George Gerachis > Vinson & Elkins LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile
Vinson & Elkins LLP Offices
Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue, Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
United States
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George Gerachis
Work Department
Tax
Position
Partner
Career
George is the head of the Tax department, where he represents individuals, partnerships and multinational corporations in tax planning and tax controversy matters.
During his more than three decades with V&E, George has tried cases in the United States Tax Court and Federal District Courts and handled many appeals. While he has been involved in many high-profile court cases, often establishing key precedents along the way, George is equally proud of the more numerous matters that never made headlines — ones where solutions were reached after sometimes tough, but always civil, debate with the government. By developing strategy early, preparing cases meticulously, and negotiating firmly, he and his team have frequently resolved their clients’ IRS audits and appeals on a cost-effective basis, avoiding court proceedings altogether.
Having sustained clients’ tax positions on a wide variety of contested matters, George brings a unique perspective to the structuring and documentation of complex transactions. He believes it is important also to take a multi-disciplinary approach to accommodate sometimes competing objectives, and so he regularly works closely with clients’ tax executives and in-house counsel, as well as financial and operating personnel, external auditors and various consultants. George particularly relishes the opportunity to address emerging issues at the intersection of tax law and other legal disciplines, such as intellectual property law. Like others in V&E’s tax practice, George takes a practical, commercial approach.
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Tax > US taxes: contentious
Vinson & Elkins LLP is active in a variety of industries including financial services, technology, real estate, and energy, and acts on behalf of prominent multinational clients. Houston-based co-head George Gerachis has significant experience handling appeals, and representing clients in Tax and Federal District Courts. The group has undergone significant expansion, with Kathleen Pakenham and Adriana Wirtz joining the New York office from Cooley LLP in January 2023. Pakenham, who is a seasoned litigator, has been added as a new co-head of the team, and brings expertise in federal tax matters. Also key is Gary Huffman, in Washington DC, who specializes in the financial, and oil and gas industries.
United States > Tax > International tax
Vinson & Elkins LLP has a diverse client base which encompasses public and private corporations, private equity funds and investors. The team is particularly well-versed in taxation matters across areas such as energy, partnerships, real estate investment trusts and SPACs. The practice has expertise in international tax planning issues including formations of new financing structures, transfer pricing and restructurings. Dallas-based David Peck is experienced in advising companies on tax planning and structuring transactions. He co-leads the team with Ryan Carney in Houston who represents issuers and underwriters in IPOs. Also in Houston, George Gerachis heads the firm’s tax controversy practice and resolves IRS audits and appeals for clients.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Government > Government relations
- Energy > Energy regulation: oil and gas
- Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas
- Energy > Renewable/alternative power
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism
Firm Rankings
- Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings
- Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas
- Government > Government contracts
- Finance > Project finance
- Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance
- Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
- Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
- Antitrust > Cartel
- Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)
- Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
- Energy > Energy regulation: electric power
- Environment > Environment: litigation
- Environment > Environment: regulatory
- Environment > Environment: transactional
- Tax > International tax
- Antitrust > Merger control
- Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Tax > US taxes: non-contentious
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Energy > Energy transactions: electric power
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+)
- Real estate > Real estate
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Industry focus > Sport
- Tax > US taxes: contentious
- Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+)
- Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
- Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)
- Finance > Commercial lending
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- Real estate > Land use/zoning