Sheppard is pleased to announce that partners Christopher Buch and Balazs Danko have joined the firm’s Chicago office, further strengthening the firm’s transactional practices in the Midwest and nationally. Buch, a member of the firm’s Corporate practice group, was most recently a shareholder at Vedder; Danko, a member of the firm’s Tax practice group, was previously a partner at K&L Gates.
Over the past two years, Sheppard’s Chicago office has welcomed 24 new lawyers, including 12 partners, reflecting the firm’s sustained investment in the market and its commitment to meeting client demand with top tier talent.
Buch is a nationally recognized specialist in employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) transactions and other complex employee benefits matters. He represents shareholders and companies in connection with tax-advantaged sales of securities to ESOPs. He also advises private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on investments in acquisitions of ESOP-owned businesses and acts for plan sponsors, fiduciaries and lenders on ESOP transactions, succession planning, corporate restructurings and other strategic transactions involving employee ownership.
Danko is a highly regarded tax lawyer who advises multinational corporations, private equity sponsors and investment funds on both domestic and cross-border acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings and tax planning matters. He specializes in the investment fund sector, guiding clients through the myriad of tax considerations involved in each phase of a fund’s lifecycle, from formation and capital raising, to the deployment of capital and investment stage, and ultimately dispositions and restructurings. He also regularly advises funds and investors in secondary transfers of fund interests, both on the buy and sell sides, as well as GP-led continuation vehicle transactions and other fund restructurings. His experience also includes advising multinational corporations on the tax implications of their cross-border activities, including net CFC tested income and Subpart F planning, foreign tax credit strategies, intellectual property migration and intercompany financing structures.
Over the last four years, the firm has significantly grown its transactional practices, adding more than 150 corporate and tax lawyers firmwide. “Chris and Balazs build on our continued growth and reinforce the firm’s commitment to delivering the highest level of service to clients on complex transactions,” said Luca Salvi, chair of Sheppard.
“Together they strengthen our ability to support private equity sponsors, funds and portfolio companies on complex transactions. Chris brings deep experience advising sponsors on ESOP-related investments and acquisitions, and Balazs adds sophisticated fund and cross-border tax structuring capabilities,” he added.
John Tishler, co-leader of the Corporate practice group added, “Chris is a fantastic addition to our Corporate practice and establishes Sheppard as a leading destination practice for ESOP transactions. ESOPs have been especially attractive to companies and their shareholders in the healthcare, construction, and aerospace, defense and government industries. Sheppard enjoys leading transactional practices in each of these industries, and we are thrilled to expand our services to cover these tax-advantaged transactions for our clients.”
“We are increasingly seeing ESOP transactions deployed by shareholders and companies as a complement to a future-contemplated exit transaction. We also see private equity buyers increasingly interested in ESOP-owned companies because of the strong management teams they build, their ownership-minded workforces and the low leverage ESOP-owned companies often have at exit,” added Tishler.
“We are extremely pleased to add Balazs to our team,” said Michael Chan, leader of the Tax, Employee Benefits and Trust & Estates practice. “Our tax lawyers are an integral component to our private equity, investment fund and M&A practices, and his expertise and experience, particularly with respect to international tax planning and structuring matters, augments the scope of services we provide to clients in those areas.”
“I’m thrilled to join Sheppard and leverage its deep transactional capabilities to create an industry-leading ESOP transactions practice,” said Buch. “With its strategic focus on growing the corporate and private equity teams and its deep expertise across industry groups that align with my practice, the firm is an ideal platform for me. I look forward to working with my new colleagues across the firm.”
“I was drawn to the firm’s global footprint, full-service platform and its culture of collaboration,” said Danko. “I am excited to join the dynamic tax and private equity teams and contribute to the firm’s continued growth in Chicago and beyond.”
Buch received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Danko earned his B.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
About Sheppard’s Tax Practice
Sheppard’s multifaceted Tax practice delivers practical, business-minded counsel to public and private companies, financial sponsors, governmental entities, nonprofits, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. The team advises on federal, state, local and international tax matters, including tax-efficient domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, fund formation, tax incentives, trusts and estates and executive compensation and employee benefits. Working collaboratively across the firm, Sheppard’s tax lawyers also represent clients in complex controversies, audits and litigation before U.S. and international tax authorities, providing strategic guidance that helps clients manage risk and achieve long-term business objectives.
About Sheppard’s Corporate Practice
Sheppard’s Corporate practice delivers strategic, partner-led counsel on complex transactions and corporate matters for clients across industries and jurisdictions. With more than 230 corporate lawyers, the team advises on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, public offerings and corporate governance, bringing deep transactional experience and commercial judgment to matters ranging from early-stage growth to multibillion-dollar exits. Corporate lawyers collaborate seamlessly with colleagues in tax, employment, intellectual property, privacy, real estate, environmental and litigation to provide coordinated, efficient support through a single, experienced deal team.