Further expanding its West Coast business transactions team, Venable LLP announced that Friedemann Thomma, an international tax attorney who represents early-stage and large companies in a wide range of corporate and technology transactions, has joined the firm as a partner in the San Francisco office.
Mr. Thomma arrives from the San Francisco office of DLA Piper, where he worked extensively with Silicon Valley start-ups, high-growth companies, and multinational corporations on their tax-driven transactions.
Mr. Thomma focuses on helping clients design and optimize corporate tax structures, to facilitate deals and investments, and to access the capital markets. He often counsels on tax strategies stemming from mergers and acquisitions, such as IP migration planning, cost sharing, and toll manufacturing arrangements, as well as post-acquisition integration.
Often handling international tax matters, Mr. Thomma advises on global transfer pricing solutions, foreign tax audits, and planning for repatriation of foreign assets. He has significant experience with cross-border transactions and private equity investments, including formation of domestic and international real estate funds; advising on tax treaty interpretations; and consulting with clients on foreign investments to limit exposure to anti-deferral rules and structure investments.
Venable’s San Francisco office opened in 2013 and has already tripled in size, relocating to new quarters earlier this year at 505 Montgomery Street, noted Douglas Emhoff, Venable’s Managing Director, West Coast, who splits his time between the firm’s San Francisco and Los Angeles offices. “Friedemann joins a group of top technology transaction attorneys working with Bay Area companies.”
“Friedemann is an excellent addition to our Northern California practice,” said James Nelson, partner-in-charge of Venable’s San Francisco office and a prominent corporate attorney focusing on IP-driven companies and technology and sourcing transactions. “His knowledge of sophisticated tax structures and strategies brings an important layer of advice for our transactional team, along with his experience working with IP-rich technology companies.”
Mr. Thomma’s technical craft doesn’t end at organizing complex tax structures. He is also a concert-quality piano technician. Trained and apprenticed in Europe, he has traveled worldwide repairing and fine-tuning pianos for some of the world’s best-known concert pianists.
“Venable was a highly attractive draw for my practice,” Mr. Thomma said. “The firm, which has national eminence in tax and business transactions, is eager to expand its West Coast presence and has a strong team of attorneys concentrating on intellectual property, technology, business sourcing and other areas that support my work. Venable also handles extensive international matters, which fits well with my international tax portfolio. I’m excited about the opportunity in joining Venable in San Francisco.”
Mr. Thomma received his J.D. from Boston College Law School and his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Source: www.venable.com
