Eliot L. Kaplan ’82
Brother Kaplan was initiated into Gamma-Rho in the fall of 1982. While attending the University of Arizona, Eliot sat on the University Conduct Board and the Academic Integrity Board. He was recognized with Order of Omega, Beta Alpha Psi (accounting honorary), and was on the Dean’s List. He was Grand Master, Grand Procurator, and Rush Chairman for Gamma-Rho. Eliot graduated from the University of Arizona in 1986 with a B.S. He then went on to Arizona State and graduated with a J.D. in 1989. In 1992 Eliot graduated with distinction from Georgetown University with a LL.M.
After graduation, Brother Kaplan went to work for the Internal Revenue Service-Chief Counsel where he was Attorney Advisor. He was awarded “Special Act Awards” in recognition of outstanding commitment to accomplishing the goals of the IRS. His continued national involvement includes recently serving as a member of the IRS Advisory Council, which advises the IRS commissioner and other IRS officials on tax policy and administrative issues. After leaving the Internal Revenue Service, Eliot went to work for Lathrop & Gage L.C. While there he was responsible for negotiating and structuring acquisitions, mergers, financing, joint ventures, and real estate transactions. Eliot represented clients before the IRS in administrative and controversy matters, including audits, technical advice, and appeals.
Brother Kaplan now works for Squire Sanders & Dempsey where he is a Partner. His practice focuses on international, federal, state, and local tax issues, real estate transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate matters. Eliot not only advises on partnerships, limited liability companies, and joint ventures, but also on complex nonprofit organizations, international business transactions, and tax controversies. He was named a “Leading Lawyer” by the Business Journal of Phoenix in January 2006, and is included in the “Who’s Who of National Business Leaders.” Brother Kaplan lectures widely on tax issues and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law.
Brother Kaplan keeps busy with not only work but with many civic and charitable activities. Eliot is involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, where he is an Executive Board Member. He is the President of the Board for Southwest Human Development Corporation, Ambassador for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and was a Board Member for the Homeless Legal Assistance Project, just to name a few.
Eliot has been married to Tiffany, an Executive with Chase Bank, for eighteen years. They have three wonderful children: Mikaela (10), Joshua (7), and Noah (7).
When asked what Gamma-Rho and Kappa Sigma have meant to him, Eliot had this to say, “The fraternity is where I learned the value of friendship and support. Moreover, through my leadership roles in the fraternity, I learned that there is more to being a leader than being “right”, and where I learned that making mistakes and learning from them are half the battle.”
