Akin Gump Expanding to Geneva

(Washington, D.C.) – Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP will open an office in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 1, 2010, expanding its international footprint further into Western Europe. 

Charles C. Adams Jr. will head the new office and will be joined by partners Jonathan Ivinson and Michael J. Stepek, along with a team of four other lawyers.  The office has extensive experience in the prosecution and defense of major claims brought in international arbitrations; international civil litigation matters before various national and international courts and institutions; corporate and commercial law; and tax optimization for multinational corporates and high-net-worth individuals.  The group joins Akin Gump from Hogan & Hartson. 

R. Bruce McLean, Akin Gump’s chairman, said, “Market conditions and client demand have created significant opportunities for our international arbitration and tax practices in Europe.  Charles, Jonathan and Michael will complement and strengthen our existing capabilities in these areas.  We are very pleased to welcome them and their team to the firm.”

Rick L. Burdick, managing partner for international operations and head of Akin Gump’s international corporate transactions practice, added, “Geneva complements our existing international capabilities and strengthens our brand in international arbitration while providing us with the ability to better serve clients with our added international tax capabilities.  The combined expertise of Charles, Michael and Jonathan and their long-established practices in Geneva are tremendous assets that will enhance our ability to advise our clients and provide us with the opportunity to explore future possibilities in the areas of international trade and investment funds.” 

“We are excited to be part of Akin Gump’s international expansion efforts,” said Mr. Adams.  “We look forward to bringing our capabilities and standards to bear in international arbitration, international tax planning, and Swiss corporate and commercial law to benefit the firm’s world-class client base.”

With more than 35 years of experience in international law, Mr. Adams focuses primarily on complex, high-value international disputes involving major infrastructure construction projects, joint ventures, insurance coverage, manufacturing, telecommunications and transportation.  He represents U.S. and foreign multinational corporations and governmental entities in major international arbitrations.

Mr. Stepek’s practice encompasses international arbitration, international public and private law, and trade, with a particular focus on disputes involving foreign direct investment; concession agreements; major infrastructure construction projects; and joint ventures in the petroleum, power generation, telecommunications and transportation industries.  His clients include multinational corporations and governmental entities.

Mr. Ivinson’s practice focuses on international and domestic tax issues, with an emphasis on tax-efficient cross-border financing structures.  Mr. Ivinson advises multinational corporations on the tax-efficient structuring of their international operations and transfer pricing issues, as well as on value-added tax (VAT) and customs duties.  He also assists in the planning and implementation of tax-driven structures and has a growing practice in representing clients in disputes with the Inland Revenue.  His clients include a broad range of companies and individuals in the telecommunications, financial, private equity, entertainment and technology sectors. 

Akin Gump’s Geneva office will be located at 3, rue François Bellot, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland. 

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a leading international law firm, numbers more than 800 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 

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