Gordon Warnke and Joseph Pari join Linklaters’ US Tax Practice from Dewey & LeBoeuf

Leading global law firm Linklaters announced that Gordon Warnke and Joseph Pari have joined the firm’s U.S. tax practice as partners effective May 1, 2012. Gordon will be head of the New York tax practice. Additionally, Francisco Duque, a U.S. tax associate at Linklaters, has been appointed to counsel.

Both Gordon and Joseph were partners at Dewey & LeBoeuf and are leaders in their field having worked on a significant number of high profile and cutting edge transactions over the years.

Gordon and Joseph’s extensive experience includes advising on the federal income tax aspects of domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs and other divestitures. Their capability also encompasses restructurings and workouts, financial products and the taxation of foreign governmental entities. Highlights of recent matters on which they have worked include MetLife, Inc.’s purchase of American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) from AIG, a US$16bn acquisition involving numerous jurisdictions; Applied Material, Inc.’s US$4.9bn acquisition of Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.; EnCana Corporation’s US$25bn spinoff of Cenovus Energy Inc.; The Walt Disney Company’s US$4bn acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Inc.; the disposition by General Electric Company and NBC Universal of an interest in the Sundance Channel; and the restructuring of Capmark Financial Group Inc., which at the time of its bankruptcy filing had estimated liabilities in excess of US$20bn.

Linklaters’ New York Co-Managing Partner Jeff Norton said:

“Gordon and Joseph are great additions to our U.S. tax team. They are both recognized by their clients and peers as top U.S. tax advisors. Their robust industry experience and dynamic leadership skills will enhance our U.S. law practice as a whole. We look forward to their contributions to the firm.”

Henk Vanhulle, Linklaters’ Global Head of Tax, said:

“The appointment of Gordon and Joseph will broaden the firm’s already strong global tax practice and further cement our reputation of meeting clients’ needs on all aspects of cross-border advisory and transactional matters in the U.S. and throughout the world.”

Gordon was the chair of Dewey & LeBoeuf’s tax department and has been recognized by Chambers USA, Legal 500, The Best Lawyers in America, New York Super Lawyers and other publications as among the leading individuals in tax in the U.S. He is a frequent speaker on federal income tax topics and has authored a number of articles and reports on various tax issues. He has also chaired or co-chaired a number of tax committees of the American and New York State Bar Associations.

Joseph, who will be working primarily from Washington, D.C., has held numerous committee and advisory board positions with the American and Federal Bar Associations, as well as other prominent tax councils and publications. He has been selected for inclusion as a leader in the field of tax law by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal, The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, Washington D.C. Super Lawyers, and was recently named Washington D.C. Tax Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers 2012.

In the U.S., Linklaters has built a full service team of more than 150 U.S. lawyers in New York and around 80 U.S. lawyers in eight other major jurisdictions around the globe.