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Freshfields

Freshfields

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United States • Tax

3

US taxes: non-contentious

Freshfields boasts a stellar client list and a well-established global network that is well-positioned to advise multinational companies on both inbound and outbound transactional mandates across a variety of sectors. The tax team stands out for its work alongside the firm’s corporate practice, with recent deals such as advising Google on its pending $32bn acquisition on Wiz highlighting their marquee M&A work. Redomiciliation of public companies to the US, cross-border tax structuring, securitizations, and take-privates are further examples of their work. The team has notable expertise in the life sciences sector across all tax matters. Practice co-head Steven Matays is known for his extensive M&A tax ability in cross-border matters and in the tech and life sciences sectors. Practice co-head Claude Stansbury in Washington DC advises private equity funds, foreign MNCs, and US companies on restructuring, joint ventures, cross-border tax planning, and securitizations. Joe Soltis is another key name handling both private and public M&A tax advice. Sarah Katz advises asset managers on fund formation, tax structuring, and financings. Team members based in New York unless otherwise stated.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Claude Stansbury is an exceptional US tax partner at Freshfields. He is highly technically strong, extremely responsive, and consistently demonstrates deep knowledge in complex tax matters. His collaborative approach and reliability make him a pleasure to work with. In addition, Claude provides outstanding client service and approaches challenges with practical, solutions-oriented thinking, ensuring issues are resolved efficiently and effectively.’

  • ‘Steven Matays and Sarah Katz are pleasure to work with. They share great experience, are very knowledgeable, responsive, and always make themselves available on short notice’

  • 'Strong tax team that is thoughtful about the M&A matters and other planning issues. They are proactive and very technical in the US and Europe.'

  • 'Steven Matays and Sarah Katz go out of their way to provide top legal/tax advice, and are very tax-technical; while also providing extraordinary assistance to help identify practical solutions'

Key clients

  • Allwyn
  • Alphabet
  • Ashtead Group plc
  • AST SpaceMobile
  • BASF
  • Celsius
  • Cencora
  • Continental AG
  • CrowdStrike
  • JT International SA
  • London Stock Exchange Group PLC
  • Lowe's

Work highlights

Advised Ashtead Group plc on its proposed redomiciliation to the U.S. and primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Represented Google on its pending $32 billion acquisition of Wiz, an American-Israeli cybersecurity firm.
Advised Sanofi S.A. on numerous transactions, including its exclusive negotiations with CD&R for the sale of a 50% controlling stake in its consumer healthcare business Opella at a €16 billion enterprise value.
Practice head

Claude Stansbury; Steven Matays

Other key lawyers

Sarah Katz; Joe Soltis