Editorial: Corporate Tax

01 January 2008

INTERNATIONAL

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer lives up to its billing as a “corporate tax powerhouse”. The firm’s international tax practice has almost 150 specialists in 15 offices. It provides 15 practitioners from seven of these for the following pages, with Michael Sedlaczek in Vienna appearing in the publication for the first time. Sedlaczek co-heads the firm’s family-owned businesses group and is well regarded for his structuring of both national and international M&A deals. Freshfields’ London office is the best represented – five partners make the grade. Richard Ballard heads the corporate finance tax group in London and focuses on the tax aspects of corporate finance and private equity work. He is regarded as “one of the best in London” for tax work. Murray Clayson heads the tax group and coordinates the cross-border tax practice. David Taylor is head of private equity tax in the London office and is “great to deal with for structured finance and leasing”. Colin Hargreaves and Sarah Falk complete the London list, both were consistently recommended.

Hargreaves is especially well known for his work on tax-based structured and asset finance and was described to researchers as “thorough and brilliant”. Falk is “an authority” on the tax aspects of private equity and corporate finance work. In Germany Stephan Eilers has “an outstanding reputation” and is a former global head of the firm’s international tax practice group. His work sees him heavily involved in a number of areas, including capital markets matters, M&A and private equity transactions and sources rate him as “one of the best in Germany”. Jochen Lüdicke in Düsseldorf is a certified tax adviser and represents clients varying from multinational companies, investment banks to family-owned businesses, funds and private clients.

Frankfurt-based Holger Häuselmann is the third and final name from Freshfields on the Germany list; he currently serves as deputy head of the international tax practice group. He is also an accountant and tax adviser, counselling credit institutions and financial services companies on general tax matters and tax issues relating to capital market instruments and structured products. Freshfields is also strong in the Netherlands, where the “well respected” Machiel Lambooij and the “extremely good” Hans Galavazi – a prolific speaker and writer in the field – both perform well. Axel Haelterman is a “prominent figure” in Brussels and is “technically excellent” and “great to work with”, according to rivals. Haelterman deals with both domestic and international matters within a variety of areas, including bank taxation, stock options and tax transparent entities. Antoine Colonna d’Istria is managing partner of the Paris office. He boasts a broad practice with particular focus on multinationals and banking clients.

Although the firm performed exceptionally well across Europe, it is also represented across the Atlantic with entries in both, Washington DC and New York. In DC Gregory May has “an acclaimed international practice”, advising both corporations and financial institutions on complex financial transactions. May was described to researchers as “a supreme communicator and sharp mind”. Robert Scarborough is “technically excellent” and has served as associate tax legislative counsel at the US Treasury Department and as chair of the New York State Bar Association’s tax section. This impressive showing puts Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer top of the research yet again.

Baker & McKenzie is another firm with considerable talent in the US: five lawyers from the same number of states were selected. The firm is also strong internationally, with a total of ten highly regarded practitioners featuring on the following pages. David Tillinghast from New York has an “outstanding reputation” and represents a number of US and foreign corporations in their cross-border transactions. He has represented DirecTV on a dispute with the Indian government over the imposition of tax on satellite capacity payments as well as carrying out the strategic restructuring of InfoNXX. Leonard Terr in Washington, DC served as international tax counsel of the US Treasury Department from 1987 to 1989 and was a prominent figure in the research. John Peterson from Palo Alto was described as “top rank” and he chairs the firm’s global tax practice group. He places great emphasis on intercompany pricing, structuring of international operations and international tax planning generally, high technology tax issues, and federal income tax controversies. Peterson is also a certified public accountant. In Texas, David Glickman is seen as “exceptional”. He is a prolific author and speaker who has taught tax courses at the University of Texas, Austin and the Southern Methodist University, Dallas. Baker & McKenzie LLP’s Chicago office is home to the “very highly regarded” Richard Lipton. He served as tax counsel in high-profile Chicago-based transactions such as those relating to the Sears Tower and Prudential. Lipton is also a member the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council.

Baker & McKenzie also offers clients an impressive global platform, with highly nominated practitioners in Latin America, Europe and Asia. Yukinori Watanabe is one of the most “senior and respected” individuals in Japan. Watanabe has occupied a number of high-profile positions, including a stint as director general of the direct tax department of the Japanese National Tax Administration Agency, the director of Asian Development Bank and the director of operations, at the evaluations department of the World Bank. Michael Olesnicky is the only person listed in Hong Kong; he was recommended by some high profile sources. Ronald Evans, well known among his peers for his “truly excellent work”, is one of only three practitioners selected in Venezuela. Luis Briones Fernandez from Madrid is “very good for private equity” work and among the most highly nominated practitioners in Spain. Fred de Hosson represents the firm in the Netherlands. He is particularly strong on tax treaty issues. Clients include national and multinational corporations such as TPG/TNT, Sony, Grolsch, Quaker and Hagemeyer.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP also puts in an exceptional performance in this year’s research, with six individuals included. “Elder statesman” Willard Taylor appears on our list of the practice area’s elite practitioners and is the firm’s most highly nominated individual. An expert in both federal and state tax matters, Taylor provides advice with respect to the taxation of foreign operations of US corporations, US operations of foreign corporations and has worked on a number of high-profile mergers and acquisitions. Andrew Mason is also a “player” in this field. He represented Wachovia in its $25.5 billion acquisition of Golden West and The Bank of New York in its $16.5 billion merger with Mellon. David Hariton is the other New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell practitioner listed on the following pages. Hariton’s practice sees him working primarily on federal income tax matters, with a particular focus on financial instruments and transactions, and cross-border investment. He is a “respected name in the field” and a keen author. The firm is also home to a number of Europe’s leading lights, with Jean-Pierre Le Gall earning more nominations in France than any of his peers. Le Gall is regarded as “the best in France” and is the second individual from the firm to feature in our rundown of the practice area’s leaders. Sources commented on his broad practice that includes both French domestic and international transactions, with a particular focus on the tax-efficient structuring of cross-border corporate mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolutions and arbitration. Gauthier Blanluet is also “very active” in Paris for tax advice on mergers and acquisitions. He advised France Télécom on the €3.3 billion divestiture of its shareholding in PagesJaunes to KKR. Blanluet’s clients include major French and European industrial groups and international financial institutions. Andrew Solomon is the managing partner of Sullivan & Cromwell’s tax group, coordinating the firm’s tax practice worldwide. He practises in London and New York and has an enviable clients list that includes American International Group, Allianz, Barclays Bank, Philips Electronics and Total. Solomon served as tax counsel to Goldman Sachs in its acquisition of the variable life insurance and variable annuity business of Allmerica Financial Corporation and provided cross-border tax advice to Hilton Hotels in its acquisition of the lodging assets of British-based Hilton Group for $5.7 billion.

Shearman & Sterling LLP is home to one of this edition’s most highly regarded practitioners – Peter Blessing. Based in the New York office, he was praised during our research for his “very technical” and “brilliant mind”. In 2007 Blessing represented Saudi Basic Industries in its acquisition of GE’s Plastics Division as well as Citigroup in its acquisition of The Old Lane Hedge Fund and Tata in the sale of its 30 per cent interest in Glaceau to Coca-Cola. Robert Rudnick practises in both the New York and Washington, DC offices and represents clients in federal income tax matters. Across the pond in London the “very popular” Michael McGowan also comes recommended. McGowan was part of the cross-border team that represented Equinix in its first public UK acquisition. Gottfried Breuninger brings the firm’s listing to a close. He co-heads the worldwide tax group and serves as managing partner of the Munich office. Breuninger worked alongside the aforementioned McGowan on the recent acquisition of 30 St Mary Axe London (the ‘Gherkin’). The firm was advising Munich-based real estate company Real I S, which arranged the financing for Centurio Lux.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has broad tax expertise on both sides of the Atlantic, with three listed practitioners in both the US and Europe. Pascal Coudin and Gilles Entraygues in Paris are held in high esteem by their European counterparts. Coudin’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, reorganisations and long-term financing transactions. Entraygues – a keen speaker and author on tax matters – has a broad domestic and international practice. In London, the “first-class” James Duncan, focuses his practice on the US and international tax aspects of restructurings and joint ventures, public and private acquisitions, tax planning and the tax aspects of securities offerings, derivatives and new financial products. The firm’s New York office is home to a “very impressive practice group”, which provides three of its number for the following pages. The “great” Leslie Samuels features alongside Yaron Reich, a prolific author on international tax issues. James Peaslee is another “authority” in the field and co-author of Federal Income Taxation of Securitization Transactions.

NEW YORK

As Cleary Gottlieb and a number of the other firms we have examined have demonstrated, New York is a hub for corporate tax. Consequently a number of firms and individuals performed exceptionally in our research there.

The “incredible” Peter Canellos heads the tax department at Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz. Described to researchers as “a star”, he was praised for being “very user friendly” and “great to work with” on complex transactions. Canellos features in our round-up of this edition’s most highly respected practitioners and is “one of the New York Bar’s most recognisable names”. Jodi Schwartz, who is known for her “determination and genuine talent”, also features prominently in the research.

Stephen Gordon is head of the tax department at Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP and was hailed by his competitors as “terrific” for both domestic and international taxation. Michael Schler “writes extensively” and is a frequent speaker and has a “great practice” to complement his academic record. Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP has a “strong tax department”, according to sources. The firm put in an impressive performance in this year’s research, with four practitioners in New York and one in Texas making the grade. Kimberly Blanchard, a former chair of the New York State Bar Association tax section, comes very highly recommended. She works mostly on international transactions involving corporate mergers and acquisitions, internal restructurings, business formations and joint ventures.

Kenneth Heitner is the co-head of the firm’s tax department and an “excellent lawyer”. He is also an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Law and is “well respected” among his peers. Martin Pollack is one of the two chairmen of the firm’s global tax practice and is “great” for federal income tax matters. Martin Amdur counts Broadcom, General Electric Capital and Applied Graphics among his clients. Paul Asofsky in Houston has headed the tax group at Weil Gotshal since 1990. He also leads the private equity group within the tax department and currently serves as chairman of the private equity subcommittee of the ABA section of taxation’s committee on partnerships. Sources noted a speciality in the areas of private investment partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, real estate investments and bankruptcy and debt restructuring. Asofsky emerges as one of Texas’s leading lights.

Davis Polk & Wardwell has five New York practitioners in our list. Samuel Dimon’s practice concentrates on federal income tax matters; his work is both domestic and international. The “very smart” Dana Trier is also highly recommended. Trier served as tax legislative counsel and acting deputy assistant secretary for tax policy in the US Treasury Department and this no doubt contributes to his reputation. Kathleen Ferrell, who also has an impressive background in the area, joins him on the following pages. Ferrell was an attorney-adviser in the Office of Tax Legislative Counsel and as the special assistant to the assistant secretary of tax policy in the Treasury Department for three years. Our sources also regard Avishai Shachar as “definitely deserving” of a place in this edition – Shachar is the head of the firm’s tax department and works primarily in the areas of US and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, and financial products. He is well known for designing the capital structure of SmithKline Beecham and played a leading role in the mergers of SmithKline with Beecham and Comcast with AT&T Broadband, to name but two. Davis Polk can also take pride in the inclusion of John Paton in London. Paton was described to researchers as “excellent” and has overseen the firm’s tax practice in Europe and Asia since 1993. He advises US and international clients on the US tax aspects of private and public offerings of securities in the United States and abroad.

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP finds four New York practitioners and five in Washington, DC on the following pages – another important jurisdiction for tax work. Paul Oosterhuis coordinates the firm’s international tax practice and was praised as “excellent” by his peers. Oosterhuis’s practice is both domestic and international in scope; he represented IBM in its acquisition of the PwC consulting firms and Alcatel in its combination with Lucent Technologies.

Pamela Olson is a former assistant secretary for Tax Policy at the US Treasury Department. Her “impressive” practice is broad and includes tax controversy and regulatory, administrative and legislative work. Similarly, Hal Hicks’s practice is “impressive and very international”. From 2005 to 2007 he served as the international tax counsel at the Department of the Treasury and prior to this served as associate chief counsel (international) in the Office of Chief Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He acts for large multinationals and other entities on a broad range of tax planning and tax controversy issues. Fred Goldberg is a former chief counsel of the IRS. He has also served as its commissioner and as assistant secretary of the treasury for tax policy. He advises clients on sensitive matters, representing them in tax controversies, IRS administrative and regulatory proceedings, and tax legislation. The “excellent” Kenneth Gideon is the final DC entry for Skadden. He serves as one of the leaders of the firm’s national tax litigation practice. Gideon represents clients before the US Department of the Treasury and the IRS and is also well versed in issues of federal tax law, tax controversy and tax planning. Moving to New York Matthew Rosen, co-head of the firm’s tax group, represents clients in every aspect of tax work. He has a particular emphasis on acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings, both domestic and cross-border. Charles Morgan, who served for two years as associate chief counsel of the IRS and will chair the executive committee of the New York State Bar Association’s tax section in 2009, joins Rosen on the following pages. Diana Lopo is a new entry in this edition and comes highly recommended by her peers for work advising clients on the tax aspects of the formation and operation of private equity, venture capital and hedge funds. She also contributed the tax chapters and analysis to the treatise - ‘Private Equity Funds: Business Structure and Operations’. Barnet Phillips is “incredibly active” and “very impressive”, according to clients and peers alike. Phillips structured BlackRock’s $9.5 billion acquisition of Merrill Lynch’s asset management business and worked on the liquidation of Long-Term Capital Management. Louis Freeman is a key figure in the Chicago market. Freeman received numerous nominations from his peers for a “top-notch practice” and a “hands-on approach”. His impressive client list comprises well-known Illinois-based companies such as, Baxter International, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Sears, Roebuck & Co.

WASHINGTON, DC

With 40 individuals from our list based there, the US capital is another key area for corporate tax work.

McKee Nelson LLP has three practitioners in this edition, two of whom are founding partners. William McKee is “top notch” for federal tax matters and has a great deal of experience regarding partnership taxation. He served as tax legislative counsel at the US Treasury Department from 1981 to 1983 and is highly esteemed in the Washington marketplace. The same high regard extends to co-founder and managing partner, William Nelson, who is also a federal taxation expert with a special focus on partnerships, tax controversy and litigation. John Magee is “one of the best around” for transfer pricing and tax controversy, having tried cases in the US Tax Court, the US Court of Federal Claims, the US district courts and argued in the US Court of Appeals.

Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP provides two highly nominated individuals in our DC list and one for New York. Still leading the charge in terms of nominations is Martin Ginsburg, who appears once again in the breakdown of the practice area’s elite individuals. Ginsburg is of counsel to the firm and possesses “one of the best reputations in the business”. Kevin Keyes, also based in DC, is known for his “good judgement” and his expertise is clearly demonstrated by his writing and teaching. Keyes represented Merrill Lynch, Banc of America, Citigroup and JP Morgan, as underwriters in the offering of 6.625% notes due in 2011 by Allied Capital Corporation (a $400m transaction). Robert Cassanos chairs the New York tax department and brings the Fried Frank listing to a distinguished close. Cassanos was described to researchers as “great for cross-border work” and has a particular knowledge of REITs.

Despite the concentration of talent in New York and Washington there remain to be highlighted a number of stellar practitioners from other states. In California, James Fuller, former chair of Fenwick & West LLP’s tax group, is recognised as a “leader in the field” and is known for his high-profile federal tax cases. Fuller is based in Silicon Valley and was praised as “simply the best”, receiving sufficient nominations to place him in our rundown of the practice area’s elite. He is joined by partner Walter Raineri, who also has an “excellent reputation”. Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP was founded in 1924 and developed a name for its tax practice.

Jerold Cohen, commonly tipped as “dean of the corporate tax bar in Georgia” and “the most prominent in the state”, is recommended for his work on both international and domestic tax-planning matters. Cohen is a former chair of the tax section of the ABA and the American College of Tax Counsel. Cohen, like Fuller, also appears as one of the most highly nominated individuals in our findings. Herbert Beller and Jerome Libin (both based in DC) also performed well in the research. Stephen Shay from Ropes & Gray LLP is based in Boston and is another of the practice area’s elite. Shay represents clients in a broad range of international tax issues and is a lecturer at the Harvard Law School where he teaches a course on international aspects of US income taxation. Eric Elfman joins Shay and is another prominent figure at the Boston bar.

CANADA

Canada also has its fair share of talent, with 25 practitioners on the following pages. Toronto is the focal point, with around three quarters of the individuals we identify based there. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP’s contingent spreads beyond its home boundaries, thanks to the New York office’s managing partner, Peter Glicklich was part of the team that represented InnVest REIT and Cadbridge Investors LP in a $2.5 billion takeover bid for Legacy Hotels REIT. Nathan Boidman in Montreal is the first of two Canadian entries in our breakdown of the area’s high-flyers.

Boidman has “got a great reputation for cross-border work” most often, but not always, between the US and Canada. David Ward is one of the firm’s founding partners and is regarded as a “leader” among his peers. Ward is “the best there is” for the interpretation of tax treaties. He is also a prolific speaker and writer. The “fantastic” John Ulmer, who is the leading Canadian tax adviser to Reichmann International, joins him in the publication. Ulmer also represents other Canadian-based multinational groups on the tax structuring of their global investments. The “senior and impressive” Stephen Ruby’s clients include Cominar REIT, whom he represented in their asset purchase agreement with Homburg Invest Inc to acquire 6.5 million square feet of office and industrial properties. David Smith also comes highly recommended to researchers, as does the “terrific” Ronald Wilson, who is particularly well known for his work in the fields of asset securitisation and derivative products in Canada. In 2007 he was part of the team that represented CIBC World Markets and RBC Capital Markets (who acted as agents to the Ottawa International Airport Authority) in its C$200 million offering of debt securities.

At Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP the “fabulous” Scott Wilkie is the firm’s most highly nominated individual. He is co-editor of the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Canadian Tax Journal and can “get straight to the heart of the most complex matter”. Richard Tremblay “should be in everyone’s top ten”, according to one source. Tremblay is “very well known” for his international and domestic work, relating to financial institutions. Firoz Ahmed was seconded to the rulings directorate of Revenue Canada, Taxation as a senior rulings officer in the corporate reorganisations section and he specialises in the taxation of corporate reorganisations, mergers and acquisitions, and international taxation. His international dealings include representing CanWest in the IPO of its New Zealand operations and China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development on its acquisition of PetroKazakhstan. Donald Watkins QC has a client list that includes Fording, Chevron Canada Resources and Abraxas Petroleum. Watkins is especially adept at dealing with the tax aspects of acquisitions and dispositions of oil and gas assets, and the financing of exploration and development activities in the industry. He has represented domestic and international clients in a wide variety of issues related to corporate reorganisations, takeovers, mergers and spin-off transactions, “butterfly” transactions, internal reorganisations of corporate groups, corporate divestitures, and the financing of such transactions. Norman Loveland chairs the firm’s tax department and is “extremely well respected” by his peers. He has a broad practice but tends to focus on major business transactions, legislative change and disputes.

Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP also puts in a strong performance, with two individuals included in this edition. Paul Tamaki is “extremely solid and totally dependable”, according to one source. He is very active in the Canadian Bar Association where he chairs its national tax section and co-chairs the joint committee on taxation. He also co-chairs the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Ronald Richler’s “great” practice focuses on corporate reorganisations, mergers and acquisitions, financings and investment products.

Elinore Richardson from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is the other Canadian practitioner who makes it onto our list of the area’s most highly nominated practitioners. She leads the firm’s international tax practice and is the national coordinator of international legal services. A “stellar practitioner”, Richardson advises domestic and international clients on inbound and outbound tax planning. She also works on the structuring of cross-border mergers and acquisitions, post-merger consolidation and reorganisation strategies.

LONDON

There are 27 lawyers listed in London. Slaughter and May’s Steve Edge takes top spot in the nominations, not just in London, but overall: he tops our table of the area’s most highly regarded individuals. One source highlighted the “excellent working relationship” they enjoy with Slaughter and May noting the “superb quality of their counsel”. The “top-class” Edge is well known for his cross-border work, most frequently between the UK and the US. He acts for a wide variety of clients, including investment banks, whom he represents in their structured finance businesses. Edge also deals with tax structuring and the tax aspects of private and public mergers, acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures. His tax consultancy practice also sees him working on tax investigations and tax litigation with a great deal of work in the transfer pricing and thin capitalisation area. Three of Edge’s partners in London join him on the list, giving the firm one of the largest contingents in the City. The “impressive” Sara Luder focuses on acquisitions, disposals, flotations and demergers and also has considerable experience in leasing and other structured finance transactions. Graham Airs also comes highly recommended and is well versed in the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, privatisations and securitisations. Tony Beare heads the firm’s tax practice and was described by one source as “one of the best for structured finance”. He is also experienced in private and public mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity capital market transactions.

Allen & Overy has two London-based practitioners that attracted a great deal of praise during our research. Sources have “a great deal of respect and admiration for” Patrick Mears, whose broad practice has a focus on both domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and domestic and cross-border corporate reorganisations. He also deals frequently with IPOs, transfer pricing and tax investigations, project and tax structured financing, capital markets, and securities trading. David Lewis was also highlighted for his experience relating to joint ventures, acquisitions, disposals and reconstructions. Our findings also indicated that the firm enjoys an equally impressive presence in Europe. Jean Schaffner, the partner in charge of the tax department in the Luxembourg office, was described to researchers as “absolutely outstanding”. Eugen Bogenschuetz is head of German tax and “clearly top of his profession”, according to a fellow nominee. Bogenschuetz has a broad practice that has seen him advise on disputes with the German tax administration and represent clients in tax courts.

GERMANY

The German tax bar is also well represented on the following pages, with 28 practitioners, all highly nominated. P+P Pöllath + Partners has the strongest contingent in the country, with a team of five making the final publication. P+P Pöllath + Partners is an independent corporate and tax firm specialising in M&A, tax, private equity and venture capital, funds, asset management and real estate. Reinhard Pöllath is a “leading” practitioner and “very well known” according to rivals. Andreas Rodin, a “prolific speaker and author”, joins Pöllath as “a big name” in the market. Thomas Töben, in Berlin advises on restructuring and reorganising of businesses and partnerships, M&A transactions, taxation of real property investments, cross-border leasing and the privatisation of state-owned companies. Richard Engl, in Munich, whose specialisation in restructuring was noted on a number of occasions, does a great deal of post-acquisition reorganisation for national and international clients. Wolfgang Tischbirek in Frankfurt is especially knowledgeable when it comes to real estate investments and transactions and the tax aspects of asset management and estate planning. He is also “an expert” in tax planning for both domestic and foreign investors and in the structuring of cross-border acquisitions and reorganisations.

Flick Gocke Schaumburg is, like P+P Pöllath, an independent German law firm that specialises in international tax and corporate law. It provides four practitioners for this publication. Klaus Sieker is the firm’s only practitioner in Frankfurt and emerges as one of Germany’s most highly regarded practitioners. He comes recommended for inbound and outbound matters, transfer pricing and mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganisations. Thomas Rödder is “undoubtedly one of the best”, especially for partnership work. The “very good” Harald Schaumburg was made honorary professor at the University of Mannheim in 2007 and lectures at the German Federal Finance Academy. Detlev Piltz was praised for being “incredibly active” and “engaged in the market”. He is also a lecturer at the German Federal Finance Academy, a member of the Board of the German Association for International Tax Law and a member of the German Institute of Certified Tax Consultants.

BENELUX

Loyens & Loeff NV has an unrivalled position at the top of the research in the Netherlands, with five individuals included in this edition. The firm has wide international reach thanks to listings in Belgium, Dubai, Luxembourg, New York and Singapore, where Pieter de Ridder has been based since 1996. De Ridder has “excellent knowledge of South East Asia and Indonesia in particular” and specialises in tax planning for a diverse client base, which includes financial institutions, venture capital businesses, investment fund managers, trading companies, real estate developers, manpower service and construction companies. Hans de Groot heads the New York office and his “great reputation” for cross-border and Dutch law has established him as “a major name” in the market. Like de Groot, Marc Klerks has also worked in the New York and London offices. He now practises in Amsterdam where he is experienced in advising international corporate groups and private equity firms in M&A, structured finance, and private equity and real estate fund formations. Maarten van der Weijden also comes highly recommended, as did the “brilliant” Arnoud Viersen. Philip van Hilten is former chairman of the taxes committee of the International Bar Association and a renowned writer and speaker. He is well-known for his knowledge of the tax issues within the oil and gas sector, and is the former chairman of the board of the firm. He splits his time between the Dubai and Amsterdam offices. Paul Simonis in Rotterdam has a “fabulous practice”. Simonis focuses on reorganisations, mergers and takeovers, and, like van Hilten, has knowledge of the energy sector. Teun Akkerman from Loyens Winandy is Luxembourg’s most highly nominated individual; he specialises in holding and financing structures, mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganisations, structured finance, regulated and non-regulated investment funds, and regulated and non-regulated real estate investments schemes. Christian Chéruy is Belgium’s most highly nominated individual. He advises on tax disputes and the taxation of intellectual property. Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick dominates the research in Belgium with three practitioners selected for inclusion. Jacques Malherbe has a “good name” that is complemented by a “great mind”. He is the author of the Belgian Tax Management Portfolio as well as many other publications on Belgian corporation tax and international and European taxation. Philippe Malherbe was also recommended to researchers for his expertise in international corporate tax law. Daniel Garabedian brings the independent firm’s entry in this publication to a distinguished close. Garabedian is a professor at the law faculty of the Brussels Free University (ULB), where he teaches corporate tax law and tax procedure, and is director of the faculty's special degree programme in tax law. He also lectures on double taxation agreements in the international tax expert degree programme at the University of Valenciennes and Hainaut-Cambresis, where he is a visiting professor.

FRANCE

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre has the largest contingent in our France list and is “one of the best around for tax work”. Edouard Milhac was described as “very, very good” and is well known for his international practice that deals with both inbound and outbound work. Bruno Gouthiere’s area of expertise is also in the international arena, with a focus on corporate restructurings and finance. He was described to researchers as “a brilliant mind” and “extremely knowledgeable”. Pierre-Sébastien Thill is also “up there” for international work and spent time as managing partner of the firm’s New York office. Clients and peers regard Bruno Gibert as a “calm and clear thinker”. His practice includes a great deal of transfer pricing work as well as structured finance and M&A related transactions. He is also chairman of the EU Joint Forum on Transfer Pricing.

SWITZERLAND

Lenz & Staehelin and Homburger both have two top-tier practitioners in the Switzerland section. Homburger’s Peter Riedweg has “a very good reputation for international tax” and fellow team leader Eveline Saupper was also consistently endorsed. Lenz & Staehelin possesses a strong team that includes the “very well known” Henri Torrione and the “brilliant” Shelby du Pasquier. Torrione is based in Geneva and is a professor in Tax Law at the University of Fribourg. Renowned for his academic achievements, he was also praised by his peers as a “great talent” and “big name” in the area. Du Pasquier co-heads the banking and financial group at the firm and is also included in our banking and private funds publications.

ITALY

Guglielmo Maisto is Italy’s most highly nominated tax lawyer, receiving sufficient votes to put him on our list of the publication’s most highly regarded individuals. Two partners from his specialist tax firm, Maisto e Associati join the “truly brilliant” Maisto. Carlo Galli is “top notch” and focuses his practice on taxation within capital markets and private equity structures, mergers and acquisitions and transfer pricing. Paolo Ludovici also comes very highly recommended to researchers for his structured finance work and his “encyclopedic knowledge of employee benefit schemes”.

IRELAND

A&L Goodbody is home to Ireland’s most highly nominated practitioner, Peter Maher. The “formidible” Maher heads the firm’s tax department and specialises in the area of cross-border structuring and capital markets transactions. He is also included in our breakdown of the practice area’s most highly regarded individuals after an outstanding performance in our research. John Hickson joins Maher thanks to his “broad-based and fantastic practice”. He has significant experience with policy issues and has been involved with several legislative changes in Ireland.

AUSTRALASIA

Two firms dominate the Australian list: Allens Arthur Robinson and Mallesons Stephen Jaques provide two and three practitioners respectively. AAR’s Lawrence Magid comes “highly recommended” to researchers particularly for his advice on the development of new financial products, international tax planning and investigations. He acted on the establishment of dual listed company structures for Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. Michael Rigby has a “great practice” that focuses on cross-border structured finance transactions, new financial products and the tax implications for outbound and inbound investments. Mallesons Stephen Jaques is strong and Andrew Clements from Melbourne is a “strong competitor”, according to rivals. Clements specialises in corporate tax and capital gains tax for public companies and has particular knowledge of the tax aspects of employee share schemes. Michael Clough joins Clements from the Melbourne office. His clients include Australian and international banks, insurance companies and industrial corporations. John King is based in Sydney and advises on the tax aspects of inbound and outbound investments, trusts and partnerships. He is also recommended for advice relating to the taxation aspects of financial services and capital markets transactions and products.

Singapore firm Drew & Napier LLC prides itself on its dynamic and specialist tax practice, with full-time tax specialists covering a variety of related matters. Teoh Lian-Ee heads up the firm’s tax and trust business group and is “very good and really well known”. Prior to joining Drew & Napier Teoh worked in the legal department of the Inland Revenue Department Singapore where she held a number of posts, the last as assistant commissioner of inland revenue. She is now well known for her success in the courtroom, litigating against the Revenue.

SOUTH AMERICA

Basham Ringe y Correa SC, with three entries, has more practitioners in our Mexico list than any other firm. Luis Ortiz-Hidalgo is “very well known, and for good reason”, according to one source. He is extremely active in the tax committee of the International Bar Association and is also a lecturer in postgraduate tax law at Anahuac University and the Panamerican University. Gerardo Nieto comes recommended for his tax planning and transfer pricing work and has some big clients in the automotive, pharmaceutical and beverage industries. Gil Zenteno-Garcia puts to good use a “scholarly mind” and is a keen writer. He is part of what competitors recognise as a “winning team”. The “outstanding” Manuel Tron from the tax boutique Tron y Natera SC and the “highly recommended” Christian Natera, who recently moved to set up his own firm, Natera y Espinosa SC. Both are very well regarded for their cross-border transactions as well as their knowledge of Mexican federal and local tax law.

Guillermo Orlando Teijeiro from Negri & Teijeiro Abogados is Argentina’s most highly nominated individual. A frequent speaker on tax matters, Teijeiro is also a prolific author and was described to researchers as “a font of knowledge”.

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