Skadden mourns the death of our friend and partner Ken Gideon, who died January 10. He was 69.
One of the nation's top tax lawyers, Ken brought a rare breadth of expertise to his practice. Initially a corporate attorney, he rose to the highest levels of the tax bar, serving as chief counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and assistant secretary of the Treasury for tax policy before joining our firm in 2000. At Skadden, Ken litigated tax disputes and provided guidance regarding novel transactions and issues relating to tax law and planning, advising clients such as FedEx, Regions Financial Corp. and Transocean in major, precedent-setting victories.
Witty, kind and famously generous with his time, Ken was always available to share his insights and impeccable judgment on tax issues; his dedication to his colleagues helped nurture the next generation of talented Skadden tax attorneys. He also remained committed to professional ethics and tax policy matters, including through his service as the chairman of the ABA Section of Taxation.
Ken attended Harvard University ('68) and Yale Law School ('71).
He is survived by his wife, Carol, and their children and grandchildren.