Tax Lawyer Michael McGowan joins Sullivan & Cromwell in London
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has announced that one of the UK’s leading tax lawyers, Michael McGowan, has been elected a partner of the Firm and joined its London office on May 1.H. Rodgin Cohen, Chairman of Sullivan & Cromwell, said, “We are very pleased that
Michael is joining our Firm. The addition of his impressive expertise and track record in
advising clients on UK tax matters represents an important addition to our UK law
practice, and is the latest in a series of initiatives we have taken to strengthen our
European practice.”
Michael McGowan, 44, has had a distinguished career as a tax lawyer that has spanned
over 20 years. He specializes in UK corporate taxation, and has extensive experience in
mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, offshore mutual funds, real estate
financings, securitizations, project finance, and derivatives. He also has significant
experience advising on cross-border transactions, especially those involving the UK and
US. Mr. McGowan graduated BA (Hons) First Class in 1985 from Magdalen College,
Oxford, and earned a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree at Magdalen in 1987. In
1993, Mr. McGowan was a visiting lawyer in Sullivan & Cromwell’s Tax Group.
In speaking of his move to Sullivan & Cromwell, Mr. McGowan said, “Sullivan &
Cromwell is a firm whose reputation speaks for itself. I am very pleased to be joining,
and look forward to contributing, in particular, to the development of its UK law
practice.”
The Firm has consistently ranked at the very top among law firms involved in worldwide
and Europe M&A transactions and international securities offerings and financings. Most
recently, S&C was recognized by Bloomberg as the #1 firm representing principals in
announced global M&A for each of the last four years, and through first quarter, 2008,
and the #1 US firm representing principals in announced European M&A through first
quarter, 2008. The Firm was also recognized as “2007 Global Corporate Law Firm of the
Year” by Chambers & Partners.
Sullivan & Cromwell’s Tax Group, widely recognized as being one of the most expert
and innovative tax practices in both the US and France, is well known for its
groundbreaking work on the structuring and issuance of tax-efficient hybrid debt and
equity instruments – an area in which the Firm is an undisputed leader. The Firm’s tax
team has also played crucial roles in many of the most significant transactional matters
handled by the Firm across a broad spectrum of areas, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, real estate investment trusts, and cross-border matters.
The Tax Group’s work also includes ongoing advice to many of the Firm’s clients on
general tax matters. Sullivan & Cromwell’s Tax Group was recognized as “Corporate
Tax Team of the Year” by the Chambers USA 2007 Awards for Excellence, and has been
ranked #1 in Chambers USA for five straight years, since the inception of this guide in
2003.
About Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is a global law firm that advises on major domestic and cross-
border M&A, finance and corporate transactions, significant litigation and corporate
investigations, and complex regulatory, tax and estate planning matters. The Firm’s
hallmarks are the highest quality independent advice and intense dedication to solving
client problems. Founded in 1879, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has approximately 700
lawyers on four continents, with four offices in the US, including its headquarters in New
York, three offices in Europe, two in Australia and three in Asia.
Sullivan & Cromwell’s practice in Europe consists of over 120 lawyers, including more
than 70 in London (of which 20 are English-law qualified), 30 in Paris and 20 in
Frankfurt. The Firm advises clients in Europe, the US, Asia, Africa and the Gulf Region
across a broad spectrum of practice areas and with respect to US, English, French,
German, EC Competition and EU law.