Seabrook joins Bingham McCutchen in Washington to strengthen tax controversy offering to insurance clients

Bingham McCutchen LLP has expanded the capabilities of its tax group with the hiring of insurance tax lawyer Susan E. Seabrook as a partner in the Washington office.

Joining Bingham from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Seabrook focuses on tax controversy relating to insurance companies, financial institutions, and financial and insurance products. She also advises on tax issues unique to insurance company M&A transactions, reinsurance matters and product issues. Prior to entering private practice, she was an attorney adviser in the National Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service, Financial Institutions and Products, where she served as industry counsel for the life insurance industry and assisted in identifying and developing issues related to insurance company and product tax matters.

“Susan is a talented lawyer who brings exceptional experience and keen perspective to insurance-specific tax matters,” said John Magee, leader of Bingham’s Tax Group, noting that the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury are focusing more on the insurance industry in light of President Obama’s health care law and increased regulation. “Susan’s arrival will further enable us to proactively identify tax controversy issues for clients. She’s a terrific complement to our robust team.”

For Seabrook the attraction to Bingham is the caliber and collaborative culture of its tax lawyers, their deep experience in tax controversy work with major financial institutions, and the firm’s entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by its successful growth from a regional player to a global enterprise in little more than a decade.

Seabrook has successfully resolved tax controversies at all levels of tax administration and in court and has assisted her clients in responding to congressional, regulatory and other governmental inquiries in connection with tax-related issues and provided advice in connection with insurance company or product-related tax implications of complex transactions.