Jean Pawlow joins Latham & Watkins’ Tax Controversy team
Latham & Watkins has announced that Jean Pawlow has joined the firm’s Tax Controversy Practice as a member of the Washington, D.C. and Silicon Valley offices. She is a prominent trial lawyer with a track record of success in large tax cases for financial institutions, retailers, technology companies, and industrial manufacturers.
Pawlow’s practice covers a broad range of tax controversy matters, including transfer pricing issues, tax accounting and insurance tax matters, tax-advantaged transactions, tax treatment of financial instruments, foreign tax credit and research credit issues, and leveraged leases, as well as credit card interchange and original issue discount matters. She has led tax cases in the federal trial and appellate courts, drawing on her extensive experience in administrative tax disputes (including audits and appeals), as well as alternative dispute resolution.
Miriam Fisher, Global Chair of Latham’s Tax Controversy Practice, said: “I’ve been fortunate to know Jean since early in her career. So I can say with confidence that she will be a great addition to our team as we continue to broaden our capabilities in large-scale tax litigation with her impressive range of tax controversy experience and skills.”
Michael Egge, Office Managing Partner of Latham in Washington, D.C., added: “Latham has a formidable group of trial lawyers who guide clients through their toughest tax disputes. The addition of another recognized, experienced litigator such as Jean further enhances the practice’s depth and ability to deliver extraordinary results for clients both in and out of the courtroom.”
Nicholas J. DeNovio, Global Chair of Latham’s International Tax Practice, said: “International tax, including of course transfer pricing, is the dominant area of the tax compliance and controversy issues our globalized clients must navigate, and Jean is one of the leading practitioners in the field. Tax controversy is not just about handling disputes with the IRS over prior years, but also about helping clients make judgments about structures and deals today, and this trend will increase with the complexities and ambiguities of the international provisions in the new Tax Cuts & Jobs Act.”
Pawlow joins Latham from McDermott Will & Emery. She is the latest prominent lawyer to join Latham’s Tax Department in the last year, following the arrival of Andrew Strelka in Washington, D.C. and Elena Romanova in New York.
“I’m honored to be joining Latham’s talented team of tax controversy lawyers,” Pawlow said. “The firm provides me an exciting opportunity to further expand my practice. In particular, I look forward to contributing to a globally integrated team that ensures top-quality, consistent results for clients, regardless of their location.”
Pawlow received her law degree from Harvard in 1988, cum laude, and her BS from Berkeley in 1985, with high honors. She is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and serves on the Tax Committee of the US Court of Federal Claims Advisory Council. Pawlow also serves on the Tax Advisory Board of the San Jose State University Lucas College and Graduate School of Business.