Ryan & Company Launches New Public Affairs Practice
Ryan & Company, North America’s largest independent state & local tax consulting firm, today announced the launch of its Public Affairs Practice. This initiative will add professionals in Ryan & Company’s Austin, Texas office.
Through the Public Affairs group, the Firm will offer direct legislative advocacy services, comprehensive legislative analysis, and public affairs consulting on all state tax issues.
“This new practice will benefit Ryan & Company clients by providing public affairs services that are focused on important state and local tax legislative and regulatory issues through an experienced team of tax professionals who also have significant political, media, and governmental affairs expertise,” said G. Brint Ryan, Managing Principal of Ryan & Company. “They are uniquely qualified both to understand the issues substantively and to work with our clients to develop and execute an appropriate and effective public affairs strategy that addresses them.”
Mr. Ryan said the Public Affairs group also benefits from the depth of experience that exists in all of the Firm’s practice areas. “The professionals who work in our Firm are the brightest in the business. They understand tax issues; they know our clients, our clients’ businesses, and the industries within which those businesses compete. The Public Affairs team provides an incomparable resource that others who lobby state government simply do not have,” said Mr. Ryan.
Mr. Ryan said the Firm has already appointed three Practitioners — Mr. Karey Barton, Ms. Susan Traylor Bittick, and Mr. Jim Eads — to join the Firm and lead this Practice.
Mr. Barton was a private Tax Consultant, who earlier this year served as Tax Director to the Texas Tax Reform Commission, which developed and proposed the framework for the state’s new margin-based franchise tax. Mr. Barton’s experience includes 14 years with the Texas State Comptroller’s Office where he held various positions, including Director of Tax Policy and Assistant Manager of Revenue Estimating. He was also a member of the Comptroller’s Tax Policy Committee.
Ms. Bittick is an Attorney who holds an LL.M degree in tax law. She also has extensive press and political background, having worked as a Journalist for more than 15 years, and in various positions in state government and on political campaigns. She worked for more than 10 years as an Attorney for a Fortune 100 department store company, handling both legislative and state tax matters. Following the company’s merger, she served as Operating Vice President and Corporate Director, Legislative Affairs.
Mr. Eads is an Attorney and formerly the President and Executive Director of the New Mexico Tax Research Institute; he also served as President of the National Tax Association. He brings vast experience and talent to the Firm, having held such positions as a Partner in the national tax department of a national accounting firm, Senior Attorney and Governmental Affairs Council for a Fortune 50 telecommunications company, as well as Senior Tax Attorney at a Fortune 50 general merchandise retailer. Having held positions with the Internal Revenue Service and the Revenue Division of the Arkansas Board of Finance and Administration, and presiding as former Chair of Electronic Commerce Task Force of the Council On State Taxation are just a few of the extraordinary appointments made by Mr. Eads. He also served as adjunct Professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law.
About Ryan & Company
Ryan & Company is North America’s largest independent state & local tax consulting firm. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state & local tax services on a multistate basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, tax decision automation, dispute resolution, and strategic planning. With more than 675 professionals and associates in 28 locations throughout North America, Ryan & Company serves many of the world’s most prominent Fortune 1000 companies.