Atty. Michael Sardar
Michael Sardar has extensive experience on a wide range of tax controversy and white collar criminal defense matters. Mr.
Litigation and Controversy - Tax Attorney · Serving New York, NY
Profile Summary
About Michael Sardar at a Glance
Michael Sardar is a tax litigation attorney based in New York, New York, practicing at Kostelanetz LLP. Educated at Cornell University (JD, 2007) and Baruch College (—). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Litigation and Controversy - Tax (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026). Serves clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Michael Sardar
- Michael Sardar has extensive experience on a wide range of tax controversy and white collar criminal defense matters
- Mr. Sardar represents clients in all stages of civil and criminal tax controversies before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), state tax authorities, the Department of Justice, and local prosecutors
- Mr. Sardar also represents and advises taxpayers facing audits and investigations of noncompliance with IRS foreign bank and asset reporting requirements, utilizing his skill, creative thinking, and deep knowledge of the law in this area
- In addition, Mr. Sardar has a great deal of experience representing corporate and individual taxpayers making voluntary disclosures of unreported income to the IRS and state tax authorities
- He has also represented scores of clients with unreported foreign assets, enabling the repatriation of over half a billion dollars of offshore assets through the IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, the Streamlined Compliance Procedures, and the IRS’ current Voluntary Disclosure Practice
- Mr. Sardar represents clients in criminal tax investigations, including those involving allegations of willful nondisclosure of foreign bank accounts and under-reporting of income
- He also represents clients in various white collar criminal matters, such as customs fraud and bank fraud, and he advises clients in connection with internal investigations regarding corporate and entity noncompliance
- Mr. Sardar represents taxpayers in New York State and City residency audits and investigations, including those involving the sourcing of income for multi-state taxpayers, and he has represented clients in connection with tax investigations conducted by the New York State Attorney General’s Office
- Mr. Sardar has also advised many nonprofit organizations on federal and state tax issues including general tax exemption and Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT)
- Mr. Sardar joined Kostelanetz LLP in 2009 and was named partner in January 2019
- Prior to joining Kostelanetz, Mr. Sardar was an attorney with Heller Ehrman LLP, where his practice was focused on transactional tax matters
- Mr. Sardar graduated summa cum laude from Baruch College in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and received his law degree from Cornell University Law School in 2007
Practice Areas Explained
Michael Sardar's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael Sardar handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in New York.
Tax Litigation in New York
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Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in New York
Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in New York are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
New York Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a New York-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in New York Choose Michael Sardar
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Michael Sardar's practice in the field of tax litigation.
Focused Tax Litigation Practice
Concentrating on tax litigation means Michael Sardar's knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, and procedural nuances stays current — unlike generalist practices that spread attention across unrelated fields.
Local Presence in New York
A New York-based practice means Michael Sardar attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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