Michael Lebovitz

Practice Areas

With 40 years of experience, Mike provides strategic international business and tax counsel to multinational clients around the world.

Mike advises on the tax aspects of international joint ventures, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, post-transaction integration, international corporate finance, capital market transactions and general international tax planning matters. He regularly counsels clients across multiple industries including life sciences, media and entertainment, telecom, technology, oil and gas, and industrial and consumer products. Mike has successfully led teams advising multinational restructurings in advance of a sale or spin-off of a division, as well as designing and implementing integration plans following a global merger or acquisition. Mike has led integration teams in over 100 countries. Mike also works with companies on intellectual property and supply chain planning in connection with transactions, US and Global Tax Reform and overall business operations.

A frequent speaker on international tax matters, Mike has lectured throughout the United States, Europe and Asia for organizations including the Tax Executives Institute, International Fiscal Association (IFA), IBFD, IBA and Bloomberg/BNA. Mike has written frequently on international tax topics, and his articles have appeared in numerous publications in the US and Europe. Mike is ranked by Chambers USA in the Tax – Southern California category. Chambers states, "He has a fantastic ability to provide a big-picture view on extremely complex structures." He has also been recognized in Legal 500 as a leading international tax advisor.

In addition, Mike focuses on international philanthropy matters advising international nonprofits and foundations on cross-border governance and fundraising issues. He participates extensively in international pro bono matters. Mike’s notable projects include advising a West African country on income tax treaty negotiations, leading a consortium developing a toolkit for the taxation of the African mining industry as well as leading a global team reporting on the legislative and judicial processes to combat the illegal trade in wildlife. He also designed and led the instruction of a course on international taxation for the law school at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. Mike is in the national Executive Committee of IFA and is serves on the Tax Advisory Board of the International Senior Lawyers Project.

Mike is an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law in Washington DC and USC Gould School of Law in Los Angeles.