities within the United States and the activities of U.S. or U.S.-related persons or entities outside the United States. These services support uniform interpretation, application and enforcement of all international provisions of the United States revenue laws, all bilateral and multilateral tax treaties and agreements to which the United States is a party, and all foreign revenue laws that pertain to or affect tax matters in the United States. Blessing most recently served as a Managing Director for Washington National Tax (WNT) and International Tax units of KPMG LLP. He was a partner for over 25 years with Shearman & Sterling LLP, where he had a sophisticated tax practice with an emphasis on financial institutions and international tax matters. For a number of years, he managed the International Tax Department and grew a European tax practice for the firm. Blessing received his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and his Master in Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. “Peter Blessing will be bringing a deep and wide-ranging technical expertise and strong leadership qualities and will be a great addition to the Office of Chief Counsel,” Desmond said.
