© 2012 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook
Gardere Wynne Sewell’s Houston office has added a new partner to its tax practice group.
James Howard comes to Gardere from Locke Lord with many years of experience in international and domestic tax matters. His practice will include international and business tax, securities and finance. He will especially focus on evaluating tax consequences for companies and individuals, including those related to debt restructuring, repatriation, and the formation of companies, partnerships and joint ventures.
His client base includes those in the oilfield service, private equity and real estate industries. In the past he has represented a number of management teams in the energy industry in their negotiations with private equity sponsors and their relationships with customers, vendors, banks and other financing sources.
Last year, Howard was corporate counsel for Houston-based Continental Alloys & Services when it sold its outstanding capital securities and certain affiliated companies to Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. for $415 million – an important transaction according to Howard since Continental has operations in seven different countries.
In regard to the current issues in his practice, Howard said tax issues will remain in the spotlight since many tax provisions that are set to expire will be major issues discussed in the elections.
“Taxation of the energy industry and its products will always be important issues in Texas,” he said. “On a national level, many multinational companies moving their headquarters outside the United States have received a lot of attention in the press. I think for the next few years, we will just have to see how Congress and the Administration address these issues, among others, and advise our clients how best to react to any changes to minimize the impact, both financial and operational, on their businesses.”
Howard received his J.D. from the South Texas College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
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