Mayer Brown has announced that prominent tax attorney Edward C. Osterberg, Jr. has joined the firm in Houston as a partner in the Tax Transactions & Consulting practice. Previously, he was a partner at Vinson & Elkins in Houston.
“With more than 30 years of experience, Ed is well-known in Houston for his impressive track record of handling a wide range of sophisticated international tax transactions for multinational companies, particularly for those in the energy industry,” said Jason Bazar, a co-leader of Mayer Brown’s global Tax Transactions & Consulting practice. “Ed’s unique skill set expands Mayer Brown’s position as a leading law firm in the international tax space while further diversifying the firm’s offerings in Houston and across our global platform.”
Mr. Osterberg focuses his practice on all areas of business income taxation, with emphasis on corporate and partnership taxation and international transactions. He has advised corporate and individual clients on the federal tax consequences of various transactions, including mergers and acquisitions; tax-free reorganizations; corporate spin-offs and other divestitures; partnerships; foreign operations, including cross-border joint ventures with non-US partners; and inbound investment into the United States by non-US investors. He has extensive experience representing energy companies across various sectors.
“Mayer Brown’s strong global platform and vast resources complement my extensive experience in providing energy-related tax transactions counsel to both domestic and international energy companies,” said Mr. Osterberg. “I look forward to contributing to the continued growth of the Houston office and working with my new colleagues around the world.”
Neil Wasserstrom, partner-in-charge of Mayer Brown’s Houston office, said Mr. Osterberg’s arrival continues the expansion of the office. “Ed’s arrival will further accelerate Mayer Brown’s positive momentum in Houston, where we have recently added top-tier partners including Shawn O’Brien in our Tax Controversy practice, Bill Heller, Harry Beaudry and Kirk Tucker in our Corporate & Securities practice and Bill Hart, Jr. in our Banking & Finance practice, all of whom have joined us from leading firms in Houston in the past year,” he said.
Mr. Osterberg received an LLM degree in Taxation from Southern Methodist University, a JD degree cum laude from the Northwestern University School of Law and a BA from Northwestern University.
Ashurst has announced new partner promotions for 2013 with effect from 1 May. One new tax partner has been made up: Javier Hernández Galante, based in Madrid office.
Javier has advised national and international clients on the tax aspects of large cross-border transactions, group restructurings, real estate transactions, ship and aircraft financing transactions as well as international tax planning. He also has substantial experience in tax litigation matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Javier worked for a leading Spanish law firm. He joined Ashurst in 2006.
Degree in Law from the Open University
Degree in Economics from the Universidad Carlos III of Madrid
Certificate of expertise in International Taxation from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid
Ernst & Young LLP announced yesterday that John Parcell, former Deputy Tax Legislative Counsel with the Department of Treasury, has joined the firm’s National Tax practice. Based out of Washington, DC, Parcell will have responsibility for advising clients on energy tax policy matters and assisting in technical analysis on a range of tax matters focused in energy.
“With more than 20 years of experience in energy tax policy and a deep knowledge of the Internal Revenue Service and taxation laws, John will play an integral part in bringing insights to the firm’s clients around legislative matters,” said Andrew Miller, Americas Tax Sector Leader for the global Ernst & Young organization.
Most recently, Parcell was the Deputy Tax Legislative Counsel at the Department of Treasury where he was responsible for excise and energy tax issues. He has represented the Department of Treasury in the development of legislation in these areas since he began in 1987. During this time, Parcell also drafted and reviewed extensive published guidance in energy policy areas as well as electronic tax administration, tax accounting, individual income taxation, public utilities taxation, and limitations on tax losses.
“Over the course of his career, John has been at the center of energy tax policy and involved with all major legislation in this area,” said Kate Barton, Americas Vice Chair Tax Services for the global Ernst & Young organization. “His reputation in the energy industry and tax community overall is of the highest order and we’re excited to welcome John to the US firm.”
Prior to working at the Department of Treasury, Parcell served as Branch Chief at the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Parcell received a J.D. and Master of Laws (Taxation) from Georgetown University.
Ms Prichard Jones will become a tax partner at Nabarro with effect from 1 May 2013.
Kirsten is a senior associate in the Tax team, with over ten years’ experience covering a broad range of corporate tax matters.
Recent work includes acting on the establishment of a major joint venture to develop and operate student accommodation in London; the sale by London & Stamford Property plc (since renamed LondonMetric Property plc) of their stake in the Meadowhall shopping centre, and various corporate acquisitions for Care UK, a leading provider of independent healthcare services.
Rödl & Partner continues to promote growth of the tax law practice. On May 1, 2013, the well-known tax law practitioner Dr. Florian Haase (38) will return from DLA Piper back to the Hamburg office of Rödl & Partner, where he previously worked from 2008 to 2011. As a partner, Haase will be responsible for the area of international tax law for Hamburg and northern Germany and expand the department.
“The return of Dr. Florian Haase will make a big difference to our tax law practice. This is an area where we can fully exploit our international strength as a corporate law firm with own offices in many countries. Our future growth will depend on experienced and highly competent advisors such as him”, explains managing partner Prof. Dr. Christian Rödl.
The activities of Dr. Florian Haase will focus on tax structure consulting for (international) M&A transactions, restructuring, group reorganisation and company reorganisation activities, private equity and real estate transactions and complex financing measures with regard to group tax planning and international tax law. In recent years as head of the tax law practice of DLA Piper in Germany he especially provided tax law advice to international groups in relation to complex tax law arrangements and transactions and tax law advice for companies entering the German market.
“Rödl & Partner has established a leading position in the area of providing tax law advice to family-owned companies with international operations. Our practice provides cross-border advice for complex restructuring activities, transactions, group financing and the company succession. In this respect the location of Hamburg is very important for us. Dr. Haase will help us to further enjoy dynamic growth in our consulting business”, emphasises Dr. Hans Weggenmann, head of the Rödl & Partner tax law practice.
Haase sees excellent prospects for Rödl & Partner. “Rödl & Partner is a law firm with an entrepreneurial approach. Our 89 offices around the world enable us to give cross-border advice to family-owned companies with international operations. I am looking forward at Rödl & Partner to once again using the experience I have gained in recent years in international tax law”, explains Haase.
Haase is lecturer for tax law at the Hamburg School of Business Administration and is author of over 200 specialised publications and contributions to tax law. He has also published a number of comments (on the German foreign tax act and double tax treaty, investment tax act, and German tax conversion law), is the author of manuals on CFC rules, investment tax law and taxation of intangible property law, and a textbook on international and European tax law.
Peter Blessing, formerly a tax partner with Shearman & Sterling LLP, moved to KPMG in March to join their National Tax Group.
His title will be Head of Cross Border Transactions.
Mr. Blessing has served as chair of the New York State Bar Assn Tax Section (2010) and of the International Bar Association Taxes Committee (2010-11). He has authored numerous articles and texts on taxation, including a treatise on US income tax treaties. Most recently, he served as the editor and a co-author of “Tax Planning for International Mergers, Acquisitions, Joint Ventures and Restructurings” published by Kluwer Law International in 2012.
Mr. Blessing graduated from Princeton University, Columbia Law School and New York University School of Law (LLM Taxation).
As from the 1 May the following tax lawyers will become partners at Freshfields:
Peter Clements (corporate tax, financial institutions, structured finance and private equity) (London)
Peter joined Freshfields direct from Law School in 2003 and has been with the firm ever since. He acts for financial institutions, investment funds and corporate groups across a variety of business sectors, advising on a broad range of commercial transactions. He specialises in corporate tax and corporate tax planning, with a particular emphasis on tax-structured and asset finance, corporate restructurings, cross-border transactions (including equity and debt issuances and refinancings) and public and private M&A. He also advises on tax disputes and litigation. Peter is listed in Tax Journal’s ’40 under 40′ 2012/13.
Georg Roderburg (corporate / family owned businesses tax) (Düsseldorf)
Georg specialises in tax structuring of M&A transactions and corporate restructuring as well as in German and international taxation of businesses.
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Alexander Schwahn (corporate tax and R&I) (Hamburg)
Alexander specialises in domestic and international tax structurings of acquisitions, especially of M&A, private equity and real estate transactions, as well as in corporate restructurings and corporate reorganisations.
Alexander is a lecturer at Gesellschaft für Steuerrecht for corporate tax law. He frequently gives presentations at tax seminars and has published extensively in the area of corporate taxation.
Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Timothy J. Devetski, a leading tax lawyer in Houston with extensive experience in energy sector transactions and capital markets, is joining Sidley as a partner. Mr. Devetski will be resident in Sidley’s Houston office and will be part of its global Tax and Tax Controversy practice groups. He joins from Vinson & Elkins.
Mr. Devetski’s principal area of practice is federal tax law, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and capital markets transactions, including those involving master limited partnerships (MLPs). He also has experience counseling non-U.S. businesses operating in the United States and U.S. businesses investing abroad with respect to transactions involving investors or operations in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. Mr. Devetski also has a wealth of experience in resolving contested issues with the Internal Revenue Service and in tax litigation in various courts.
“Tim is a valuable addition to our highly talented and growing Houston team, as well as Sidley’s global Tax practice,” said Larry Barden, partner and member of the Firm’s Management and Executive Committees. “Tim’s skills and experience in advising clients on domestic and international tax issues associated with energy-related transactions will enhance the services we can provide clients in the energy sector, particularly as to capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity.”
“Tim is recognized as one of the premier tax lawyers in Houston and in the energy industry, and will be a significant part of our continued growth in the energy space,” said Glenn L. Pinkerton, a Houston-based Sidley partner and a leader of its Project Finance and Infrastructure group. “A number of Sidley partners in Houston, including me, have known and worked with Tim for years. He is a perfect fit for Sidley in every respect. ”
“I am very excited to join Sidley’s nationally recognized tax group, and look forward to practicing alongside the talented lawyers in the Houston office and across the firm,” said Mr. Devetski.
Mr. Devetski has been recognized by Legal 500 U.S. in Domestic Tax – Central, and in The Best Lawyers in America in tax law.
