George Gerachis > Vinson & Elkins LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Vinson & Elkins LLP advises on the tax aspects of complex transactions for US and non-US businesses raising equity and debt capital, buying, selling, or reorganizing businesses, and entering into joint ventures. The firm has particular expertise in the areas of traditional and renewable energy, partnerships including MLPs, REITs, SPACs, and Up-C structures. The team is co-headed by Dallas-based David Peck and Houston-based Ryan Carney who both advise on the full spectrum of transactions including M&A, fund formations, and investments. In Washington DC, Gary Huffman advises major multinational corporations, including large banks and oil and gas exploration and production companies, on inbound and outbound cross-border transactions. In Dallas, Natan Leyva has significant experience handling the cross-border transaction and has extensive expertise on tax legislative developments. In Houston, Jason McIntosh and John Lynch   advise clients across industry sectors, including investment funds, public and private companies, governmental entities, and high-net-worth individuals whilst George Gerachis represents clients before the courts concerning IRS audit and appeals. In New York, Ron Nardini concentrates his practice on the formation, operation, and investments of private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds, with a particular focus on credit, health care, entertainment and cross-border investments. Allyson Seger, who sits in the Austin office, focuses her practice on the US federal income tax aspects of complex cross-border and domestic transactions.

Vinson & Elkins LLP fields a ‘very experienced’ team with broad sector expertise and a strong record in an array of contentious tax matters, including issues relating to partnership rules. Highly experienced litigator George Gerachis, who works from Houston, co-leads the team alongside the New York-based Kathleen Pakenham, whose practice covers partnership tax and transfer pricing. Pakenham joined the team in January 2023 from Cooley LLP alongside Adriana Wirtz, also of New York, who is experienced in a range of audits and litigation and is well-versed in matters relating to tax insurance. Gary Huffman, in Washington DC, acts in both contentious and non-contentious tax matters for clients active in the energy and industrial sectors.