Kirk A. Radke: US Sues for $14.5M Federal Tax Debt, Forced Property Sale

• The federal government has filed a lawsuit against former Willkie Farr & Gallagher partner Kirk A. Radke and his wife, Elizabeth A. Gerring.
• The couple is accused of owing over $14.5 million in unpaid federal income taxes, penalties, and interest from 2014-2020 and 2022.
• The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeks to force the sale of a $1.8 million New York property owned by Mr. Radke.
• The IRS claims the Radkes neglected or refused to pay the assessed liabilities despite receiving notice and demand.

The government's explicit demand for a forced sale of the New York property to cover the tax debt serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences for unaddressed tax obligations.

The federal government has recently filed a lawsuit seeking to recover over $14.5 million in unpaid federal income taxes from Kirk A. Radke, a former partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and currently a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and his wife, Elizabeth A. Gerring. The legal action, initiated on Thursday, October 26, 2026, aims to compel the couple to settle their substantial tax debt, which includes accrued penalties and interest. This significant claim targets federal income tax liabilities spanning from 2014 through 2020, as well as an additional year in 2022, amounting to a total of $14.52 million.

Central to the government's strategy in this IRS lawsuit against Kirk Radke is the pursuit of a court order for the forced sale of a New York property. This measure is intended to satisfy a portion of the outstanding financial obligation. The complaint details the couple's alleged failure to remit their federal income taxes for the specified periods, leading to the current legal challenge that could result in the forfeiture of personal assets.

The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, explicitly charges Kirk A. Radke and Elizabeth A. Gerring with neglecting or refusing to pay their assessed liabilities. According to the filing, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had previously issued notices and demands for payment, which the Radkes reportedly did not fully address. The government is now seeking a judicial judgment to foreclose on a specific single-family home located in Dover, New York.

This property, owned by Mr. Radke, has an estimated value of $1.8 million. The legal proceedings underscore the government's intent to leverage available assets to recover the substantial federal income tax debt. The case highlights the aggressive stance taken by federal authorities in pursuing significant tax arrears, particularly when other collection efforts have been unsuccessful.

The lawsuit against Kirk A. Radke, a private equity lawyer who joined Willkie Farr in 2014 as a partner in its private equity practice group, underscores the rigorous enforcement of tax laws against high-net-worth individuals. While Mr. Radke is no longer listed on Willkie's website, his former affiliation with a prominent law firm brings additional scrutiny to the proceedings. His wife, Elizabeth A. Gerring, also known as Liz Radke, is noted as the owner of the Liz Gerring Dance Company, further identifying the parties involved in this federal tax lawsuit.

The government's explicit demand for a forced sale of the New York property to cover the tax debt serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences for unaddressed tax obligations. The single-family home in Dover, New York, valued at $1.8 million, is specifically targeted for foreclosure. The Radkes have not provided a comment regarding the lawsuit, and their legal representation has not been publicly disclosed. This case, reported by Bloomberg Law, exemplifies the federal government's commitment to recovering substantial unpaid taxes, even if it necessitates the sale of personal assets, highlighting the serious repercussions for those with significant tax arrears.

This case underscores the IRS's aggressive pursuit of substantial unpaid tax liabilities from high-net-worth individuals, including former partners at prominent law firms, and their willingness to seek forced asset sales. Tax and private wealth attorneys should advise clients on the critical importance of timely and accurate tax compliance to avoid severe financial penalties, asset forfeiture, and reputational damage.

Source: Original reporting via Bloomberg Law