Former Associate International Tax Counsel Joins Akin Gump

(New York, NY) -- Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. announced today that Stuart E. Leblang, former Associate International Tax Counsel at the U.S. Department of Treasury, has joined the firm’s tax practice as a partner and will divide his time between the New York and Washington offices. Mr. Leblang will focus on all aspects of tax law, including planning and negotiation of domestic and international business transactions, corporate and financial tax counseling, and representation of clients on tax legislative and policy issues before the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Treasury and other federal agencies.

During his tenure at the Treasury, Mr. Leblang was involved in legislative and regulatory developments in the international arena. He initiated and developed a number of international provisions contained in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, including provisions relating to foreign tax credits, passive foreign investment companies and the taxation of foreign investors. Mr. Leblang also played a central role in the creation and development of the international tax provisions contained in the President’s 1998 Budget Proposal as well as a number of international regulatory projects. In addition, he has spoken extensively on issues relating to international tax policy.

Prior to working at the Treasury, Mr. Leblang worked in Akin Gump’s New York office and at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in its New York and London offices. He earned his B.A. from Cornell University in 1987 and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 1990. While at Columbia, Mr. Leblang was a James Kent Scholar and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar as well as a coordinator of the Columbia Moot Court Program.

“The future will be driven by the continued growth of international trade and investment,” said Mr. Leblang. “I am thrilled to return to Akin Gump, a firm with the experience, resources and savvy to enhance its clients’ ability to capitalize on the opportunities available in the global marketplace.”

“We are extremely pleased to have Stuart back at Akin Gump as a partner,” said Patrick Fenn, head of the firm’s tax practice in New York. “During his tenure at the Treasury Department, he participated in the formulation of significant initiatives affecting U.S. international tax policy. Stuart will expand our capability to provide our clients with tax advice on cross-border transactions and financial products, and will bring a new dimension to the New York practice in providing valuable input into tax legislation and policy issues of interest to our clients.”

Founded in 1945, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., a leading international law firm, numbers 720 lawyers with offices in Austin, Brussels, Dallas, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio and Washington. The firm has a diversified practice and represents regional, national and international clients in a wide range of areas, including antitrust; banking and financial institutions; bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights; capital markets; communications; corporate and securities; employee benefits; energy; entertainment; environmental; food and drug; government contracts; health; insurance; intellectual property; international; investment management; labor and employment; litigation; mergers and acquisitions; privatization; project finance; public law and policy; real estate and finance; taxation; technology; and trademark. For additional information, please visit our Web site at http://www.akingump.com.