Avocado Roundup is a quick morning review of top tax, legal, and climate news stories. It’s written by humans.
- The nominee to be the European Commissioner for climate action, former Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra, says he wants a global tax on fossil fuels to help developing countries fight climate change. Hoekstra made the comments during a confirmation hearing with EU Parliament members. (Financial Times)
- Fast growing Phoenix, Arizona-based law firm Fennemore said it’s acquiring Sullivan McGregor & Doerr LLP, a Fresno, California-based boutique specialized in tax planning and tax-controversy resolution, estate planning and estate and trust administration, among other areas. Fennemore, which has about 240 attorneys, said Sullivan’s attorneys and staff will join its Fresno office. (Businesswire)
- The world’s biggest law firm by revenue, Kirkland & Ellis, promoted 205 attorneys to partner across its offices worldwide, including 11 tax lawyers, effective Oct. 1. (Kirkland.com)
Tax Increases, Rulings
- The French government is putting together a council of about 30 French and international economic experts, including former OECD tax chief Pascal Saint-Amans, among others, to come up with an accurate estimate of how much the country loses to tax fraud every year. (Challenges)
- The Malaysian government proposed halving its 3% “windfall” levy on palm oil producers in two states on the island of Borneo to 1.5% . (Business Times)
- Colombian pop star Shakira has a top Barcelona attorney defending her against Spanish tax fraud charges. (Law.com International)
Laterals, Moves, Promotions
- Andersen hired former EY senior manager Brian Charbonnier, an attorney who advises on tax and transfer pricing, as managing director in its commercial practice in Los Angeles. Charbonnier, who was recently executive vice president for tax at health and wellness company The Beachbody Company, was earlier international tax director at toy giant Mattel, Inc. (Businesswire)
- Tax services and software provider Ryan hired real estate tax specialist Scott Powell as director and team lead, property tax, complex, in Calgary, Canada. (Ryan)
- KPMG Abogados recruited Baker McKenzie tax attorney Ignacio Ucelay, a former government tax inspector, as of counsel in Madrid. He has served as chief inspector of the national inspector’s office and as head of tax and customs control, in the high income taxpayers branch. (Iberian Lawyer)
