David Burton Joins Akin Gump’s Tax and Project Finance and Renewable Energy Practices
Contact:
(New York) David Burton has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as a partner in the firm’s tax and project finance and renewable energy practices.
Previously, Mr. Burton served as managing director and senior tax counsel at GE Energy Financial Services, one of the world’s leading investors in energy projects. During his tenure there, investments in wind, solar, hydro, biomass and geothermal power grew to $6 billion, making it the largest tax-advantaged energy investor in the U.S.
Mr. Burton is one of the leading lawyers in the U.S. in structuring tax-driven vehicles for renewable energy assets, including flip partnerships, sale-leasebacks, inverted leases and other structures. His experience includes overseeing all tax aspects, from structuring transactions to accounting for taxes to formulating tax policy initiatives.
Stuart Leblang, co-head of Akin Gump’s tax practice, stated, “Companies engaged in large-scale renewable energy projects are presented with many nuanced tax-related issues. Having someone of David’s caliber on our team, who has years of experience addressing those issues, will be a real boon to our tax and project finance practices and our clients.”
“David will be a tremendous addition to the firm’s deep bench of talented lawyers,” added Adam Umanoff, co-head of Akin Gump’s project finance and renewable energy practice. “The depth of knowledge that he brings to the table, particularly in the realm of renewable energy, will be a perfect complement to our practice.”
Mr. Burton stated, “Akin Gump is well-positioned in the project finance and renewable energy space, and it’s exciting to have the opportunity to apply my own unique set of skills to such a dynamic practice.”
Before joining GE Energy Financial Services, Mr. Burton held other positions in the GE Capital tax organization. From 1996 to 2000, he was a tax lawyer at a large international law firm in Philadelphia.
Mr. Burton is an active member of the tax committees of the American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industry Association. He also is a member of the tax committee of the Equipment Leasing & Financing Association.
Mr. Burton received his B.A. magna cum laude from Ithaca College in 1993 and his J.D. cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1996. He is a member of the New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey state bars.
Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, is a leading international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
# # #
