Alumnus/Alumna of the Month

Derek Gilman (LL.M. '97)

Read an Interview with Derek Gilman.

In May of 2003, Mr. Gilman began working for the Office of the General Counsel for the United States Government. Within that office, he worked for the Department of Defense and the Coalition Provisional Authority; the latter took him to Baghdad, Iraq, where he worked with other coalition nations to develop the economic and commercial reform initiatives for Iraq, and draft legislation to implement these initiatives including: company law reform, anti-money laundering law, public debt law, national budget law, and revision of the tax law, customs law, securities law, banking law, bankruptcy law, intellectual property law, secured transactions law, and labor law. Additionally, Mr. Gilman provided legal advice regarding strategies for transitioning from a planned to a market economy and acted as interim chief of the Iraqi Special Tribunal support team. Mr. Gilman was the principal U.S. representative in the drafting of the statute establishing the Iraqi Special Tribunal, which will be used for the trial of Saddam Hussein and certain other Ba'athist leaders accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Upon his return from Iraq, Mr. Gilman accepted a position as counsel at Day, Berry & Howard, LLP. His practice there focuses on the tax aspects of both domestic and international transactions involving both taxable and tax-exempt entities.

Mr. Derek Gilman began his education at the United States Military Academy where he earned his B.S. in National Security. Mr. Gilman then worked as a Captain in the U.S. Army until 1988. After serving in the Army he traveled to England where he undertook an M.A. in Law at Cambridge University. Returning to the United States, Mr. Gilman enrolled in the University of Connecticut's J.D. program, graduating in 1992 with honors, having been the Associate Editor of the Connecticut Law Review.

The summer following his J.D. program, Mr. Gilman worked as the Operational Law Officer of the Office of The Judge Advocate General. Soon thereafter, Mr. Gilman began work in the private sector as an Associate at Curtis, Brinckerhoff & Barret, P.C., focusing on business and individual matters involving state, federal, and international tax issues, including mergers and acquisitions, estate planning, and state and federal tax controversies. During this time, Mr. Gilman attended NYU School of Law and received an LL.M. in Taxation in 1997.