Gerald Rokoff > DLA Piper LLP (US) > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

DLA Piper LLP (US)‘s transactional and asset management group advises fund sponsors, investment advisors, and investors focusing on both asset management businesses and complex financial instruments on the technical tax aspects securitization, fund formations, credit fund transactions, cryptocurrencies and NFTs, and products related to renewable energy. The team has specific expertise in dealing with the tax complexities of financial products relating to publishing rights and television royalties in the media and entertainment space. The team is headed by New York-based Gerald Rokoff who has extensive experience advising clients on identification and implementation of tax-efficient structures and has structured investments for clients active across a broad range of industry sectors including real estate, sports and entertainment, debt and equities, operating businesses, and alternative investments. Witold Jurewicz’s practice covers US and international taxation, focusing specifically on tax-efficient structures for non-US operations and investments, tax treaty planning, and US and international tax reporting and compliance. In Chicago, Aalok Virmani advises investment fund sponsors on federal income tax matters and Thomas Geraghty has specific expertise in variable and fixed-rate notes, collateralized debt obligations, and other capital market transactions. In Boston, John Wei advises on tax issues related to insurance company and product taxation, CLOs, and securitizations.

DLA Piper LLP (US)’s non-contentious tax practice, led by Stacy Paz in Silicon Valley alongside Seattle-based Alison Maxwell, continues to claim its share of middle-market and major transactions, including in emerging areas such as tax insurance and digital assets structuring. The team also has a strong offering in the sports space, recently advising the majority owners of NBA team the Phoenix Suns as well as the investment arm of NFL team the San Francisco 49ers. Senior partner Gerald Rokoff leads a group dedicated to handling the tax structuring of asset management and financial product transactions, while Shiukay Hung is an expert in REIT tax, representing both sponsors and investors. Thomas Geraghty in Chicago advises on mergers, including those involving SPACs and up-C structures, joint ventures, securities offerings, restructurings, real estate investments, and investments in cryptocurrency and digital assets. Frank Mugabi’s broad experience in the oil and gas sector extends to private equity M&A as well as de-SPAC and Reverse Morris transactions. Drew Young has recently focused his efforts on renewable energy matters, especially those concerning the new Inflation Reduction Act. Associate John Wei is highly regarded. Kurtis Weaver in Boston was promoted to partnership in 2023, with the group also strengthened by the arrivals of David Pope, Los Angeles- and Palo Alto-based Brian Hamano, and Andrew Kreisberg in San Diego. Unless otherwise noted, lawyers mentioned are based in New York.