With about $80 billion heading into the coffers of the Internal Revenue Service and its adjacent needs, Big Law is beefing up its tax controversy departments with new hires. 

“We’re going to have an appropriately resourced IRS and they’ve stated publicly they’re shifting the existing enforcement budget to people making over $400K and corporations and partnerships,” said David Foster, a former Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom partner who made the jump to Kirkland & Ellis earlier this month.