Phillip Adams has been actively engaged in the practice of corporation tax law for more than 30 years, during which he has focused on developing innovative, practical solutions to difficult structuring problems arising in complex corporate transactions. For example, Mr. Adams represented General Motors in its 1984 acquisition of Electronic Data Systems, and was the tax attorney on the team that designed and implemented the first “tracking stock” as part of that transaction. Recently, he represented Alltel Corporation as its tax advisor in connection with the leveraged spin-off of its wireline division, and the merger of that division with Valor Communications, Inc.
Mr. Adams’ experience extends to complex international corporate transactions as well. He represented IBM in its acquisition of the worldwide consulting business of PricewaterhouseCoopers, and was tax advisor to News Corporation in the complex series of transactions pursuant to which it acquired a significant stake in DirecTV as part of the separation of that company from General Motors.
From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Adams was resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, where he represented clients in disputes with the IRS, and before the Treasury Department and the Congressional tax-writing bodies, as well as continuing his corporate transaction practice.
In 1996, Mr. Adams became General Tax Counsel of Westinghouse Electric Corporation and was a key member of the executive team that transformed that company into the media giant CBS Corporation, prior to its merger with Viacom, Inc.
In 1999, Mr. Adams rejoined the firm as a senior partner in the New York office, and continues to advise clients on tax aspects of corporate transactions, as well as the broad range of tax issues confronting clients in the media industry, including the formation of Internet joint ventures.
Mr. Adams has lectured frequently on various topics relating to taxation of corporate transactions, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School, where he teaches in the area of tax law, with particular focus on tax planning for complex corporate transactions.
