Cozen O’Connor today welcomed Christopher W. Compton — a seasoned tax attorney who has served as legal counsel on a range of tax-exempt bond transactions worth (cumulatively) in excess of $2 billion — to its Corporate Practice Group. Compton brings more than two decades’ experience handling deals involving the financing of public infrastructure, educational facilities, public-private partnerships, sports and clean energy facilities, and community and economic development projects, including tax increment financings (TIFs). Compton comes to the firm from Winstead PC in Dallas.
A member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and Institute for Professionals in Taxation, while at Winstead, he was of counsel in that firm’s Public Finance Group. He joins Cozen O’Connor as a member and will reside in its Midtown Manhattan office.
“Christopher brings to us a solid track record of providing clients guidance on a range of federal income tax-related matters, from helping issuers understand and optimize their tax-exempt bond exposure, to vetting public and private bond financings, says Ira C. Gubernick, vice chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Corporate Practice Group. “Over the course of his 20-plus year career, he has proven himself to be a trusted adviser and an aggressive dealmaker. I’m pleased to welcome Christopher to the firm.”
Compton has served as issuance counsel for a range of major bond transactions — including general obligations bonds, contract revenue bonds, special purpose local option sales tax bonds, special service district bonds, 501(c)(3) bonds, and private activity bonds (small issue industrial development bonds for manufacturing, recovery zone bonds and exempt facilities). He’s also experienced in project finance, including traditional debt (senior, junior, bridge, permanent), creative financing (tax credit equity, EB-5 junior debt), corporate debt, and synthetic equity through the monetization of federal and state tax benefits.
He has served as issuer’s counsel for economic development transactions, utility projects, and public-private partnerships; and disclosure counsel for issuer’s and underwriters in bond public offerings and private placements. Compton also brings 10 years’ experience representing both relocating and expanding companies looking to negotiate and implement incentive packages with state and local governments.
“I chose Cozen O’Connor because its national footprint allows me to continue to grow my practice by focusing on bond-related matters, including major transactions involving tax exempt bonds,” he says. “I also see myself as a valuable team player, one that deepens the practice’s bench by providing insight into the federal income tax aspects of public finance, including regional experience in Texas and throughout the Southeast.”
Compton earned his LL.M. in taxation at New York University; his J.D. at the University of Alabama; and his B.A. in political science at Auburn University.
Source: www.cozen.com
