30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
United States of America

+1 (212) 408-5388
wcavanagh@chadbourne.com
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William G. Cavanagh

Partner

Practice Description

Bill Cavanagh focuses on corporate, partnership, private equity and international tax matters. He advises a broad array of U.S. and multinational clients on a wide variety of U.S. and cross-border tax issues. In recent years, he has worked extensively with clients in structuring and negotiating and implementing significant domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, project finance transactions, securities offerings, private equity deals, financial products and securitized loan transactions. He has also represented clients in numerous tax controversy disputes with the Internal Revenue Service and with various state and local tax authorities.

Honors

Mr. Cavanagh is recognized as a leading corporate tax lawyer by Law Business Research Limited’s Who’s Who Legal – The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (2006 and 2007). He is also cited in Best Lawyers in America (2006-2008) and New York Super Lawyers (2006 and 2007), as well as in Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Tax Advisers.

Activities and Affiliations

  • Board of Advisors: New York University Institute on Federal Taxation
  • Chair:
    • 65th Annual New York University Institute on Federal Taxation, 2006
    • International Bar Association program on “Spin-offs and Split-ups” (Barcelona, Spain), 1999
    • 57th Annual New York University Institute on Federal Taxation, 1998
    • International Bar Association program on “Negotiating Stock Purchase Agreements” (Paris, France), 1995
  • Member: International Bar Association; American Bar Association; New York State Bar Association

Publications

  • "IRS Excludes CFO From $1 Million Tax Deduction Limit on Compensation Paid by Public Companies," Client Alert, June 18, 2007
  • Tax and Tax-Related Provisions of U.S. Stock Purchase Agreements, Practicing Law Institute, October 2006
  • "Substance, Form and Subchapter C: A Modest (Simplification) Proposal," Tax Forum, February 2006
  • "There’s Always More to Learn About Corporate Tax: Selected Subchapter C Transactions," Tax Review, December 2005
  • "What Happens When Tax Mistakes are Made: Equity in the Tax Law," The Tax Club, November 2005
  • "IRS Excludes CFO From $1 Million Tax Deduction Limit on Compensation Paid by Public Companies," Client Alert, June 18, 2007
  • Tax and Tax-Related Provisions of U.S. Stock Purchase Agreements, Practicing Law Institute, October 2006
  • "Substance, Form and Subchapter C: A Modest (Simplification) Proposal," Tax Forum, February 2006
  • "There’s Always More to Learn About Corporate Tax: Selected Subchapter C Transactions," Tax Review, December 2005
  • "What Happens When Tax Mistakes are Made: Equity in the Tax Law," The Tax Club, November 2005
  • "Hot Tax Topics: Selected Current Federal and State Tax Planning and Tax Litigation Issues," 64th Annual New York University Institute on Federal Taxation, October 2005
  • "Tax Issues for Troubled Corporations," New York University Graduate Tax Workshop, February 2005
  • "Restructuring the Corporate Group: Selected Tax Issues," Tax Forum, March 2002
  • "There’s Gold in Them Thar’ Hills (And Some Fool’s Gold Too): State Tax Planning Opportunities and Pitfalls," Tax Review, October 2001
  • "From Paper Tiger to Paper Millionaire: Executive Compensation in the Millennium: Selected Tax (and Accounting) Planning Opportunities and Issues," The Tax Club, November 2000
  • "M&A Deal Structures – What’s Hot and What’s Not – A Strategic Tax Perspective," Tax Executives Institute, Inc. (New York Chapter), May 2000

[ more publications ]
 

Practice Areas

Tax

Private Funds

Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits

Industries

Consumer Products

Food and Beverages

Regions

North America

United States

Canada

Education

  • Syracuse University, B.A., 1972
  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1975
  • New York University School of Law, LL.M., 1979

Professional Background

  • Clerk to Judge Arthur L. Nims, III, of the U.S. Tax Court, 1979-1980 
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Fordham University School of Law, 1985

Admissions

1975

District of Columbia

1980

New York

1978

U.S. Tax Ct.

Languages

English