Andrew Solomon is the Managing Partner of Sullivan & Cromwell's Tax Group and coordinates the Firm s tax practice worldwide. A partner since 1992, Mr. Solomon has a broad-based practice, involving both tax planning and dispute resolution. Mr. Solomon has been active in structuring acquisitions, divestitures (including spin-offs) and joint ventures, especially cross-border transactions. Considered by Chambers and other rating services as one of the leading lawyers in the tax field, he is highly regarded for the quality of his advice on the taxation of complex financial products and transactions. Mr. Solomon has extensive experience advising financial institutions, with a deep understanding of the insurance industry. He is also quite familiar with the particular issues affecting private equity and hedge funds, technology and other companies that license intellectual property, and natural resource companies (including both mining and oil and gas companies). In addition to those listed below, clients he has advised recently include American International Group (AIG), Allianz, Barclays Bank, HBOS plc, IMS Health, IPC Holdings, Lightyear Capital, Philips Electronics, Standard Chartered Bank, Thomson, and Total. Selected Cases and Transactions Provided cross-border tax advice to Hilton Hotels Corp. in its acquisition of the lodging assets of Britain-based Hilton Group plc for $5.7 billion. Served as tax counsel to Goldman Sachs in its acquisition of the variable life insurance and variable annuity business of Allmerica Financial Corporation. Advised SBS Broadcasting on tax matters in connection with its purchase by Permira and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in a $2.2 billion transaction. Advised Philips Electronics on the sale of its semi-conductor business to a private equity consortium and on the related financing transaction. Provided cross-border tax and structuring advice to Goldman Sachs International, as financial arranger, for the management buy-out of Peacock plc, the first management buy-out of a UK company undertaken by hedge funds. Represented WellPoint (formerly Anthem Inc) in a $21 billion merger with WellPoint Health Networks that made the combined company the largest health insurer in the U.S. Advised The PMI Group, as lead investor, on tax matters in connection with a consortium s $2.18 billion purchase of General Electric s Financial Guaranty Insurance Company. Advised AXA S.A. in connection with a $1.28 billion insurance securitization program, the first catastrophic mortality program structured for a primary insurance company, and the first catastrophic mortality bond offering to include both euro-denominated notes and U.S. dollar-denominated notes. Advised Allianz SE in connection with a $1 billion insurance securitization program, its first use of capital markets as an alternative to traditional reinsurance and the first catastrophic note program or issuance in the catastrophe bond industry to be linked to a river flood peril in any jurisdiction. Rankings and Recognition Chambers Global Ranked as a leading lawyer in tax (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) Chambers USA Ranked as a leading lawyer in tax (2004, 2005) Woodward White, The Best Lawyers in America Cited as a leading lawyer in tax (2006, 2007) Law Business Research, An International Who s Who of Corporate Tax Lawyers Listed as a leading tax lawyer (2005) PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook Cited as leading tax lawyer (2005, 2006, 2007) Global Counsel 3000 Recognized as a leading tax lawyer (2003-2004) Practical Law Company, Global Counsel Tax Handbook Highly recommended tax practitioner (2004-2005) Professional and Not-for-Profit Activities Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association's Tax Section Member At-Large; Former Co-chair of the Committee of Financial Intermediaries. Writes and speaks frequently on the taxation of financial institutions and products and on international taxation. |