Houston tax controversy expert Shawn O’Brien has lateraled to McDermott Will & Emery, the firm announced Wednesday.
O’Brien was previously the co-head of the energy tax practice at Mayer Brown. He represents clients in tax examinations, administrative appeals and litigation. A few of his recent matters include:
- Representing a major energy company in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims related to the company’s eligibility for tax credits to produce crude oil from tar sands.
- Arguing on behalf of a publicly traded multinational oil and gas exploration and production company in the U.S. Tax Court related to foreign tax credits and deductions.
- Providing tax advice to a foreign-based airline involving the federal excise taxes applicable to air transportation services.
Timothy Shulman, global head of McDermott’s tax practice, said O’Brien has become a “trusted advisor” to clients in the energy, renewables and manufacturing industries and his work will “further strengthen our unique tax controversy platform, which serves a full range of high-value tax issues facing our clients.”
McDermott has been on a growth surge in Texas, jumping from 38 lawyers to 56 lawyers in the state in 2022, one of the largest percentage increases in headcount that year by a corporate firm according to Texas Lawbook 50 research.
“McDermott recognizes the importance of investing in the Texas market — a priority that aligns with growing my practice,” O’Brien said in a statement.
O’Brien is a former member of the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council, where he served for three years and was chair of the Large Business & International subgroup. IRSAC provides the IRS Commissioner and division leadership with important feedback, observations and suggestions.
O’Brien received his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College and his LL.M. in taxation from New York University. He started his legal career at Fulbright & Jaworski in 1998 and practiced there for 12 years. He also had a brief two-year stop at Jackson Walker before his tenure at Mayer Brown.