Former high-level US Treasury official Joshua D. Odintz has joined Baker & McKenzie’s Tax Practice as a partner, adding 12 years of tax and legislative experience to the Firm’s team of 700 tax professionals in 39 countries.
Mr. Odintz joins the Firm’s Washington, DC office after serving as a Senior Advisor for Tax Reform to the Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he advised Senior Treasury officials on tax reform options and issues. Mr. Odintz also served as the Chief Tax Counsel to the President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (the Simpson-Bowles Commission). Mr. Odintz advised the 18 commissioners and was instrumental in formulating the tax proposals that were contained in the Commission’s report, entitled the Moment of Truth. Additionally, Mr. Odintz served as the Acting Tax Legislative Counsel at the Treasury. He managed an office of 15 attorneys and developed and reviewed policy, legislation, regulations, revenue rulings, revenue procedures, and other published guidance dealing with all aspects of domestic federal income tax law.
Before joining the Treasury, Mr. Odintz was Tax Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee (majority staff), where he advised on international tax, corporate tax, the taxation of private equity and hedge funds, and the codification of the economic substance doctrine. He was involved in numerous pieces of legislation, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization, Energy, Extenders and AMT Relief Acts of 2008.
“Josh’s unique combination of high-level Treasury and legislative experience will be a great asset to clients,” said Elizabeth Espin Stern, Managing Partner of the Firm’s Washington, DC office. “We are delighted that he has joined Baker & McKenzie to enrich our premier tax and compliance capabilities.”
Mr. Odintz’s practice will focus on tax controversy and tax policy matters. He is a frequent speaker at ABA Tax Section, NY State Bar Tax Section, Practicing Law Institute, Federal Bar Association and other tax meetings and conferences.
“Josh’s first-hand insight into today’s rapidly-changing tax policy, tax legislation and regulatory trends is of critical importance to our multinational corporate clients,” said Len Terr, Chair of the North American Tax Practice Group. “He is the perfect addition to our growing, full-service tax practice.”
“The strength of Baker & McKenzie’s global tax practice is well known, and I am thrilled to join the Firm,” said Mr. Odintz.
Mr. Odintz is the latest in a series of prominent hires for the practice. Mary Bennett, the former head of the Tax Treaty, Transfer Pricing & Financial Transactions Division of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Centre for Tax Policy & Administration (CTPA), recently returned to the Firm as a partner based in the Firm’s Washington, DC office, and Caroline Silberztein, head of the CTPA’s Transfer Pricing Unit, also recently joined as a partner based in the Paris office. The practice also recently welcomed Partner Patrica Rexford to the Firm’s Chicago office, Partner Juliana Cangussu Dantas to the Amsterdam office, and Partner Jacques Bernier to the Toronto office.
In 2000, Mr. Odintz received his LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was also recipient of the Thomas Bradbury Chetwood, S.J. Prize for the highest academic average leading to an LL.M. in Taxation. He earned his J.D. in 1995 from California Western School of Law and his B.A. in 1992 from the University of California. Mr. Odintz is licensed to practice law in California and Washington, DC.
About Baker & McKenzie’s Tax Practice
Baker & McKenzie's global tax group is one of the most highly rated and recommended amongst law firms worldwide. With a worldwide team of more than 700 tax practitioners, economists and financial analysts in 39 countries, Baker & McKenzie’s Global Tax Practice provides a strong network of tax professionals offering innovative tax planning advice to multinational corporations, helping businesses design, implement and defend tax strategies for international operations and transactions. International Tax Review’s (ITR) World Tax 2011 directory ranked the Firm’s tax practice in 30 countries and Chambers Global 2011 ranked our tax practice in 17 jurisdictions and recognized 39 individual lawyers. In 2011, ITR’s Leading Tax Planning Practice survey ranked the Firm as “Top Tier” in 13 countries, including the US. ITR's Leading Tax Transactional Practice Survey ranked the Firm's tax practice as “Top Tier” in 11 countries, including the US.
About Baker & McKenzie
Founded in 1949, Baker & McKenzie advises many of the world’s most dynamic and successful business organizations through more than 3,800 locally qualified lawyers and over 5,800 professional staff in 69 offices in 42 countries. Baker & McKenzie is known for having a deep understanding of the language and culture of business, an uncompromising commitment to excellence, and world-class fluency in its client service.
Baker & McKenzie’s global revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, were US$2.27 billion. Eduardo Leite is Chairman of the Firm’s Executive Committee. (
www.bakermckenzie.com)