Alston & Bird has expanded its federal and international tax capabilities with the addition of veteran tax attorney Richard Slowinski as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Slowinski joins from Baker McKenzie, where he practiced for more than 25 years and served in key leadership roles, including chair of the Washington Office Tax Practice and member of the firm’s North American Transfer Pricing Steering Committee.

“Richard is a marquee tax lawyer who attracts high-value mandates from a broad range of clients,” said Kendall Houghton, co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Tax Practice and a member of the firm’s Partners Committee. “I have had the privilege of working with Richard and seeing firsthand the sophisticated perspective he brings to cross-border tax issues and his exceptional ability to combine advice with common sense and business sensitivity.”

Slowinski focuses his practice on international taxation, with an emphasis on global tax planning and controversies involving transfer pricing in a broad range of areas, including examinations, administrative appeals, competent authority, advance pricing agreements, intellectual property (IP) migration, e-commerce, digital transactions, financing, and joint ventures. Non-tax matters include start-up IP-related issues, corporate compliance, labor, and restructurings.

Among his clients, Slowinski counts both U.S. and foreign companies across a number of industries – ranging from electrical equipment and electronics, automobiles, and hospitality, to financial services, e-commerce, and pharmaceuticals.

“Richard’s arrival marks a significant milestone for our practice and our clients,” said Henry Birnkrant, co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Tax Practice and leader of the Transfer Pricing Team. “As we continue to grow our practice as one of the largest and most respected among U.S. law firms, it is critically important for our clients that we have the type of leadership, talent, and experience Richard offers.”

Named one of the “World’s Leading Lawyers” by the International Tax Review and recognized by Euromoney’s Expert Guide for Transfer Pricing, Slowinski is a frequent commentator on cross-border tax issues at forums sponsored by the Tax Executives Institute, Japan Tax Association, American Bar Association, and Federal Bar Association, for which he has also served as co-chair of its Tax Law Conference (International Tax) since 2013. In addition, governments and business associations call on Slowinski to provide advice and insight on how tax changes may impact businesses and investment.

“As businesses and taxpayers continue to digest the 2017 tax law and presidential candidates make taxes a focus of their campaigns, there is significant demand for tax advisors who are fully fluent in the legal issues at play,” said Dennis Garris, partner in charge of Alston & Bird’s Washington, D.C. office. “Having an attorney of Richard’s profile and stature reflects the exceptional talent our clients seek not only in tax but also in other areas where our office has top-end practices, including antitrust, capital markets and M&A, energy, government contracts, health care, legislative and public policy, and international trade.”

Slowinski is the most recent addition to Alston & Bird’s Washington, D.C. office. He follows Jane Lucas, who joined last month from the White House as counsel in the office’s public policy and health care groups.