Ian L. Atkinson

Ian Atkinson is a seasoned trial and appellate lawyer whose practice spans complex commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and tax litigation. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes disputes in state and federal courts and has substantial experience handling matters through every stage of litigation, from pre-suit investigations and dispositive motion practice to trial and appeal.

Ian has served as lead counsel in bench and jury trials and is regularly entrusted with bet-the-company disputes, sensitive investigations, and matters carrying significant financial and reputational exposure. His courtroom experience includes commercial business disputes, fiduciary-duty and financial-misconduct claims, professional disciplinary proceedings, and criminal defense matters involving allegations of health care fraud, tax violations, money laundering, and wire and mail fraud.

A significant part of Ian’s practice is devoted to appellate advocacy. He has successfully litigated appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and Louisiana appellate courts, and has experience in matters involving the United States Supreme Court. Drawing on his background as both a federal trial-court and appellate-court law clerk, Ian brings a strategic, trial-focused perspective to appellate litigation and critical motion practice.

In his tax practice, Ian represents the Louisiana Department of Revenue in litigation involving corporate income, franchise, and sales taxes, including disputes with some of the state’s largest taxpayers. He also advises businesses and individuals on federal tax controversies, civil audits, criminal investigations, IRS litigation, and compliance strategies.

Before joining Fishman Haygood, Ian was a partner at Schonekas, Evans, McGoey & McEachin. He previously clerked for the Honorable Sarah S. Vance of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Honorable Edith Brown Clement of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Ian earned his J.D., Order of the Coif, from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served on the Virginia Law Review and worked in the U.S. Supreme Court Litigation Clinic. He later earned an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.