Larry Crouch > A&O Shearman > Menlo Park, United States > Lawyer Profile

A&O Shearman is noted for its representation of multinational companies in cross-border M&A and financial offerings, as well as private equity and sovereign wealth fund clients on formation and investment issues. Practice head Larry Crouch – who splits his time between New York and Menlo Park – is a seasoned transactional tax expert with experience in matters involving M&A, capital markets, and joint ventures. Crouch is also co-head of the firm’s REIT group, an area in which New York-based Derek Kershaw is also excels. Washington DC-based Jay Singer is praised for his strengths in spin-offs and internal restructurings, while in Dallas, Ryan Bray is a regular port of call for emerging growth companies and their founders on various tax-related issues. Also recommended is Todd Lowther in Houston, whose focus is on the taxation of natural resources and other transactions common in the petroleum sector. Recent team changes include New York-based Lorenz Haselberger‘s promotion to partnership in July 2022, and Michael Shulman‘s departure in October 2022.

A&O Shearman has specific strength in the securitization space, working closely with the firm’s wider practice group in this area, to advise on CLOs, and securitization of numerous asset classes including auto loan receivables, RMBS, ABS, commercial mortgages and aircraft leases. The firm also works with structured product issuers on the establishment and structuring of products and regularly engages with funds work, including structuring new funds, reviewing fund structures, operational compliance and fund transactions, often involving hedge funds, private equity funds, REITs and infrastructure funds. Regarding debt instruments, the firm has advised on Rule 144A issuances and bond issues. The practice is led by New York-based Dave Lewis and Jack Heinberg, both of whom have extensive experience in tax planning, transactions, securitizations and financial instruments and derivatives, as well as financing and fund formation. Other key names to note within the team include associates John Hibbard and Dustin Plotnick based in New York and senior counsel Caroline Lapidus, based in the firm’s recently established Silicon Valley office. Following the merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, the team also includes a number of other key names, including Larry Crouch , based in New York, who is supported by Kirsten Garry in Washington DC, and Lorenz Haselberger, also in New York. Garry focuses her practice on cross-border structured finance transactions, securitizations, M&A and capital markets offerings, as well as being a key name regarding financial products, including crypto. Haselberger, who was recently promoted, concentrates on taxation of financial instruments and institutions, as well as the tax components of M&A , inbound investments and restructurings.

A&O Shearman is well-regarded for its cross-border tax capabilities with advice provided to a variety of clients from local and global corporates to financial institutions. The team works with investment banking firms and other financial advisors to develop tax-efficient structures for financings, hybrid securities, acquisitions, joint ventures and other investments. Larry Crouch heads the tax team and has extensive transactional experience in matters involving international transactions, M&A, capital markets and joint ventures. Kristen Garry routinely advises on structured finance transactions while Jay Singer focuses on spin-off transactions. Lorenz Haselberger‘s client list includes banks, hedge funds, fintech companies and cryptocurrency custodians. Following the merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, other key team members include Dave Lewis, who has significant expertise in international tax planning, Jack Heinberg, and Caroline Lapidus, who focuses on the formation and operation of investment funds and carried interest structures. All lawyers are based in New York.