Elinore J. Richardson moves to Vienna to lead CEE/SEE tax services at Wolf Theiss
Elinore J. Richardson, one of Canada’s leading corporate tax lawyers, will join Wolf Theiss, ranked as Austrian Tax Law Firm of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2011 by International Tax Review and will lead its tax practice in a move which will bolster the firm’s international offering to its clients throughout the CEE/SEE Region.
Wolf Theiss is pleased to announce that Elinore J. Richardson, consistently ranked as one of Canada’s leading tax lawyers and recognized in the fields of international tax planning, M&A and corporate finance as well as structured finance, has joined the firm as a partner where she will co-head the firm’s tax practice in its various offices in Vienna and the CEE/SEE Region. It is intended that Miss Richardson will be based in the Vienna office of Wolf Theiss but will divide her time, as necessary, to support the corporate and tax practices in the firm’s other offices.
Miss Richardson is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law where she earned her J.D. in 1970. She is a member of the Bars of Ontario, Quebec and the State of New York and a Solicitor for England and Wales.
Miss Richardson is Co-Chair of the International Taxes Committee of the American Bar Association, Section of International Law, a former Member of Council and Co-Chair of the Taxes Committee of the International Bar Association, Legal Practice Division and a former Officer (Vice Chair, Professional Services), Council Director and Officer of several Committees and of the Foreign Lawyers Forum (of which she was a founding member) of the American Bar Association, Section of Taxation. Miss Richardson is, currently, a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.
Miss Richardson, a former senior tax partner of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, headed the international tax practice at that firm and during 2008-2009 also assumed the role of National Tax Practice Co-Head, leading the firm’s tax practice in advising international clients in structuring cross-border investments, financing, M&A, post-merger consolidation and reorganization strategies. Miss Richardson also adds to her technical skills in corporate taxation, her expertise in treaty interpretation and application. She, in 2010, co-authored a book with Larissa Tkachenko and Stephanie Wong entitled Taxation of Financing Arrangements which has been published by Carswell, a division of Thomson Reuters Canada Limited and is geared to advising the non-resident both investing capital into Canada and seeking to utilize Canadian capital markets to raise financing.
Miss Richardson currently serves as the President of the Institute for International Taxation, Inc. a not-for-profit company, which, with the American Bar Association, Section of Taxation, the International Bar Association, Taxes Committee, the USA branch of the International Fiscal Association and the American Bar Association, Section of International Law, International Taxes Committee co-sponsors two international tax conferences annually, US-Europe Tax Planning Strategies in Europe and US-Latin American Tax Planning Strategies in Miami. The Institute also offers scholarships to young lawyers interested in pursuing a career in international tax and serves as a platform for the exchange of information on a wide variety of international tax subjects.
Niklas Schmidt, tax partner at Wolf Theiss, who was instrumental in attracting Miss Richardson to the firm, remarks “Elinore is a pre-eminent force in the tax area, advising on national and international tax issues. Her addition to the Wolf Theiss team is particularly important as international tax issues often constitute a key driver in corporate and commercial transactions, as well as complex project structuring. Elinore will continue the development of our tax practice with a core focus on international tax planning through the use of entities and structuring relying on both domestic law and double tax treaties for investors wishing to access opportunities in or through CEE/SEE countries to expand their global business operations. The Wolf Theiss tax team looks forward to adding to its ability to service clients through Elinore’s proven expertise and longstanding experience.”
Elinore Richardson is “excited about her new role and delighted to be able to contribute to the growth of the international tax practice of the most dynamic firm in the region”.