Well-known Tax Specialist Gerald Thomas Joins McGuireWoods in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gerald V. Thomas II, a transactional tax lawyer with significant experience in deals involving real estate investment trusts, has joined McGuireWoods LLP's Tax and Employee Benefits Department as a partner in the firm's Atlanta office.

Thomas's practice is focused on complex business transactions in the United States and abroad. For example, he has represented a major American real estate company in a number of joint ventures in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and he also has represented numerous REITs in public offerings and mergers and acquisitions totaling billions of dollars.

Thomas' arrival at McGuireWoods from the Atlanta office of Morris, Manning and Martin coincides with two other recent additions to the global firm's fast-growing Atlanta office: noted securities litigator Cheryl L. Haas, who just joined the firm, and employment lawyer Peter Farley, who arrived on Sept. 18. The trio significantly enhances the Am Law 100 firm's capabilities and provides immediate advantages for its national and international clients across a broad array of areas, including complex business and intellectual property litigation, debt finance, mergers and acquisitions, REITs and labor and employment.

"Gerald's stellar reputation precedes him, and we are delighted to welcome him," said Hil Jordan, managing partner of the firm's Atlanta office. "We know our clients will benefit from his deep tax expertise and his experience in high-stakes REIT deals."

Thomas joins a department comprised of highly accomplished lawyers from most of the firm's 20 U.S. and international offices. 

"We are excited to have Gerald join us.  Gerald brings significant REIT tax experience which will greatly assist our firm with its expanding REIT practice," said Craig D. Bell, chairman of McGuireWoods' Tax and Employee Benefits Department. "Additionally, Gerald will add to our tax bench strength on our business and real estate transactional practices.  His approach to the practice of law and teamwork focus fits in perfectly with our approach to transactions."

"I'm thrilled to be a part of such an accomplished team," Thomas said. "The McGuireWoods tax department is known for its deep and highly skilled bench. My clients will benefit immediately from their expertise, as I hope the firm's clients will benefit from mine. It's a great fit."

Thomas was awarded the 2014 Tax Leadership Award by National Bar Association, the nation's oldest and largest association of African-American lawyers and judges. The annual honor is awarded to a lawyer who is proficient in tax law, mentors and encourages minorities to consider tax as a specialty, and has outstanding moral character.

Thomas received his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from New York University in 1994, his law degree from NYU School of Law in 1997, and his LL.M. in taxation from NYU School of Law in 1998. He is co-chair and co-founder of Soul Visions Educational Foundation, Inc., an organization that awards scholarships to high school students.

McGuireWoods LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 900 lawyers in 20 offices worldwide. The Atlanta office is at 1230 Peachtree Street N.E. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com.

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SOURCE McGuireWoods LLP