Firm continues growth of global tax practice with eighth partner to join this fiscal year
Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie announced today that Scott Levine has joined the Firm as a Tax Partner in Washington, DC. An accomplished and well-recognized practitioner, Scott's arrival further expands the capabilities of the Firm's market-leading Tax practice.
Scott joins Baker McKenzie following his service as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Tax Affairs at the US Department of the Treasury, where he led the office's work on international tax affairs, including regulations, treaties, and the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS negotiations on Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. Prior to his role in government, Scott spent more than 25 years in private practice advising clients on the tax aspects of corporate transactions, including cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and other divestitures, restructurings, financings, and joint ventures. Additionally, he has experience negotiating private letter rulings with the IRS in the corporate, international, financial instruments, and energy tax credit areas.
"Scott comes to us with firsthand insight into recently issued US corporate tax guidance as well as the evolving international tax landscape," said Salim Rahim, Chair of the Firm's North America Tax Practice Group. "His insights and experience will be a tremendous asset for our clients, especially US multinationals, as we counsel them on tax structuring as well as strategic acquisitions, dispositions, and integration matters."
Baker McKenzie's Tax Practice is one of the most highly regarded in the world. With more than 730 tax practitioners in over 40 countries, the practice collaborates across borders and specialties to stay abreast of changing tax landscapes worldwide. The Firm's Tax advisory practice works closely with the Firm's M&A Practice on transactions, assisting clients with post-acquisition integrations and pre-disposition restructurings, and consulting with clients on a wide variety of domestic and international tax issues.
"While at Treasury, Scott was deeply involved in issues related to the OECD and the future of the global corporate minimum tax," said Chair of the Washington, DC Tax Group, Rafic Barrage. "His knowledge and perspective from that time will be a significant value-add to our clients as they navigate the US tax legislative landscape and begin preparing for global tax changes as well as possible countermeasures by the US Administration."
Scott commented, “I am thrilled to join Baker McKenzie’s premier Tax Practice and look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the Firm, including the Transactional team, to provide holistic guidance to clients on their international tax structuring and transactions. Among the many qualities that drew me to Baker McKenzie is the Firm's global footprint unmatched by any other law firm."
Scott has been an adjunct professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, and the International Tax Center at Leiden University in the Netherlands. He has frequently lectured and participated as a panelist at programs for the American Bar Association, DC Bar, Practising Law Institute, International Fiscal Association, Tax Executives Institute, Southern Federal Tax Institute, and other organizations on a wide range of topics and policies. Scott is an active member of the ABA's Tax Section, where he has previously served as a Council member, a Nominating Committee member, and Chair of the Corporate Tax Committee. He had been a two-term member of the DC Bar Tax Section’s Steering Committee and Chair of the Section’s Corporate Tax Committee.
Scott received his BA from the University of Pennsylvania and his JD from American University Washington College of Law. He is admitted to practice in Washington, DC and Florida.