Bingham Expands Leading Tax Practice (and Transfer Pricing offering) to Silicon Valley With Three Significant Hires

Bingham McCutchen LLP is expanding its leading tax practice to California with the addition of three tax partners to the Silicon Valley office. Bob Kirschenbaum (from Miller & Chevalier), Beth Williams (from Baker & McKenzie) and John Ryan (from McDermott Will & Emery) will all join the firm’s Tax Group, which began its expansion in 2009 when Bingham merged with McKee Nelson, adding that firm’s highly regarded tax practice.

Kirschenbaum, Williams and Ryan, who will join Bingham in August, bring extensive experience in transfer pricing, tax controversy and international tax matters. Having built their reputations and practices serving substantial clients, with a focus in Silicon Valley and Northern California, they know the special needs and expectations of the growing group of nationally and internationally significant businesses whose primary U.S. presence is in Northern California. At the same time, these new partners will help extend and strengthen Bingham’s existing relationships in the energy, pharmaceutical, insurance, financial services and consumer products industries, among others.

Bingham is already well-regarded for its skill and experience in transfer pricing planning and controversy. “Transfer pricing is a major issue for international companies today, particularly in the high-tech industry,” said partner Craig Sharon, former head of the Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) Program at the Internal Revenue Service who joined the Tax Group in January.

“We are adding three highly regarded tax lawyers who have known and worked with each other and with East Coast-based Bingham tax lawyers for years,” Sharon said. “They’re exceptional lawyers and a great fit for Bingham generally and for our national tax practice specifically. Personally, I couldn’t be more excited to work with Bob, Beth and John in building out Bingham’s West Coast tax practice and our national transfer pricing practice.”

Geoff Howard, managing partner of Bingham’s Northern California offices, noted that these additions also reflect Bingham’s strategy to balance East Coast strength in the tax area with an equally robust West Coast presence. “Bob, Beth and John bring a full complement of tax advisory and controversy experience that pairs well with Bingham’s existing tax practice and the firm’s other practice areas,” said Howard.

Nationally known in the transfer pricing arena, Kirschenbaum focuses on technology companies, particularly those based in Silicon Valley. Before joining his present firm, Kirschenbaum was a partner at Baker & McKenzie in Palo Alto, where he worked closely with Williams. Williams’ practice focuses on federal tax controversy and litigation, including both transfer pricing and general tax controversy. Rounding out the trio is Ryan, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery in Palo Alto. While his practice includes significant controversy work, he is also highly regarded as a transaction planner and adviser.

Bingham, www.bingham.com, focuses on providing market-leading legal services to global and Fortune 100 companies. The firm has 1,100 lawyers in 13 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia.