Isabelle Kinsolving Farrar
Associate
Isabelle Farrar is a associate in the tax controversy group and a member of the firm’s tax & benefits department. She has extensive experience representing asset managers as well as companies in the health care industry, in tax controversy as well as civil and criminal matters.
Since joining Ropes & Gray in 2012, Isabelle has focused her practice on handling disputes with the IRS, state tax authorities, non-U.S. tax authorities, and the Department of Labor (DOL). During the COVID pandemic, Isabelle has been advising clients on implementing COVID-related legislation and on navigating the implications of telecommuting. Isabelle has also represented clients in defending against allegations of fraud and misconduct, improper marketing of pharmaceutical products and medical devices, and potential violations of the False Claims Act (FCA), the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and consumer protection laws.
Isabelle has represented clients in federal and state enforcement actions, and has conducted numerous internal investigations. She has led discovery teams, including managing contract attorney teams, and managing responsive, key, and privileged document reviews in multiple languages.
She maintains an active pro bono immigration practice, and has successfully represented asylum seekers in hearings before the Boston Immigration Court, presenting witnesses and making oral arguments. Isabelle has also obtained legal permanent residency for many asylees. Isabelle co-managed the firm’s pro bono asylum program for six years. Isabelle has been honored to receive awards related to her pro bono immigration work, including for supervising and mentoring many active matters.
Isabelle races sailboats competitively. Prior to joining the firm, she placed fifth in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece in the women’s double-handed division; won the 470 World Championships in 2008; and was ranked first in the world in the women’s 470 as recently as November 2011. Isabelle also won the International One Design World Championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018.
Experience
- Represented a large hedge fund in international tax-related criminal proceedings.
- Represented a large hedge fund in proceedings in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Tax Court.
- Represented an investment manager in IRS private letter ruling request.
- Representing high net worth individuals before the IRS and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
- Advised regarding implementation of the CARES Act and CAA employee retention credits.
- Advised regarding implications of telecommuting.
- Advised regarding tax treatment of settlement proceeds.
- Represented investment and health care companies in investigations by the Department of Labor.
- Represented a pharmaceutical company in a multi-year civil investigation by federal authorities into potential false claims and anti-kickback violations.
- Represented international pharmaceutical companies in multi-year civil investigations by federal and state authorities into allegedly fraudulent promotional practices.
- Represented a multi-national pharmaceutical company in an independent investigation related to allegations of corruption in China.
- Successfully represented several asylum seekers in Immigration Court hearings and at the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Publications
- Co-author, “SFDR: What investors really think,” Bloomberg Tax (June 17, 2021)
- Co-author, “IRS Issues Notices With Updated, Formal Guidance on Employee Retention Credits,” Bloomberg Tax (June 17, 2021)
- Co-author, “Busy New Year: Predicted IRS Enforcement Trends in 2021,” Bloomberg Tax (December 31, 2020)
- Co-author, “Phase 4 Stimulus Package—Highlight of Certain Key Tax-Related Provisions in the Phase 4 Stimulus Package,” Ropes & Gray Alert (December 22, 2020)
- Co-author, “Final BEAT Regs Still Contain Pitfalls For Taxpayers,” Law360 (November 13, 2020)
- Co-author, “Tax Controversy Coronavirus Developments Chart,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (2020)
- Co-author, “Key Tax Considerations For Cos. With Remote Employees,” Law360 (August 3, 2020)
- Co-author, “Supreme Court Decisions Regarding State and Congressional Subpoenas for Presidential Financial Records,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (July 29, 2020)
- Co-author, “Tax Court Hearings Will Be Conducted Remotely,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (June 3, 2020)
- Co-author, “IRS Issues Proposed Regulations on Deductions of Certain Settlement Payments to Governments,” Ropes & Gray Alert (May 27, 2020)
- Co-author, “Federal, State Tax Authority Enforcement-Related Responses to Covid-19,” Bloomberg Tax (May 14, 2020)
- Co-author, “Federal Court Holds Microsoft Documents Not Privileged, Falling Within Tax Shelter Exception,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (February 21, 2020)
- Moderator, “Podcast: State Taxation of Digital Health Products,” Ropes & Gray Podcast (January 9, 2020)
- Co-author, “IRS Issues New Guidance on Cryptocurrencies for the First Time in Four Years,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (October 30, 2019)
- Co-author, “Overview of Spring Term 2019 Supreme Court Tax Decisions,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (July 19, 2019)
- Co-author, “Ninth Circuit Issues Altera Decision, Upholding IRS Regulation on Allocation of Stock-Based Compensation, Reversing the Tax Court (Again), Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (June 11, 2019)
- Co-author, “New Final Partnership Audit Regulations,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (February 13, 2019)
- Co-author, “IRS Announces Voluntary Disclosure Program for Domestic and Offshore Assets,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (February 13, 2019)
- Co-author, “IRS Publishes Proposed Regulations on BEAT,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (February 13, 2019)
- Co-author, “IRS Makes Cryptocurrency a Compliance Priority,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (February 7, 2019)
- Moderator, “Podcast: Texas v. United States of America,” Ropes & Gray Podcast (February 4, 2019)
- Co-author, “How IRS Is Targeting Offshore Accounts, Virtual Currency,” Law360 (January 23, 2018)
- Co-author, “IRS Large Business & International Division Announces Strong Slate of International Campaigns,” Ropes & Gray Disputing Tax Newsletter (January 22, 2018)
- Co-author, “Fourth Circuit Holds that the False Claims Act Does Not Expand Common Law Corporate Successor Liability,” Ropes & Gray Alert (January 26, 2017)
- Co-author, “First Circuit Holds That, for Original Source Exception to the False Claim Act’s Public Disclosure Bar to Apply, Information Supplied Must Be ‘Significant’ or ‘Essential,’” Ropes & Gray Alert (January 26, 2017)
- Co-author, “Seventh Circuit Allows FCA Claim Based on Inferences of Fraud to Proceed; Claims Based Only on Personal Opinions Dismissed,” Ropes & Gray Alert (December 29, 2016)
- Co-author, “$519 million FCPA Payment by Teva Pharmaceuticals—Largest Ever FCPA Payment by Pharmaceutical Company—Follows Large FCPA Plea Agreement With Obedrecht and Braskem,” Ropes & Gray Alert (December 28, 2016)
- Co-author, “The Fifth Circuit Weighs in on Vicarious Liability under the Anti-Kickback Act,” Ropes & Gray Alert (October 22, 2013)
Education
- JD, New York University School of Law, 2011; symposium committee member, New York University Annual Survey of American Law
- BA (Political Science & Economics), Yale University, 2002; captain, varsity sailing team
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- Massachusetts, 2012
- New York, 2020
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 2015
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 2015
- U.S. Tax Court, 2019
Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America – Ones to Watch (2021)
- PAIR Project Pro Bono Mentor Award (2016)
- PAIR Pro Bono Asylum Attorney Award (2019)
- Ropes & Gray Terry Iandiorio Pro Bono Leadership Award (2020)