Tax Talent Added to Silicon Valley Office
PALO ALTO, CA — The global law firm of McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce the expansion of its internationally recognized tax practice to its Silicon Valley office. Partners Fred Chilton, Paul Dau and John Ryan and counsel James Garahan will anchor the new tax team, making McDermott's tax practice 165 lawyers strong. The Firm's Silicon Valley office, which recently moved to larger space in Palo Alto, has now expanded to more than 25 lawyers. Chilton, Garahan, Dau and Ryan will join McDermott from the law firm of Fenwick & West.
"We are elated that Fred, Jim, Paul and John are expanding our tax presence to Silicon Valley," commented tax department head Michael Fayhee. "McDermott is known for its representation of the world's leading multinationals on international and U.S. tax planning and controversy matters. Our new Silicon Valley team's credentials and experience with top high technology and other companies, such as Cisco, Amdahl, Sun Microsystems, Adaptec and VNU is a perfect fit."
"Tax and IP are among the Firm's marquee practices," commented Tony de Alcuaz, partner-in-charge of McDermott's Silicon Valley office. "We are pleased to now have both these areas represented in Silicon Valley. This group’s significant tax practice brings together IP and tax expertise in a way that will strengthen both practice groups within our Firm. Our technology and other clients will benefit significantly from the Firm's expanding talent in the field of taxation in addition to our great depth in the IP area."
"More than ever, companies are realizing the importance and financial significance of good tax planning and defense," remarked Fred Chilton. "Our clients have very sophisticated needs and McDermott offers them excellence in tax, IP, corporate and many other areas. We are excited to join the Firm and add our team to its worldwide tax resources."
Fred Chilton focuses on complex federal and international tax matters. The author of numerous articles on federal taxation issues, he is a frequent lecturer and program chair at the Tax Executives Institute, the World Trade Institute and the Practicing Law Institute. Chilton is also an adjunct professor in the Golden Gate University Masters in Tax program. He was a clerk to Judge Leo H. Irwin, United States Tax Court, and a Tax Law Specialist in the Foreign Rulings Group of the Internal Revenue Service. Chilton received a B.A. from Fresno State College in 1967, a J.D. from Hastings College of the Law in 1971 and a LL.M. in taxation from New York University in 1973.
James Garahan concentrates on the U.S. and international tax aspects of corporate acquisitions, joint ventures and reorganizations. He also advises regarding partnership tax issues. He has taught at San Jose and Golden Gate University's Graduate School of Taxation and has served as a speaker for the Tax Executives Institute, the Practicing Law Institute and other organizations. He received his B.A. from Haverford College in 1967. After receiving a masters in mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1970, he went on to receive a J.D. from the same university, where he served as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow.
Paul Dau concentrates on complex international transactions and on the resolution of federal tax controversies, from pre-audit preparation through litigation. In addition to teaching courses on international and partnership issues for the LL.M. program at Golden Gate University, Dau frequently serves as speaker on a variety of international tax topics for the Tax Executives Institute and at other conferences for tax and financial professionals. Dau received a joint honors B.A. in mathematics and philosophy from McGill University in 1973 and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980. Dau received a J.D. from the law school at the University of California, Davis, in 1992, after which he clerked for Justice Warren Matthews at the Supreme Court of the State of Alaska.
John Ryan advises clients regarding the tax aspects of transfer pricing and international restructurings. In addition to teaching courses on international and partnership issues for the LL.M. program at Golden Gate University, he has spoken on a variety of international tax topics for the Tax Executives Institute and at other conferences for tax and financial professionals. Ryan received his undergraduate education at University College Dublin, graduating in 1978, and received a Ph. D. in mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1984. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1994.
