Baker & McKenzie LLP issued the following announcement on Feb. 14.
Christopher Hanna has joined Baker McKenzie’s Tax Practice as a Counsel in Dallas, bringing 30 years of experience in handling tax policy and planning, having served most recently as a senior policy advisor for the US Senate Committee on Finance. In that role, Christopher was one of the key architects of the recent US tax reform.
Based in Dallas, Christopher will join Baker McKenzie’s tax policy team, advising clients across the country on the new tax reform rules as they relate to tax planning, global structures, intellectual property and supply chains.
"Christopher’s unique insight into the US tax reform and his experience on the Hill will be invaluable to us and our clients," said Melinda Phelan, Chair of the Firm's North America Tax Practice. "We are excited about expanding our tax policy practice with a top-flight practitioner like Christopher.”
In addition to Christopher’s tax reform work, he also served as a consultant to the Joint Committee on Taxation advising on Congressionally-mandated tax projects and is a well-known and tenured tax professor at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, where he has been named the Alan D. Feld Endowed Professor of Law and Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor.
Baker McKenzie’s Global Tax Practice is one of the most highly regarded and largest tax groups in the world. Ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global for its work in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, clients and industry peers recognize the quality tax advice provided worldwide. Baker McKenzie’s tax practice expertly covers all aspects of tax planning and transactions, global tax policy, transfer pricing, indirect and state and local taxes, dispute resolution (both administrative and litigation), and wealth management matters.
Added Robert Albaral, the Firm's Dallas Office Managing Partner, "Christopher has a dynamic personality and his academic and government experience will immediately benefit our clients across the globe. As a long time, tenured SMU Law professor, he also is very well respected in the in the Dallas legal community.”
"I am excited to enter private practice and work at Baker McKenzie, a firm known for exceptional client service and strategic legal and business advising," Christopher said.
Baker McKenzie has added more than 40 partners in North America over the last two years, as it continues to strengthen its presence in key markets. Christopher is the latest in a series of prominent hires, which include tax and employment lawyer Michael Jaffe, tax controversy partner Erin Gladney, project finance lawyer Emeka Chinwuba, and bankruptcy attorney Blaire Cahn.
Christopher received his BS in accounting from The University of Florida, his JD from the University of Florida College of Law and his LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.
Original source can be found here.