John A. Couch practices global tax planning.

Practice Focus

Mr. Couch often advises on global corporate tax planning related to mergers, acquisitions, divestments, organization and reorganizations, and related finance matters. He advises on inbound and outbound tax planning to or from the United States, the EU, the Caspian region, the Middle East, Asia and North Africa, among others. He provides insightful legal assistance in treaty issues, tax controversy work in foreign jurisdictions, including complex competent authority matters. Mr. Couch has also guided clients through tax planning and structuring in a variety of cross-border petroleum upstream activities, inclusive of hybrid structures, complex partnerships and joint venture arrangements. In addition, he handles draft tax legislation in multiple jurisdictions.

Representative Legal Matters

• Global tax counsel for a publicly listed clean energy fund investing in multiple jurisdictions.
• Global tax counsel for an international private equity firm investing in Eastern Europe.
• Global reorganization of publicly listed drilling company.
• Cross-border merger of publicly listed oilfield services companies.
• Global rationalization of a publicly listed oilfield services company.
• International tax counsel for global private equity firm in the United States and United Arab Emirates.
• International tax counsel for make investment bank related to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Technical tax counsel for large tax cases in the Russian Federation and Republic of Kazakhstan
• Large competent authority matter related to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Large tax controversy matters in Norway, Russian Federation and Republic of Kazakhstan.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• International Fiscal Association - Member
• International Econometric Society - Member
• International Tax and Investment Center, Washington, D.C.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Mr. Couch is founder and board member of the Grace International Children’s Foundation, and is also a sponsor for Lulwanda Children’s home in Mbale, Uganda.

Admission

U.S. Tax Court~United States (1990)
Texas~United States (1990)

Education

University of Tulsa College of Law  (J.D.) (1990)
University of Tulsa Graduate School of Accounting  (Master's degree Taxation) (1990)
Houston Community College  (Associates of Applied Science Accounting) (1986)
Texas Tech University  (Bachelor of Business Administration) (1980)