Featured Stories
Ropes & Gray Advised Gridiron Capital in Its Investment in Weed Man
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 7 -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Ropes & Gray Advised Gridiron Capital in its Investment in Weed Man
October 6, 2026
Ropes & Gray represented Gridiron Capital in its investment in Weed Man, North America's largest lawn care franchisor.
The transaction was announced on Oct. 5.
Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in business services, consumer products & services, and industrial
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 7 -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Ropes & Gray Advised Gridiron Capital in its Investment in Weed Man
October 6, 2026
Ropes & Gray represented Gridiron Capital in its investment in Weed Man, North America's largest lawn care franchisor.
The transaction was announced on Oct. 5.
Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in business services, consumer products & services, and industrialgrowth segments in the U.S. and Canada.
The team was led by private equity partner Sandy Boer and private equity associate Josh Coombes, and included finance partner Dan Coyne, tax partners Zhen Zhang, Brandon Dunn, and Sam Duncan, employment partner Stephanie Bruce, executive compensation & employee benefits partner Kyle Higley, asset management partner Steve Zaorski, IP transactions partner Emily Karlberg, environmental partner Peter Alpert, asset management counsel Lindsey Jones, and litigation & enforcement counsel Alison McLaughlin.
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URL: Gridiron Capital
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Original text here: https://www.ropesgray.com/en/news-and-events/news/2026/10/ropes-gray-advised-gridiron-capital-in-its-investment-in-weed-man
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Files Amicus Brief in Second Circuit Appeal on NYC Congestion Pricing
NEW YORK, Oct. 7 -- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer files amicus brief in Second Circuit appeal on NYC congestion pricing
6 Oct 2026
On September 23, 2026, HSF Kramer filed an amicus brief in the Second Circuit supporting the lower court's decision in the appeal concerning New York City's congestion pricing program (the CBD Tolling Program). Filed on behalf of 15 organizations, the brief challenges the Department of Transportation's position and highlights the health and economic benefits the program has already
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 7 -- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer files amicus brief in Second Circuit appeal on NYC congestion pricing
6 Oct 2026
On September 23, 2026, HSF Kramer filed an amicus brief in the Second Circuit supporting the lower court's decision in the appeal concerning New York City's congestion pricing program (the CBD Tolling Program). Filed on behalf of 15 organizations, the brief challenges the Department of Transportation's position and highlights the health and economic benefits the program has alreadyprovided.
Plaintiffs are appealing a Southern District of New York decision from March 3, 2026, where Judge Lewis J. Liman found in favor of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the case Metropolitan Transportation Authority et al v. Duffy et al. There, Judge Liman held that an attempt to revoke approval of the program was unlawful, writing: "It is difficult to imagine more arbitrary and capricious decision making than that at issue here."
HSF Kramer's amicus brief makes three arguments in support of sustaining Judge Liman's decision. First, the brief argues that allowing the appellants to unilaterally terminate the VPPP Agreement and rescind its approval of the CBD Tolling Program would harm millions of residents throughout the New York City tri-state area.
Second, the brief asserts that the potential impacts to environmental justice communities from forecasted traffic diversions due to the CBD Tolling Program have not actually occurred. Third, the brief explains that the CBD Tolling Program enjoys broad and growing support.
Read the brief here (https://www.hsfkramer.com/dam/jcr:237f4fcc-a9db-4701-b3be-b7d8ee8f913f/Duffy_v_MTA_Amicus_2d_Circ_Appeal_09_22_26.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.hsfkramer.com/news/2026-10/hsf-kramer-files-amicus-brief-in-second-circuit-appeal-on-nyc-congestion-pricing
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Faegre Drinker Issues Insight: Exchange-Traded Fund Transactions Come Under IRS Scrutiny
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Oct. 7 -- Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath, a law firm, issued the following insight:
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October 06, 2026
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Transactions Come under IRS Scrutiny; Diversification Transactions Require Review
Treasury and the IRS view these transactions as abusive uses of in-kind redemptions; investors looking to gain diversification through this technique need to proceed with caution.
At a Glance
* Both the Notice and the Ruling focus on ETF uses of nontaxable transfers to ETFs followed by nontaxable in-kind redemptions.
* The Notice also calls out certain
... Show Full Article
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Oct. 7 -- Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath, a law firm, issued the following insight:
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October 06, 2026
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Transactions Come under IRS Scrutiny; Diversification Transactions Require Review
Treasury and the IRS view these transactions as abusive uses of in-kind redemptions; investors looking to gain diversification through this technique need to proceed with caution.
At a Glance
* Both the Notice and the Ruling focus on ETF uses of nontaxable transfers to ETFs followed by nontaxable in-kind redemptions.
* The Notice also calls out certainother ETF uses of in-kind redemptions that it labels as "atypical usage" of in-kind redemptions.
* The Notice and the Ruling call into question "diversification transactions," which have been used to diversify one or more concentrated holdings in a tax efficient manner.
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The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have issued Notice 2026-62, which identifies several investment fund strategies that they view as producing tax results that may be inconsistent with the purpose and proper application of the relevant federal tax rules and describes as "not the result of conventional, long-established tax planning that is consistent with the intent of Congress." Concurrently, they issued Revenue Ruling 2026-20, which addresses the federal tax characterization of one of the transactions described in the Notice. The Notice focuses on strategies employed by some exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that rely on what the government calls "atypical usage" of Internal Revenue Code (the Code) section 852(b)(6) to achieve a tax result not intended under the Code.
Although ordinarily, under section 311(b) of the Code, a corporation that distributes appreciated property generally must recognize gain, Code section 852(b)(6) allows a regulated investment company (RIC) to make an in-kind distribution without recognizing gain "if such distribution is in redemption of its stock upon the demand of the shareholder." A number of ETFs engage in frequent creation and redemption transactions and take the position that the distributions of securities in the redemption transactions are nonrecognition events. The Notice does not express a view regarding general use of in-kind redemptions by ETFs other than the specific situations it describes as potentially abusive.
Combining 351 and 852(b)(6)
The first strategy addressed by the Notice, which the IRS calls a "section 351 conversion transaction," involves in-kind contributions to a newly formed ETF in a nonrecognition transaction under section 351 of the Code.1 These ETF-seeding transactions are addressed in both the Notice and the Revenue Ruling. In these transactions, investors contribute appreciated diversified portfolios to a newly formed ETF, even though some or all of the contributed securities do not fit the ETF's intended portfolio or investment thesis, or the contributed portfolio is overconcentrated in certain positions. As part of the same plan, the ETF issues creation units to an authorized participant for securities consistent with its investment thesis (or cash), then redeems those units under section 852(b)(6) with the securities the investors contributed that are unwanted. The investors avoid recognizing built-in gain while effectively exchanging their securities for an interest in an ETF with a materially different portfolio, using Code sections 351 and 852(b)(6) "as part of a plan to achieve a result that neither provision was designed to produce."
Rev. Rul. 2026-20 specifically addresses this transaction. The Ruling's facts involve a single investor, but the Notice says that the same reasoning applies for section 351 transactions involving multiple investors. Citing "step-transaction" and "substance-over-form" authorities, the Ruling concludes that the ETF "was merely a conduit through which securities transferred from Investor to AP pursuant to the plan." The Ruling recharacterizes the transactions as a taxable exchange under section 1001 of the contributed securities between the investor and the authorized participant.
The Ruling and the Notice purport to rely on existing "step transaction" and "economic substance" doctrines to address transactions that, pursuant to a single plan, combine two nonrecognition provisions of the Code to achieve a result that, if done directly, would require gain recognition. The Notice "does not address, and expresses no view regarding," transactions in which a section 351 transaction is used to seed a newly established ETF with assets that are consistent with the ETF's investment thesis and that are intended and expected to be retained by the ETF absent a substantial change in circumstances, such as an unexpected change in market or business conditions. ETFs that must unexpectedly adjust their portfolio holdings after an in-kind seeding should carefully document the changes in market or business conditions prompting that investment change.
Addition of Partnership Exchange Fund
The Notice next describes a variation of the first strategy aimed at investors whose appreciated holdings are not diversified enough to avoid gain recognition under section 351(e). Investors instead contribute concentrated appreciated positions to a partnership referred to as an "exchange fund." Under section 721 of the Code, contributions of property to a partnership are nonrecognition transactions, subject to the same investment company limitations that apply to corporations under section 351(e) of the Code. To avoid classification as an investment company, however, the partnership invests at least 20% of its assets in property other than cash, stocks, or securities. The partnership then contributes its assets into an ETF in a transaction that purportedly qualifies for nonrecognition under section 351. As with the first strategy, the ETF subsequently makes an in-kind redemption of an authorized participant that it treats as nontaxable under section 852(b)(6).
Box Spread Strategies
The third strategy involves "box spread" ETFs, which seek a stable, short-term-interest-rate-like return without current income recognition. A box spread combines four options2 on the same underlying property that together produce a return similar to a short-term interest rate. Before the options with unrealized gain expire, the ETF issues a creation unit to an authorized participant and then distributes the appreciated options in redemption under section 852(b)(6). The ETF generally reports no dividends or capital gain dividends, so shareholders include nothing currently. Instead, they will ultimately recognize long-term capital gain when they sell ETF shares after holding them for more than twelve months. That gain generally corresponds to the ETF's box spread income. The Notice also describes a variation in which the ETF distributes the appreciated legs of a separate straddle and deducts the loss on the remaining straddle positions, even though the offsetting gain is never recognized.
Record Date or Rotational ETF Redemptions
The fourth strategy involves what the government calls "record date" transactions in fund-of-funds structures. A parent ETF that tracks an index through one or more acquired ETFs tracking the same index issues a creation unit shortly before an acquired ETF's dividend record date. It then distributes the acquired ETF shares to the authorized participant in redemption, replacing them with shares of a different ETF that tracks the same index but uses a different record date for distribution. The parent ETF takes the position that it avoids dividend income, and its shareholders defer any recognition until they dispose of their shares, even though the parent ETF's exposure to the index does not materially change. The government describes the purpose as eliminating "taxable dividend income without any material change to the economic characteristics of the assets of the parent ETF."
Using 852(b)(6) to Avoid Non-Qualifying Income
The fifth strategy involves the use of section 852(b)(6) to avoid the RIC qualifying income test. Under section 851(b)(2), at least 90% of a RIC's gross income must come from dividends, interest, securities loan payments, gains from stock, securities, or foreign currencies, other income derived from its business of investing in those assets, and net income from qualified publicly traded partnerships. The Notice describes ETFs that hold assets such as commodities or digital assets, either directly or through a grantor trust, the sale of which would produce nonqualifying gain. These ETFs distribute the appreciated assets in redemption of creation units and take the position that gain realized but not recognized because of section 852(b)(6) does not count for purposes of the income test. The government's concern is that this lets an ETF limit the gross income subject to section 851(b)(2) "without regard to the ETF's economic income."
Takeaways
1. The Ruling and Notice alert ETFs and investors to the Treasury Department and IRS's views that the foregoing transactions are abusive uses of in-kind redemptions. The Treasury Department and the IRS are considering further guidance, which may include regulations, notices, revenue rulings, and the potential identification of transactions as transactions of interest or listed transactions. Section 351 transactions involving investment companies are also included on the IRS's 2026-2027 priority guidance plan. Such guidance may apply retroactively. Further, the IRS may challenge these strategies on examination under existing law, including the Code, the regulations, and applicable judicial doctrines.
2. Any completed or planned in-kind contribution to a new ETF that was followed, or is expected to be followed, by a redemption distribution of the contributed securities should be reviewed in light of the Notice and Ruling. Investors participating in an in-kind seeding of an ETF that is expected to qualify as a nonrecognition transaction should exercise due diligence with respect to the ETF sponsor's intentions with respect to the contributed assets. Because the Ruling recharacterizes the investor's contribution as a taxable exchange on the basis of subsequent actions that are out of the investor's control, investors will want to seek appropriate assurances regarding the expected retention of contributed assets by the ETF.
3. Sponsors of ETFs using box spread strategies and in-kind redemptions, using in-kind redemptions to rotate out of underlying ETFs in order to avoid dividends, and commodity or digital asset ETFs that rely on in-kind redemptions to avoid nonqualifying income should also expect scrutiny.
Other Strategies Identified in the Notice
The Notice also addresses certain tax aware transactions that are not commonly used by ETFs and use identified straddles and other derivatives strategies to convert income character. We discuss the derivative strategies in "Treasury and IRS Flag Certain "Tax-Aware" Fund Strategies as Problematic."
1. Section 351(e) generally precludes contributions to investment companies from qualification for nonrecognition under Section 351. Under Treasury Regulation section 1.351-1(c)(1), however, a transfer to an investment company (including a RIC such as an ETF) is not treated as resulting in diversification if each transferor contributes a portfolio that is already diversified. A portfolio is considered diversified if no more than 25% of its value is in the stock or securities of any one issuer and no more than 50% of its value is in the stock or securities of five or fewer issuers. See Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.351-1(c)(6)(i).
2. Section 1256 contracts are not used in this strategy, because the distribution of section 1256 contracts would trigger gain or loss.
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The material contained in this communication is informational, general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. The material contained in this communication should not be relied upon or used without consulting a lawyer to consider your specific circumstances. This communication was published on the date specified and may not include any changes in the topics, laws, rules or regulations covered. Receipt of this communication does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this communication may be considered attorney advertising.
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Meet the Authors
Leila E. Vaughan
Partner
Philadelphia
215/988-2485
leila.vaughan@faegredrinker.com
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Stephen D. Hamilton
Partner
Philadelphia
215/988-1990
stephen.hamilton@faegredrinker.com
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Bryan Bloom
Partner
Florham Park
New York
973/549-7104
bryan.bloom@faegredrinker.com
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Original text here: https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/publications/2026/10/exchange-traded-fund-transactions-come-under-irs-scrutiny-diversification-transactions-require-review
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Dentons Advises UniCredit on Euros50 Million Financing for MCI Capital Group
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Dentons advises UniCredit on Euros50 million financing for MCI Capital Group
October 6, 2026
Global law firm Dentons has advised UniCredit S.p.A. on a Euros50 million term loan financing for MCI Management, part of the MCI Capital group.
The financing is secured, among other things, by financial and registered pledges granted by MCI Capital ASI S.A. over PLN 328.1 million value in investment certificates relating to MCI.EuroVentures 1.0 and issued by MCI.PrivateVentures Fundusz Inwestycyjny Zamkniety.
MCI Capital
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Dentons advises UniCredit on Euros50 million financing for MCI Capital Group
October 6, 2026
Global law firm Dentons has advised UniCredit S.p.A. on a Euros50 million term loan financing for MCI Management, part of the MCI Capital group.
The financing is secured, among other things, by financial and registered pledges granted by MCI Capital ASI S.A. over PLN 328.1 million value in investment certificates relating to MCI.EuroVentures 1.0 and issued by MCI.PrivateVentures Fundusz Inwestycyjny Zamkniety.
MCI Capitalis one of Central Europe's leading private equity investors, with a particular focus on technology, digital transformation and healthcare. Since 1998, MCI has supported more than 110 companies and completed more than 100 exits. Its investment strategy focuses on expansion and buyout investments in CEE, typically in the Euros25 million to Euros100 million range.
According to MCI Capital, the new financing will increase its dry powder to approximately PLN 1 billion and marks an important milestone in building its diversified and flexible financing platform.
Partner Mark Segall led the Dentons legal team together with senior associate Mateusz Ciechomski, with support from associates Krzysztof Chlebowski and Daniel Jakubiak.
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About Dentons
Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com
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URL: UniCredit
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Original text here: https://www.dentons.com/en/about-dentons/news-events-and-awards/news/2026/october/dentons-advises-unicredit-on-50-million-financing-for-mci-capital-group
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Dentons Advises Firebird AI KZ on Landmark Data Center Valley Project in Kazakhstan
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Dentons advises Firebird AI KZ on landmark Data Center Valley project in Kazakhstan
October 6, 2026
Dentons advised Firebird AI KZ Ltd. on the initial contractual stage for the development, construction and subsequent long-term lease of a large-scale AI data center within the Data Center Valley project in Ekibastuz, a town in northeastern Kazakhstan. Kazakhtelecom, KT-Telecom and Firebird AI KZ signed an initial agreement on October 2, 2026, during the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum in Astana.
The agreement establishes
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Dentons advises Firebird AI KZ on landmark Data Center Valley project in Kazakhstan
October 6, 2026
Dentons advised Firebird AI KZ Ltd. on the initial contractual stage for the development, construction and subsequent long-term lease of a large-scale AI data center within the Data Center Valley project in Ekibastuz, a town in northeastern Kazakhstan. Kazakhtelecom, KT-Telecom and Firebird AI KZ signed an initial agreement on October 2, 2026, during the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum in Astana.
The agreement establishesthe core operational framework and marked the official commencement of construction.
The project forms part of the wider Data Center Valley initiative, in connection with which Kazakhstan, Firebird and NVIDIA previously announced a package of AI infrastructure agreements with a stated potential investment value of up to US$10 billion.
Our work on this milestone included the structuring, drafting and negotiation of a build-to-suit agreement. This agreement governs the design, construction, testing and handover of the data center facility and establishes the contractual framework for its subsequent long-term lease to Firebird AI KZ Ltd.
The matter was led by Dentons partners Birzhan Zharasbayev and Daniyar Toigonbayev (Kazakhstan), Tom Dalton (UKME), and supported by Darya Vologodskaya, Counsel and Bogdan Piskorskiy, Senior Associate.
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About Dentons
Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com
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URL: Firebird AI KZ
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Original text here: https://www.dentons.com/en/about-dentons/news-events-and-awards/news/2026/october/dentons-advises-firebird-ai-kz-on-landmark-data-center-valley-project-in-kazakhstan
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Clark Hill: September 2026 Outbound Immigration and Global Mobility Recap | Americas
BIRMINGHAM, Michigan, Oct. 7 -- Clark Hill, a law firm, issued the following legal update:
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September 2026 Outbound Immigration and Global Mobility Recap | Americas
October 8, 2026
Authors
Lisa Atkins, Alexander Witt
Clark Hill's Outbound Immigration & Global Mobility practice guides corporate clients and individuals through complex global immigration challenges worldwide. We pride ourselves on creative, compliant, and people-centered solutions - looking at global mobility from a holistic perspective in an ever-changing immigration environment. Our team assists with short-term assignments,
... Show Full Article
BIRMINGHAM, Michigan, Oct. 7 -- Clark Hill, a law firm, issued the following legal update:
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September 2026 Outbound Immigration and Global Mobility Recap | Americas
October 8, 2026
Authors
Lisa Atkins, Alexander Witt
Clark Hill's Outbound Immigration & Global Mobility practice guides corporate clients and individuals through complex global immigration challenges worldwide. We pride ourselves on creative, compliant, and people-centered solutions - looking at global mobility from a holistic perspective in an ever-changing immigration environment. Our team assists with short-term assignments,long-term relocations, consular processing, document procurement, document legalizations/apostilles, and business visas in 100+ countries worldwide.
Below is an overview of the major updates from September 2026 in the Americas region.
Americas
Canada:
Special Permanent Residence Pathways for Hong Kong Residents Closed
Effective August 31, 2026, Canada closed its special permanent residence pathways for eligible Hong Kong residents to new applications. Introduced in 2021, the programs provided permanent residence options for eligible applicants with qualifying Canadian education or work experience.
Applications submitted on or before August 31, 2026, will continue to be processed. Eligible applicants with pending permanent residence applications may also continue to apply for an open work permit while their application is being processed. The open work permit policy is currently scheduled to remain in effect until May 2029.
Hong Kong residents who did not apply before the deadline will need to consider other available Canadian permanent residence options. Applicants with pending applications are not affected by the closure and may continue to benefit from the open work permit provisions, where eligible.
New LMIA Requirements Tighten Employer Eligibility
Effective September 18, 2026, Canada introduced updated guidance clarifying which businesses qualify as employers for Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. An eligible employer must have a genuine employer-employee relationship with the foreign worker, including responsibility for hiring, working conditions, supervision, and payment of wages.
Under the updated guidance, staffing and employment agencies cannot obtain LMIAs to place foreign workers with third-party businesses where the required employer-employee relationship does not exist. Employers are also prohibited from classifying LMIA-based temporary foreign workers as independent contractors.
Before pursuing an LMIA, employers using staffing agencies, third-party employment, or independent contractor arrangements should review their hiring structures. Generally, the business that employs, directs, and pays the foreign worker must qualify as the employer for LMIA purposes.
Brazil:
Brazil Digitalizes Temporary and Work Visa Issuance
Effective September 1, 2026, Brazil began electronically issuing temporary visas to nationals exempt from visitor visa requirements. The change covers all temporary visa categories, including work, family reunion, and digital nomad visas.
Eligible applicants may now submit applications and supporting documents through the Integrated Consular System and receive approved visas by email. This generally eliminates in-person submission of passports or original documents and return visits to collect visas. The change applies only to consular issuance; existing document requirements, any pre-application residence authorization required for work visas, and post-arrival Federal Police registration remain unchanged.
The digital process should streamline visa issuance for eligible applicants and employers by reducing consular visits and passport handling. As implementation continues, applicants should confirm procedures with the appropriate Brazilian consular post. Nationals of Australia, Canada, and the United States are not eligible because Brazil has reinstated visitor visa requirements for those countries.
Mexico:
Extended Immigration Processing Times
Foreign nationals and employers in Mexico are experiencing continued delays with several immigration processes due to limited appointment availability and longer processing times. The delays are affecting post-arrival registrations, residence renewals, permanent residence applications, change of status filings, and residence card issuance.
Delays are most pronounced in Mexico City, where post-arrival registration and residence card issuance now may take four to six weeks, up from one to two weeks.
Employers and foreign nationals should allow additional processing time when planning assignments and start dates. Delayed residence cards may also affect payroll enrollment, and pending immigration processes may restrict travel in some cases.
Venezuela:
New PRO-V-90 Visa for Independent Professionals
Venezuela has introduced the new PRO-V-90 visa, an electronic, multiple-entry visa for independent professionals providing temporary specialized services in Venezuela. The visa is intended for individuals providing services to a Venezuelan client without establishing an employment relationship with, or receiving employment-related compensation from, the Venezuelan entity.
The visa permits stays up to 90 days and may be used for qualifying activities such as technical assistance, operational support, speaking engagements, journalistic activities, and investment oversight. Applications are submitted electronically through Venezuela's Cancilleria Digital platform.
The PRO-V-90 provides a streamlined option for companies that need to send employees or independent professionals to Venezuela for short-term specialized assignments, particularly where the company has a Venezuelan client but does not maintain a local employing entity.
Contact Clark Hill
For additional information, please contact the Americas Immigration team at Americas@ClarkHill.com.
For further information on any of the updates in this bulletin, reach out to one of the members of our Outbound Immigration & Global Mobility team.
To view September's updates for the EMEA (https://www.clarkhill.com/news-events/news/august-2026-outbound-immigration-and-global-mobility-recap-emea) and APAC (https://www.clarkhill.com/news-events/news/august-2026-outbound-immigration-and-global-mobility-recap-apac) regions, click the respective region.
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This publication is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services. The information in this publication is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel. The views and opinions expressed herein represent those of the individual author only and are not necessarily the views of Clark Hill PLC. Although we attempt to ensure that postings on our website are complete, accurate, and up to date, we assume no responsibility for their completeness, accuracy, or timeliness.
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Original text here: https://www.clarkhill.com/news-events/news/september-2026-outbound-immigration-and-global-mobility-recap-americas/
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Akerman Names Three New Office Managing Partners
MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 7 -- Akerman, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Akerman Names Three New Office Managing Partners
October 6, 2026
Mercer, Labelle, and Larsen take on leadership of the firm's Wilmington, Denver, and Jacksonville offices
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Akerman is pleased to announce the appointment of three new office managing partners: litigation partner Tammy Mercer in Wilmington, Delaware; tax partner Erika Labelle in Denver, Colorado; and tax partner Pete Larsen in Jacksonville, Florida. In their new roles, each will further deepen Akerman's relationships with business and civic
... Show Full Article
MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 7 -- Akerman, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Akerman Names Three New Office Managing Partners
October 6, 2026
Mercer, Labelle, and Larsen take on leadership of the firm's Wilmington, Denver, and Jacksonville offices
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Akerman is pleased to announce the appointment of three new office managing partners: litigation partner Tammy Mercer in Wilmington, Delaware; tax partner Erika Labelle in Denver, Colorado; and tax partner Pete Larsen in Jacksonville, Florida. In their new roles, each will further deepen Akerman's relationships with business and civicleaders in their markets while guiding the firm's strategic direction locally.
Wilmington, Delaware
"Tammy is a natural leader with experience building and leading successful litigation teams in Delaware, and she is an exceptional and highly regarded litigator," said Akerman Chairman and CEO Scott Meyers. "Since the day she joined Akerman, she has strengthened our position in one of the most consequential jurisdictions in the country for our clients. We are excited to work with her as she builds on the momentum of our Wilmington office."
Tammy brings more than 20 years of experience advising boards of directors and private equity clients on complex corporate governance matters. She concentrates her practice in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Delaware Superior Court, handling high-stakes disputes involving mergers and acquisitions, going-private transactions, proxy contests, valuation and appraisal issues, and directors' and officers' liability. Chambers USA ranks her in Delaware for Chancery, and she is a fellow of the American College of Governance Counsel and the American Bar Foundation. She also serves on the advisory board of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware.
Akerman opened its Wilmington office in 2024 as part of the firm's client-driven national growth strategy, and the office has grown steadily since its founding. Tammy succeeds Andrew Dupre, the office's founding managing partner, who expanded the office each year while also practicing as a partner in the litigation group.
"Delaware is the corporate capital of the world, and our clients increasingly need sophisticated counsel on the ground here," Tammy said. "I'm honored by this opportunity and look forward to building on our strong foundation in serving our clients, our people, and this community."
Denver, Colorado
"Erika is a lawyer other lawyers learn from," Scott said. "She has co-authored the profession's leading treatise on deal tax, and she brings extraordinary experience in transactional tax. Her practice intersects with our corporate, real estate, and restructuring teams across the firm, and she has guided clients through their most consequential deals."
Erika brings nearly two decades of experience representing public and private businesses in transactional tax, REIT, and controversy matters. She concentrates her practice on corporate and partnership tax planning and structuring, including taxable and tax-free mergers, stock and asset acquisitions, reorganizations, divestitures, and restructurings, and she represents business entities in federal controversy matters before the Internal Revenue Service. She is recognized by Best Lawyers in Colorado for Tax Law and has authored a chapter of Practising Law Institute's leading treatise on corporate transaction tax strategies since 2017.
The lawyers in Akerman's Denver office serve clients across the country as well as throughout the Colorado market. Erika succeeds Kevin Hein, who led the office for five years and co-chairs the firm's Franchise and Licensing Sector Team.
"Denver is one of the most dynamic business communities in the country, and our clients here are building across every sector of its economy," Erika said. "There's nowhere I'd rather practice, and nowhere I'd rather live. I'm honored to lead this office and excited to keep building together to serve our clients and this community."
Jacksonville, Florida
"Pete has already led at the highest level of this firm," Scott said. "For more than 25 years he chaired our Tax Practice Group, and generations of Akerman lawyers built their practices under his leadership. Jacksonville is an important market for our clients, and we are glad to have Pete leading the office."
Pete works closely with financial institutions, finance companies, vehicle and equipment lessors, retailers, and telecommunications, software, and technology companies on multistate tax planning, compliance, audit defense, and litigation in all 50 states. Under his leadership, Akerman's Tax Practice Group was twice recognized by Law360 as a "Tax Practice Group of the Year" for its precedent-setting work.
Akerman's Jacksonville lawyers serve clients nationally across the full range of the firm's practices. Pete succeeds Christian George, who led the office for nearly 10 years and serves on the firm's Board of Directors and as chair of its Financial Institutions Commercial Litigation practice.
"Jacksonville is a remarkable place to practice law and to build a business, and this firm has been my professional home for nearly three decades," Pete said. "I am honored to take on this role and look forward to supporting our clients, our people, and this community in the years ahead."
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About Akerman
Founded in 1920, Akerman is an Am Law 100 firm recognized by Vault among the nation's most prestigious law firms. The firm has more than 700 lawyers and business professionals throughout the United States.
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Original text here: https://www.akerman.com/en/firm/newsroom/akerman-names-three-new-office-managing-partners.html
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
