David Cole > Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Kirkland & Ellis LLP fields a ‘knowledgeable, responsive, and highly effective’ team with experience at every stage of the tax controversy process. The group places emphasis on diverse tax expertise, and as such covers an extensive range of disputes, including transfer pricing disputes, offshore banking issues, and complex audits for prominent clients in the private equity space. Richard Husseini, based in Houston, co-leads the department alongside Natalie Keller, in Chicago. Husseini has experience representing public and private companies and high net worth individuals before the IRS, courts, and other regulatory bodies, while Keller covers audits, appeals, and litigation, with strength in transfer pricing issues. The department has seen recent growth, with David Foster joining the Washington DC office from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in February 2023, and David Cole entering the Houston team from Vinson & Elkins LLP in October 2022. Of counsel JoAnne Nagjee, in Chicago, is a name to note.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP advises on US and foreign tax issues in addition to representing clients in disputes worldwide. On the transactional front, the team advises clients in connection with M&A, acquisitions, buyouts, fund formations and restructurings. The firm is also well-versed in issues relating to investment fund sponsors and the formation of offshore private equity funds, as well as advocating on behalf of companies at every stage of the tax controversy process from pre-audit planning to administrative appeals. Chicago-based Todd Maynes focuses on debt restructurings and co-heads the team with New York-located Dean Shulman who has extensive experience in structuring transactions. Chicago-located Lee Morlock focuses on international tax planning. Sara Zablotney operates out of New York and handles the tax aspects of joint ventures and spin offs while Mike Carew advises on securities issuances with support from Mark Schwed. The team was strengthened in October 2022 with the arrival of David Cole from Vinson & Elkins LLP, who has expertise in disputes in both federal and state courts.