About Bill
Bill’s expertise includes corporate, partnership and international taxation, focusing on representing public and private companies in mergers and acquisitions, spinoffs and joint ventures. Bill has also structured major private equity and real estate funds and worked with servicers on REMIC compliance. Industries that he has represented include airlines, telecommunications, food manufacturers, banking and financial services, health care, technology and venture capital. Bill has also successfully represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service and state Departments of Revenue on numerous occasions.
Bill is a member of the Georgia, New York, and Massachusetts Bars. He is a member of the American Bar Association - Tax Section, Atlanta International Tax Study Group, and the International Fiscal Association. Bill was a speaker at Fulcrum Information Services - Mergers and Acquisitions for the Middle Market, Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami and at Fulcrum Information Services - Valuation, New York. Bill was also a speaker at a joint program with Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, Acquisitions of Troubled Companies.
Bill received his LL.M. in Taxation in 1989 from Boston University School of Law. He earned his J.D., cum laude, in 1984 from Boston University, where he served as staff editor of the Boston University International Law Journal. At Boston University, he received several honors including being named an Edward F. Hennessey Distinguished Scholar and G. Joseph Tauro Scholar, and earned the American Jurisprudence Award for the highest grade in Corporations. Bill also received a B.S. in Economics, cum laude, concentrating in Accounting and Political Science, in 1981 from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Bill’s representative matters include:
Obtained a revenue ruling from the IRS designating a U.K. Investment Exchange as a “qualified board or exchange” under IRC Sec. 1256(g)(7)(C), the first such ruling issued in more than 20 years.
Responsible for tax planning, tax disclosure and tax opinions in connection with the sale of a credit card processing company to a major bank for $2.1 billion.
Responsible for tax issues, negotiation and documentation of the sale of a privately held food products company to a Dutch public company for more than $300 million.
Provided tax counsel to a paper manufacturing company in connection with its tax-free spinoff from a large consumer products company.
Drafted partnership agreements and tax disclosures for a $175 million private equity fund investing in medical device businesses.
Structured a $300 million real estate joint venture between U.S. persons and Canadian pension funds.
Provided international tax structuring advice for a U.S. developer in connection with a joint venture to develop a hotel, resort and residences in Morocco.
Was principally responsible for analyzing and obtaining Georgia tax incentives for a large consumer foods company opening new facilities in the state and prepared a management presentation to its Chief Executive Officer.
Issued tax opinions to a drug manufacturer regarding New York sales and use taxation.
Worked on all aspects of the sale of a for-profit nursing home group to a 501(c)(3) organization and obtained a ruling from the IRS on novel issues in connection with the use of tax-exempt financing in the transaction.
What is your favorite thing about the law?
- Helping clients realize their goals.
- Gaining an understanding of complex tax material and communicating the issues in a way that is understandable to persons who are not tax practitioners,
What was your first job (waiter, car wash, etc)?
One of my first jobs in high school was working in a sweater warehouse filling orders and loading and unloading boxes on and off of trucks. I like to say I was a knitpicker back then.
What advice would you give to a young student in law school?
Anyone intending to practice as a transactional lawyer should take a few tax law classes.
How do you define a “good day?”
A good day is a day on which I can add value to a client.
How do you spend your weekend?
Attending my sons’ sports events, professional sports events or visiting colleges along with my son who is entering 12th grade (and soon another son who is entering 11th grade).