Jeff has broad tax planning experience, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, international restructurings, and joint ventures. Jeff represents US and foreign-based multinational companies doing business globally with all aspects of tax issues arising from their global businesses. Jeff is a member of the American College of Tax Counsel and is Band I ranked in Chambers in Florida for Tax and Tax Controversy. Jeff is also a certified public accountant.
Summer also has extensive experience advising clients on various tax planning issues and has represented US and foreign multinationals on international transactions, internal restructurings and a host of US tax issues. Summer currently serves as the chairperson of the ABA Tax Section’s inbound tax committee and teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Florida’s LL.M. Tax Program. She has represented clients before the United States Tax Court, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Treasury.
“Jeff and Summer are outstanding additions to our market-leading Tax practice,” said Melinda Phelan, Chair of Baker McKenzie’s North America Tax Practice. “They bring significant tax planning and transactional expertise that will be immediately valuable to many of our clients in Miami and beyond. We are so pleased to add them to our team.”
Jeff and Summer join the Firm’s Miami office following the launch of Baker McKenzie’s US-based Latin America Practice. The Firm’s location in Miami serves as a bridge to Baker McKenzie’s extensive platform and experience as the largest global law firm in Latin America. From Miami, Baker McKenzie’s practitioners provide cross-market insights for clients doing business in the Americas and beyond.
“Many of our clients rely on our prime location in Miami as they execute transactions across the Americas,” said Scott Brandman, Managing Partner of the Firm’s New York and Miami offices. “Jeff and Summer’s deep international tax experience will be highly valuable to clients on these major cross-border projects.”
Baker McKenzie’s Tax Practice is one of the most highly rated and recommended among law firms worldwide. With more 300 practitioners in North America and more than 1,000 globally, the Firm’s Tax group is known for the quality of its tax advice in transactions worldwide, as well as in global tax policy, transfer pricing, indirect taxes, dispute resolution, and wealth management matters.
“We are committed to providing business-focused solutions for our clients as they navigate an array of complex tax regulations around the world,” said Colin Murray, Baker McKenzie’s North American Chief Executive Officer. “Jeff and Summer enhance our already strong tax capabilities so we can continue providing the superior tax offerings our clients expect.”
Jeff received his BS and MA from the University of Florida and his JD from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law. He also received his LL.M. from New York University. Jeff previously worked as an associate at Baker McKenzie from 2001 to 2003.
Summer received her BA and MBA from the University of Miami and her JD and LL.M. from the University of Florida.
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. In the tax practice, recent additions include state and local tax partners Mark Yopp and Mike Shaikh, US Senate tax policy advisor Christopher Hanna and tax controversy partner Erin Gladney.
