At Vinson & Elkins LLP, ‘the team’s professionalism, knowledge in the subject matter, and experience in litigation is what sets them apart’. Adept in trials and appeals, the firm is frequently involved in high-value matters both domestically and internationally. George Gerachis in Houston and Kathy Pakenham in Dallas co-lead the tax controversy practice, which sits within the broader tax practice group led by Houston-based Ryan Carney. Pakenham and New York-based standout partner Adriana Wirtz are ’the most capable, most ethical tax controversy lawyers in the country’, and one client believes that Wirtz is ‘the gold standard for resolving high-stakes tax controversies quickly and effectively’. Gerachis and Pakenham recently assisted Halliburton with a $32m federal income tax refund case against the IRS involving the deductibility of a payment made to a foreign government. As as its core focus on energy, the practice also handles matters in the financial services, technology, health care, and real estate industries.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘I am so impressed with the whole entire V&E Team! We work with a lot of law firms and accounting firms in tax controversy and other litigations and V&E is by far the best! This team is currently representing our company in front of the Tax Court for a tax controversy case. The team's professionalism, knowledge in the subject matter, and experience in litigation is what sets them apart. As it comes to innovations, the way they were able to collect, organize, and review large numbers of documents was very impressive.’
‘The lead partner George Gerachis, partners Adriana Wirtz and Matthew Hoffman, along with associate Zachary Willis are all so impressive. They have provided nothing but exceptional service in the 4 years we've worked together, from the initial response letters all the way to the 2-week trial in front of the judge and now post-trial. What makes this V&E team different from competitors is the team's overall quality, efficiency, knowledge, and experience. The team went above and beyond from the very beginning and never compromised on quality of service. They made themselves available for us 24/7 and gain our full trust in their ability to assist us with this very high stake case. ’
‘Well-known for representation of oil and gas industry clients in tax matters of all types.’
‘George Gerachis is still a terrific lawyer.’
‘Vinson and Elkins raised its profile and capabilities considerably last year when adding Adriana Wirtz and Kathy Pakenham.’
‘Adriana Wirtz and Kathy Pakenham are among the most capable, most ethical tax controversy lawyers in the country. Adriana Wirtz is the gold standard for resolving high-stakes tax controversies quickly, effectively, and ethically. She is a rising star in every sense.’
‘V&E's tax team stands out in its breadth of expertise across tax matters. My reliance is largely in the dispute area, but I know that V&E is likely able to advise/resolve any tax issue faced by my company.’
‘I work closely with two partners at V&E. The first partner really has the history and relationships within the IRS to provide insight on strategies. The second partner has Tax Court Clerkship experience, and she is technically outstanding.’
‘The tax attorneys at V&E are incredible tax technicians who understand the energy industry and the impacts that various tax provisions have specific to the industry. They consistently bring significant value to the table on every project.’
‘Ryan Carney's knowledge of the energy industry and partnership taxation make him a go-to for our most complicated tax issues. Adriana Wirtz is able to assist us in navigating complex IRS audit issues especially as it relates to the IRS's BBA partnership audit process.’
Key clients
- Otay Project, L.P.
- S.Crow Collateral Corp.
- Halliburton Company
- American Forest & Paper Association
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Ryan Carney; George Gerachis; Kathy Pakenham
Other key lawyers
Matthew Hoffman; Zachary Willis; Adriana Wirtz