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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

McDermott Will & Emery has a large tax practice group in Chicago, employing nearly 40 attorneys. It focuses on the tax aspects of large M&A deals, corporate restructurings and high-profile advisory work and is led by Lowell Yoder, head of US and international ... [more]

McDermott Will & Emery has a large tax practice group in Chicago, employing nearly 40 attorneys. It focuses on the tax aspects of large M&A deals, corporate restructurings and high-profile advisory work and is led by Lowell Yoder, head of US and international tax, and Jane Wells May, head of state and local tax. Clients include manufacturing, pharmaceutical and auto companies. The firm is well respected by peers. "It is a very fine Chicago practice," said one competitor. And Yoder is also highly regarded by the market for his cross-border structuring skills. "Lowell Yoder is an expert in international tax. He is a very, very talented lawyer," one competitor said. McDermott substantially strengthened its transfer pricing practice in June 2012 with the addition of highly respected international tax lawyers Cym Lowell and Mark Martin as part of a seven-member team from Gardere Wynne Sewell in Texas. Martin, who will serve as head of the transfer pricing team, will be based in McDermott's Houston office along with partner John Woodruff and an associate. Lowell and three professional advisers – managing director Hiroaki Furuya, economist Tracy Gomes, and financial analyst Haiyan Zhang – will practise out of a satellite office in Dallas. While the team will be based in Texas it will serve McDermott's clients across the US.

McDermott's Chicago team advised mining and construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar on the tax aspects of its $8.8 billion acquisition of Bucyrus International. The firm is also lead outside counsel for the manufacturer in audits before the IRS. The team also advised Fortune Brands on the the tax-free spin-off of its home and security business into a separate, publicly-traded company. The practice is often called in by companies to advise on complex tax matters that are part of internal and external restructurings, even if the firm is not acting as corporate counsel in the transaction. In July 2012, the firm added two new partners to its tax controversy group. Roger Jones and Andrew Roberson both joined from Latham & Watkins.

McDermott Will & Emery's New York office is a full-service tax practice, comprising eight partners and seven fee earners. It advises large companies and financial institutions requiring tax structuring advice, whether in relation to M&A, financing, joint ... [more]

McDermott Will & Emery's New York office is a full-service tax practice, comprising eight partners and seven fee earners. It advises large companies and financial institutions requiring tax structuring advice, whether in relation to M&A, financing, joint ventures or restructuring. While the tax team works closely with its corporate lawyers on transactions, clients seek out McDermott specifically for tax advice and representation. In the past year, the New York practice, led by Thomas Giegerich, advised a trustee on a $24 billion split-off transaction involving international agricultural company Cargill and Mosaic, a leading provider of crop nutrients and feed ingredients. McDermott advised the trustee on the tax aspects of the distribution of Cargill's 64% ownership stake in Mosaic to certain Cargill shareholders and debt holders and on related contractual matters. The firm's clients include American Airlines, AT&T, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, IBM, NBC Universal, Pfizer and other major corporations. Rivals recognise Peter Faber and Arthur Rosen for their skill in indirect tax.

McDermott Will & Emery's Silicon Valley practice, led by Frederick Chilton, offers clients range and depth in corporate tax planning, state and local tax, tax controversy and litigation. A large percentage of the practice's clients are from the technology ... [more]

McDermott Will & Emery's Silicon Valley practice, led by Frederick Chilton, offers clients range and depth in corporate tax planning, state and local tax, tax controversy and litigation. A large percentage of the practice's clients are from the technology sector in northern California. This year, the firm has also increased its number of clients based outside Silicon Valley. In the federal tax area, the firm has been involved in a variety of outbound and inbound transactions. Because of the Silicon Valley group's focus on the technology sector, the firm has extensive experience in intellectual property-related tax issues, such as the formation of intangible holding companies. Rod Donnelly joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in October 2011.

McDermott Will & Emery's Washington DC tax practice, led by Stephen Wells, advise major Fortune companies, financial institutions and other large organisations requiring complex and innovative tax structuring. Client work focuses on the tax aspects of ... [more]

McDermott Will & Emery's Washington DC tax practice, led by Stephen Wells, advise major Fortune companies, financial institutions and other large organisations requiring complex and innovative tax structuring. Client work focuses on the tax aspects of large M&A deals, corporate restructurings and high-profile advisory work. Around 50% of the practice is transactional and the other half is advisory. McDermott's DC team is the principal outside tax counsel to Tribune, representing the multimedia company on the formation of a partnership joint venture with Scripps Networks Interactive to own The Food Network and The Cooking Channel. The partnership has assets of more than $5 billion and is the world's largest producer and distributor of television programming related to food and cooking. Other work for Tribune during the past year included advice on various IRS audit matters and tax planning in connection with the company's emergence from bankruptcy. McDermott's national tax controversy practice is also based in Washington DC. Led by Jean Pawlow, the 40-member practice represents the world's largest corporations on US and international tax issues. There has been a significant increase in the number of cases being heard in the Tax Court over the past year and the firm has achieved a number of victories for taxpayers. The practice is also assisting clients in complying with the IRS's new guidelines regarding uncertain tax positions, which has led to a large amount of confusion and uncertainty among corporate taxpayers.