[private]The Cragus Group has anounced their latest addition to the team – Catherine Le Bourgeois, an international tax adviser with over 25 years tax and legal experience. Having most recently worked with the private equity arm of a governmental investment institution in the Arabian Gulf, most of Catherine’s career has been served in-house. She has worked as the tax director for several multinational companies, with activities and responsibilities spread over the sixcontinents. She also worked originally as a private practice attorney including several years with KPMG Legal, France. Catherine has a wide knowledge of and expertise in financial institutions, real estate, software industry, internet, transport, and logistics sectors; with extensive experience across Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and Middle
East, in corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, cross-border transactions, due diligence and transfer pricing. Originally from Belgium, she speaks fluent French and has on the ground experience in Africa, especially in French-speaking West Africa. Her qualifications include
a Masters in Business Law, and also in Accounting, Tax and Finance, from the Assas Paris University in France.[/private]
The Cragus Group serves clients with interests in, or related to, the Arabian Gulf and Africa; it is a leading independent tax advisory firm that assists multinationals with corporate tax planning and transactional support.
[private]Deloitte, the business advisory firm, has appointed funds and transfer pricing specialist Andrew Martyn as a director to its hedge funds taxgroup. He joins from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) where he was assistant
director responsible for financial transfer pricing.
Debbie Anthony, lead partner of the Deloitte hedge funds practice said: “We are delighted that Andy is joining us at Deloitte. He brings with him a wealth of technical and commercial experience having, amongst
other things, led the 2007 industry consultation on and the rewrite of the tax rules governing overseas funds with a UK investment manager. He has also led negotiations on a number of significant transfer pricing settlements since 2003.
“Andrew’s appointment demonstrates our commitment to providing extensive expertise in all aspects of transfer pricing to our clients, especially at a time of significant change.”
Prior to his appointment as assistant director, Andrew led the HMRC Investment Management & International Financial Services Group with responsibility for transfer pricing for banking and asset management services and taxation of UK and offshore funds.
Andrew Martyn is the second key appointment from HMRC by Deloitte in recent months. International transfer pricing specialist Edward Morris joined Deloitte in January as a director within the transfer pricing
group. These hires follow the appointment of fellow transfer pricing director Richard Coombes from HMRC in 2007.[/private]
[private]Gary Dixon was elected yesterday to the national Board of Trustees of the March of Dimes Foundation.
March of Dimes trustees, who serve as volunteers, represent the public in governing the organization and advancing its mission, and serve five-year terms.
Gary M. Dixon is a Partner at Ernst & Young’s National Tax Department. Mr. Dixon, a longtime volunteer for the March of Dimes, received its prestigious Elaine Whitelaw Volunteer Service Award in 2008. This award is given in honor of Miss Whitelaw, who contributed more than five decades of leadership, energy, vision and service to the March of Dimes. Most recently, Mr. Dixon served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Texas chapter of the March of Dimes. At Ernst & Young, he works with a team of more than 50 partners and 1,000 staff across the country. Mr. Dixon, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Baylor University, resides in Dallas.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies(R), the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The walk starts here at marchforbabies.org.[/private]
[private]Deloitte has announced seven recipients for the Best of the Best 2009 and the Best of the Best USA 2009 awarded by Legal Media Group, which identifies biannually the top 25 transfer pricing advisers worldwide and in the U.S., respectively.
Four partners of participating Deloitte member firms were among the seven awardees. Mark Atkinson is the leader of the UK transfer pricing group, which consists of more than 100 professionals and is consistently rated highly by International Tax Review. He has more than 20 years of experience as a UK international tax and transfer pricing specialist. Also named is Professor Heinz-Klaus Kroppen, Düsseldorf, who heads Deloitte’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) transfer pricing service line, and is the leader of Deloitte Germany’s tax function. A professor at a local university, his work focuses exclusively on international matters, mainly cross-border transactions, acquisitions, and multinational corporations’ tax issues. Gary Zed, Ottawa, is a partner in Deloitte Canada’s National Transfer Pricing and Competent Authority Group. He has authored several articles and is frequently quoted in international journals concerning competent authority and transfer pricing issues, and the policies and practices of the Canadian Revenue Authority.
Also among those recipients for the Best of the Best 2009 is John Oatway, who is also a partner in Deloitte Ottawa. Oatway represented Deloitte at the recent OECD consultations with regard to the comparability and profit method paper and has been a frequent speaker in the Canadian and international forums.
From Deloitte U.S., Alan Shapiro, Mark Nehoray, and Richard Clark, were among those named in the Best of the Best USA 2009.
“This award is evidence of the dedication and learning of Deloitte professionals worldwide, and their ability to apply their skills in transfer pricing broadly, accurately, and with integrity,” says Deloitte U.S. Partner Jeff Neuenschwander, Detroit, Global Tax Service Line Leader, Transfer Pricing, “I am thrilled for our partners and their teams for this achievement and the recognition by our colleagues worldwide.”
Legal Media Group commissioned its research department to carry out a 12-month study of experts in 20 practice areas. The research process for each guide involves sending more than 4,000 questionnaires to senior practitioners or in-house counsel involved in each practice area in more than 60 jurisdictions, asking them to nominate leading practitioners based on their work and reputation. The results are analyzed and screened for firm, network, and alliance bias. Each expert is then independently assessed through a series of interviews with clients and peers. The 25 who received the most votes in each practice area are included in the 2009 edition. Research for Expert Guides, a series of handbooks listing the world’s leading lawyers and legal advisers, is conducted year-round in an effort to obtain the most accurate insight into the leading experts in each practice area.
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[private]Thierry Denayer, currently a partner at Linklaters Brussels, will join Stibbe as a partner as of April 2009. He will become head of the tax law department.
Thierry Denayer has been a partner at the firm that is known today as Linklaters since 1989. His practice mainly comprises the tax aspects of corporate reorganisations and real estate transactions, tax planning and tax litigation.
The tax law department of Stibbe now counts eight lawyers including professor Luc De Broe (K.U.Leuven). This department deals with all aspects of tax law, both on a national and international scale. This team has done pioneering work in recent years, mainly regarding real estate projects and in particular regarding tax optimisation of PPP projects. Furthermore, it engages in all tax aspects of transactions and it is frequently involved in drafting and submitting ruling requests. The tax law department closely cooperates with Stibbe’s real estate, corporate & finance and public law teams. Major achievements in recent years include the foundation and structuring of Beheersmaatschappij Antwerpen Mobiel and the unique tax ruling that was obtained regarding the transfer of the cable network of four intermunicipal cable companies to Telenet. Moreover, the tax law department has an outstanding reputation for assisting clients in tax litigation, a specialisation for which it can, if necessary, rely on the support of our business crime unit.
Olivier Clevenbergh, Stibbe’s Managing Partner, is very enthusiastic about Thierry’s arrival: “We are delighted with the arrival of Thierry, who will bring his broad experience to bear on the further development of our tax team. With this reinforcement, the tax law team will have the opportunity to further expand its activities, which will strengthen Stibbe’s strategy as a full-service law firm. For our clients the tax aspects of their activities are of fundamental importance. With Thierry in our team we will be able to look after their interests even better than before.”[/private]
[private]Padgett, Stratemann & Co. LLP (PS&Co.), one of the largest CPA and business advisory firms in Texas, has named Gregg Kosterlitzky as its newest tax partner. In his new role, Kosterlitzky will advise clients across many industries on tax strategies based on their present and future business objectives.
Prior to joining PS&Co., Kosterlitzky was a tax attorney for over a decade with Cox & Smith Incorporated. His vast tax experience includes business venture formations, federal and state tax planning and all phases of tax controversy.
“Gregg’s background in tax law is a great asset to the team and our clients,” said John Wright, managing partner, PS&Co. “Gregg has the expertise to develop and implement strong tax strategies in response to the rapid changes and requirements filtering down from the new political administration. We’re excited to have him onboard.”
Kosterlitzky’s extensive skills also include planning and structuring tax-free like-kind exchanges, deferred safe-harbor, non-safe harbor exchanges and dispositions of real estate. He has also served as lead advisor to corporations and partnerships on incentive compensation.
In 2006, Kosterlitzky was named one of “San Antonio’s Best Lawyers” by Scene in SA. He was also honored as a “Rising Star” in 2005 by Texas Monthly Magazine.
With 35 percent growth in 2008, the PS&Co. management team anticipates adding 15 to 20 additional staff members within the next year to 18-months in San Antonio and Austin.
Recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” in San Antonio and Austin in 2008, the firm provides a range of accounting, audit, tax and other business advisory services for publicly traded and private companies and governmental entities.[/private]
About Padgett, Stratemann & Co., LLP
Padgett, Stratemann & Co., LLP (PS&Co.) is one of Texas’ largest, locally owned CPA and business advisory firms. Headquartered in San Antonio, with an office in Austin, PS&Co. works with clients in the banking, construction, government-based, non-profit, medical, professional services, manufacturing, retail, distribution, technology, insurance and real estate sectors. The firm’s experienced professionals provide a range of sophisticated accounting, audit, tax and other business advisory services. PS&Co. is affiliated with RSM McGladrey and RSM International, the nation’s fifth largest CPA firm.
In business since 1945, PS&Co. is dedicated to professional excellence, integrity and community service. To learn more about our depth of services and expertise, visit www.padgett-cpa.com.
[private]United Law Group, a leading provider of legal foreclosure prevention and debt resolution services, has announced the addition of Michael J. Pitch as a partner in the New York office.
A former CPA, Mr. Pitch brings a wealth of experience in tax law and will lead the firm’s efforts to help taxpayers to navigate the challenging offer in compromise (OIC) and the partial-payment installment program offered by the IRS.
The Internal Revenue Service announced these steps to help struggling taxpayers hit by the recession at the beginning of the year. Because the terms of these offers are difficult to understand, taxpayers and tax practitioners alike are complaining that the system doesn’t work.
Michael will be intimately involved in helping the victims of the recession to settle their debts with the IRS His knowledge of tax law and extensive experience will prove invaluable in these cases.
“These programs are supposed to give honest taxpayers an avenue to deal with their IRS debt,” said United Law Group Managing Partner Sean Rutledge. “Unfortunately, according to data from the National Taxpayer Advocate, at the end of 2008, there were over 2.6 million taxpayers who couldn’t pay their taxes because they had no means to do so. At that time the IRS accepted offers from less than 1% of those individuals.”
As head of the New York office, Michael will focus on helping individuals that want to negotiate a debt settlement with the IRS to do so in accordance with the terms set forth earlier this year.
“Michael will be intimately involved in helping the victims of the recession to settle their debts with the IRS,” said Mr. Rutledge. “His knowledge of tax law and extensive experience will prove invaluable in these cases.”
Mr. Pitch earned his J.D. from the William and Mary School of Law. Williamsburg, VA. Previously Mr. Pitch worked with various law firms and was a tax consultant for Price Waterhouse Coopers in New York.
The firm’s Managing Director Sean Rutledge will be sworn in by the New York State Bar on March 26, 2009 to support the New York office. Mr. Rutledge will oversee the operations in Irvine, CA and New York, NY and will work with Mr. Pitch to support individuals seeking to resolve their debt-related issues.[/private]
About United Law Group:
United Law Group is a national law firm with offices in California, New York, and Florida. It is the largest foreclosure prevention firm in the country with attorneys licensed in every state. Dedicated to helping homeowners facing hardships to keep their houses, United Law Group uses legal channels to compel banks to modify adjustable-rate to fixed-rate mortgages, reduce principal and interest, and create other fair solutions between the lender and borrower.
[private]McGuireWoods LLP announced yesterday that it has signed a formal agreement to combine with the London-based international law firm of Grundberg Mocatta Rakison LLP (GMR). The agreement is expected to become final May 1, 2009, subject to the necessary approvals of both firms’ partners. The London practice will operate under the McGuireWoods name.
Today’s announcement greatly enhances McGuireWoods’ international capabilities, and allows the firm to better serve clients with matters requiring an international presence, including corporate and financial transactional work, as well as litigation and wealth management matters. In addition, this combination will allow the firm to offer GMR’s existing international client base its capabilities to handle matters throughout the United States and in the other countries where McGuireWoods has offices. McGuireWoods’ clients will also have access to GMR’s international network.
Once the transaction is complete, the 36 attorneys and all other staff of GMR will become McGuireWoods LLP. Anders Grundberg, senior partner and founder of GMR, will assume the title of managing partner of the McGuireWoods London office, and under the terms of the agreement, McGuireWoods will expand its Board of Partners to include Robert Rakison, a partner with GMR. In addition, select partners in London will become part of McGuireWoods’ committee structure. Former McGuireWoods managing partner Bill Strickland will divide his time between the London and Brussels offices; and Peter Covington, vice chairman of McGuireWoods, will relocate to London. In addition, Walter White, Jr. of GMR will head the emerging markets practice and maintain offices in London and Washington, D.C.
“This is a great day in the history of McGuireWoods,” said Richard Cullen, Chairman of McGuireWoods. “We have sought to expand our overseas reach with a London office for some time. We are very fortunate not only to gain as partners such a talented group of internationally respected attorneys, but also to join forces with a firm that shares our values.”
“We are delighted to partner with a strong and well-respected firm like McGuireWoods,” said Anders Grundberg, senior partner and founder of GMR. “We already work with lawyers at the firm on a number of matters, and with its excellent reputation for corporate, banking, litigation and private client work, we feel that this is the ideal time to combine our talents, not only to capitalize on existing opportunities in London and internationally, but also to prepare the groundwork for when the financial markets return to strength.”
McGuireWoods LLP is a full-service law firm with approximately 900 lawyers in 17 offices in the United States, Europe and Central Asia, providing legal counsel to clients around the world.
Grundberg Mocatta Rakison LLP is a London-based law firm that distinguishes itself by offering a partner-led service and the strength of its international relationships, particularly with the Nordic countries, Russia and the former Soviet Union, and the United States. Much of the firm’s practice involves cross-border mergers and acquisitions, tax planning, litigation and dispute resolution.[/private]
