Fraser Milner, the Canadian Law Firm, has hired David Spiro from Blake Cassels.

David practises corporate income and commodity tax litigation in the Tax Court of Canada, Federal Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Canada and the provincial superior courts. He has extensive experience in international tax disputes and tax treaty questions, tax avoidance issues and statutory interpretation. In addition to the litigation side of his practice, David devotes considerable time resolving controversies at the administrative level with federal and provincial tax authorities.

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The future is bleak for perpetrators of federal tax fraud scams, according to Dallas-based plaintiff’s firm, Baron & Budd, P.C., which has announced the establishment of a co-counsel relationship with the former head of the Internal Revenue Service, Margaret Milner Richardson.

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Hogan & Hartson LLP has announced that Olga Boltenko  has joined the firm’s London office as a tax counsel, focusing on UK, Russian, and international tax matters.

Boltenko has substantial experience providing a broad range of tax advice to companies on all stages of transactions, beginning with tax planning and structuring, through preventive tax measures via interactive communication with tax authorities, and finally, in the course of possible disputes with the tax authorities.

“Olga is an outstanding tax lawyer who provides insightful guidance on all tax aspects of investment funds, from establishing and structuring the fund, to debt finance, investments, and exit strategies,” said Garry Pegg, Managing Partner of the London office. “Her experience in preparing companies for IPOs and other fundraising initiatives are highly valuable skills for our firm and the clients we represent.”

Commenting on her move to Hogan & Hartson, Boltenko said: “I am very eager to begin working with my new colleagues at this firm and to offer tax guidance to its clients. This move provides me with the necessary resources along with a global platform to expand my practice.”

Boltenko joins Hogan & Hartson from Dewey & LeBoeuf, where she was a senior associate in the firm’s tax practice, handling international, Russian, and UK tax matters.

Boltenko has degrees from Wolfson College at Cambridge University, majoring in International Tax in 2004, and from the BPP Law School, where she received her degree in 2003. She also earned degrees from the College of Law in London in 2001 and from Saratov Law Academy in 1999. She is a qualified Russian Federation tax inspector and a qualified solicitor of England and Wales. A native of Russia, Boltenko is fluent in English and is a frequent contributor of articles and regularly speaks at conferences on tax issues.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP has announced today that Robert Culbertson, Michael Caballero and Kurt Baca have joined the firm’s Global Tax Practice, in the Washington, D.C. office. The team has extensive international tax planning, controversy resolution, and government experience, and will significantly enhance the firm’s capabilities in international taxation.

Allen & Overy LLP announced today it will open a new office in Munich in October 2008. With its existing offices in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Mannheim, Allen & Overy will be represented in five of Germany’s key economic centres. The new office will be developed by tax partner Dr Gottfried E. Breuninger and M&A partner Dr Astrid Krüger, who will join Allen & Overy.

“The addition of a Munich office significantly bolsters Allen & Overy’s presence in Germany”, comments Dr Cornelius Fischer-Zernin, Senior Partner at Allen & Overy Germany. “The Bavarian state capital is one of the most important locations in the German legal market and is also one of the major European economic centres. A presence on the ground in Munich will enable us to provide an even better service to our clients in the region. Gottfried Breuninger and Astrid Krüger enjoy an excellent reputation in Munich and beyond. They form a great start-up team, which I am convinced will prove a real asset to our practice in Germany.”

Dr Gottfried E. Breuninger specialises in national and international corporate tax law, with a particular focus on M&A transactions and post-acquisition structures, tax-driven restructurings and the tax structuring of hybrid and cross-border financings. Before joining Allen & Overy, he headed the Munich office of Shearman & Sterling for more than three years. Furthermore, he became head of German tax at Shearman & Sterling in 2002 and co-head of their global tax group last year.

Dr Astrid Krüger also joins Allen & Overy from Shearman’s Munich office, where she has been a partner since 2006. She specialises in national and cross-border M&A transactions, as well as in corporate restructurings and in the implementation of tax structurings.

“Astrid Krüger perfectly complements our existing M&A practice. By winning her for our team, we have clearly demonstrated both to our clients and our competitors that we are committed to continuing to pursue our strategy of expanding our corporate/M&A practice”, says partner Dr Helge Schäfer, head of Allen & Overy’s corporate practice in Germany.

Partner Eugen Bogenschütz, head of Allen & Overy’s German tax practice, adds: “I am very pleased that Gottfried Breuninger has decided to join our team. The arrival of one of the leading German tax-law experts presents a unique opportunity for us to strengthen our international tax practice.”

Last year Allen & Overy increased its presence in Germany with the addition of two new offices in Düsseldorf and Mannheim. Cornelius Fischer-Zernin adds: “The integration of our Düsseldorf and Mannheim teams into our German practice and our international network has been extremely successful. I am convinced that the integration of the Munich office will be just as smooth.”

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Morrison & Foerster LLP has announced that noted tax lawyer Joseph Fletcher has joined the firm as a partner in its national tax department, based in the San Francisco office. Mr. Fletcher has 18 years of tax law experience, and focuses on corporate and international taxation issues.Mr. Fletcher has advised Fortune 500 companies as well as start-ups on all aspects of corporate and partnership taxation. He counsels on a wide range of tax matters including: corporate and partnership business formation; formation and taxation of venture capital and investment funds; and cross-border acquisition of foreign companies by U.S.-based or foreign-based multinational corporations. Mr. Fletcher regularly advises companies on tax issues that arise in connection with securities offerings, as well as the licensing and sale of intellectual property.

Mr. Fletcher will be active in Morrison & Foerster’s cross-border tax practice, providing tax-planning and organizational strategies to clients with multinational ownership and operations. “A significant amount of client tax work in our San Francisco office arises from cross-border business relationships,” said Thomas A. Humphreys, co-chair of the Tax Department and head of the firm’s Federal Tax Practice Group. “Joe has a thorough understanding of U.S. tax implications associated with international M & A and corporate restructurings, as well as IP transactions. We’re happy to welcome him, and are certain he’ll enhance the firm’s tax capabilities in key markets in Asia and Europe.”

An educator and frequent speaker on business tax issues, Mr. Fletcher teaches tax law at Golden Gate University, as an adjunct professor in the Master of Laws in Taxation Program. He has taught courses such as “Taxation of Mergers and Acquisitions” and “Taxation of Intellectual Property.” Mr. Fletcher was also a panelist on the topic of “Living With Emboldened Tax Authorities: International Trends in Tax Investigations and Audits,” as part of the April 2008 Inter-Pacific Bar Association Annual Conference. He will speak at New York University’s 67th Institute on Federal Taxation on November 13. His expected topic: “By the Numbers: Coping with U.S. Tax Reporting for International Matters.”

He was formerly a partner in the San Francisco office of Holland & Knight LLP.

Mr. Fletcher earned his LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University (1993), and his J.D. from the University of San Diego Law School (1990), where he was senior editor of the Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues. He received a B.A. in biology (with a minor in chemistry) from the University of Pennsylvania (1986). Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Fletcher was a trial attorney for the Internal Revenue Service.

John M. Breen has joined Caplin & Drysdale’s Washington, D.C. office. His practice focuses on international tax issues involving transfer pricing planning and controversies.

Prior to joining Caplin & Drysdale, Mr. Breen was Chief of Branch 6 in the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (International) at the Internal Revenue Service, which has responsibility for transfer pricing matters and related issues.Click here for more details.

Olswang is celebrating the promotion of 10 new partners to the Firm, the highest number ever made up collectively. Elected to the Firm’s Corporate, Litigation and Media, Communications and Technology Groups, the appointments will take effect from 1 May 2008.

Olswang’s new partners include Natasha Kaye (pictured) - Natasha advises on a wide variety of tax issues including corporate sales and acquisitions, re-organisations, private equity transactions, employment tax issues and employee incentivisation packages. She also advises on real estate tax matters such as property investment and stamp duty land tax.

Reed Smith LLP has announced the addition of Craig P. Tanner to its firmwide Tax, Benefits & Wealth Planning Group.  He is resident in the firm’s San Francisco office, where his practice focuses on global compensation and human resources matters for multinational corporations.

“Craig is among the pioneers in the global compensation field,” said John Martini, Head of Reed Smith’s Tax Benefits and Wealth Planning Group.  “His significant experience in the global compensation field is ideally suited to meet the needs of our expanding global client base with operations in numerous countries, at a time when demand for expertise in this area is definitely increasing.”

On global compensation matters, Mr. Tanner works with clients on the design and implementation of equity-based compensation programs, including options, purchase rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights, as well as salary and cash bonus programs.  He regularly advises on the tax, securities, employment, currency exchange, and communications issues that the companies encounter when offering these programs to employees, directors, and consultants throughout the world.  He also advises clients on U.S. and cross-border compensation issues arising in mergers and acquisitions.

On human resources matters, Mr. Tanner advises companies on a wide variety of issues including codes of conduct, data privacy, employment agreements, entitlements, leaves of absence, reductions in force, and works councils.  These human resources matters typically involve transferring employees, cross-border employees, contingent workers, and consultants.

“The opportunity to play a key role in further developing a top tier global compensation practice comes along once in a lifetime,” said Mr. Tanner.  “As Reed Smith expands into major markets worldwide, providing this kind of support and helping its clients ensure their compensation programs and related resources are competitive in the global economy is going to add tremendous value.”

Mr. Tanner began his career as a litigator before transitioning his practice to the global compensation field.  He was a member of the team at Baker & McKenzie in San Francisco that launched one of the first global compensation practices in the nation. Prior to joining Reed Smith, he was a partner in the Corporate and Securities practice group at DLA Piper.

“Craig is a well-respected leader in the executive compensation field,” said David A. Thompson, Reed Smith’s San Francisco Managing Partner.  “He is another great addition to the exceptional team we have in the Bay Area.”

Mr. Tanner earned his JD from the University of San Francisco in 1993, and his BS from the University of Colorado at Boulder, in 1988.  He is a member of National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (NASPP), the Global Equity Organization (GEO), WorldAtWork, and the Bay Area Compensation Association (BACA).  Mr. Tanner has published and presented widely on topics related to global compensation and human resources issues.

He is the second attorney to join Reed Smith’s firmwide Tax, Benefits and Wealth Planning Group this month.  Angelo Ciavarella, a federal income tax specialist, joined the firm’s New York office on March 3.

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, with more than 1,600 lawyers in 23 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises.  Its attorneys provide litigation services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high stake disputes, deliver regulatory counsel, and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions.  Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising and media, shipping, international trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education.  For more information, visit reedsmith.com

U.S.: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Century City, Richmond

Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Birmingham, Greece

Middle East:  Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing