LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – January 7, 2007 – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, today announced the addition of Donald M. Griswold as a partner in its growing State Tax Practice. He is resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, effective Jan. 4.
Mr. Griswold joins Reed Smith from McDermott Will & Emery’s Tax Department. Before McDermott, he was the national partner-in-charge for state tax Technical Services at KPMG’s Washington national tax office. He also practiced state and federal tax law at Day Berry & Howard in Connecticut, and before that, with the in-house law departments at Aetna and State Mutual Life.
“Don has been a widely known and respected ‘thought leader’ in the field of state taxation for more than a decade,” said Lee A. Zoeller, firmwide leader of Reed Smith’s State Tax Group. “He has been lead counsel in some of the most significant tax cases in the past decade. Adding Don to Reed Smith’s roster of key partners moves us well along the spectrum of having the leading national state tax practice in the country. We welcome the addition of his knowledge and experience to the firm and to our group.”
Mr. Griswold is nationally recognized as one of the leading tax professionals in the country, having fulfilled a national leadership role at a Big Four firm’s 600-person state tax practice; as a partner at McDermott; and throughout this time, both as a member of the advisory boards of leading state tax organizations, and as an author and a frequent speaker on state tax topics at the major state tax conferences around the country. His advice is sought by national and multi-national corporations seeking to evaluate and improve the quality and viability of their current state tax planning. He also provides advice regarding the state and local tax implications of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, asset dispositions and restructurings.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity to join a state tax practice that is team-focused, proactive, has top national presence and a well-respected reputation as a ’go-to’ firm for state tax matters,” Mr. Griswold said. “I am particularly looking forward to participating in the development of associates through mentoring and other support activities as a part of a tightly knit group that is clearly taking a collaborative approach to expanding its state and local tax platform. I look forward to working with Lee and others on the team to bring leading tax attorneys to the practice in many Reed Smith offices.”
In his more than two decades of practice, Mr. Griswold has litigated cutting-edge constitutional cases in forums around the country, including the Supreme Courts of several states; administrative and judicial tribunals; federal courts; and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court; and he has filed a cert petition to the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Griswold is currently handling a number of high-profile state tax cases in state and federal courts.
A 1983 graduate of Boston University School of Law, Mr. Griswold is admitted to practice in Connecticut, the District of Columbia and Massachusetts. He received his B.A. from the University of Chicago with honors in 1979.
Mr. Griswold is the sixth attorney and second new partner to join Reed Smith’s State Tax Group since 2007. Michael J. Wynne joined as a partner in the firm’s Chicago office last month. According to Mr. Zoeller, “Reed Smith’s State Tax Practice is currently one of the largest state tax groups in the country. The addition of Don and Mike moves us closer to our goal of deploying high quality team members in all major jurisdictions. Now that our group has 23 lawyers from coast-to-coast, Reed Smith is even better positioned to provide the highest quality state tax representation wherever it is needed.”
Also joining Reed Smith today are Kaitlin McKenzie-Fiumara in Philadelphia and Troy Thompson in San Francisco, both as associates in the State Tax practice.
Ms. McKenzie-Fiumara joins the firm from KMPG, LLP where, as an associate, a majority of her experience was in the area of state and local income and franchise tax consulting, compliance, and sales and transfer taxes. She received a B.A from University of Pittsburgh in 2003, a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 2006, and an LL.M. in Taxation from the Villanova University Graduate Tax Program.
Mr. Thompson joins Reed Smith from the San Francisco office of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, where he was a member of the Tax Group focusing on tax litigation. He advises clients in matters ranging from administrative audits and appeals to tax controversies in the federal courts. He also has experience advising on the tax aspects of corporate transactions and tax-exempt securities. Mr. Thompson is a 1977 magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School. He earned an A.B. in History from Cornell University in 1993.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the State Bar of California. In the San Francisco office, he joins the Reed Smith State Tax team of Jim Kleier, Brian Toman, John Messenger, and Jesse Miller.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, with more than 1,500 lawyers in 23 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its attorneys provide litigation services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high stake disputes, deliver regulatory counsel, and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising and media, shipping, international trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com
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