Zachary M. Rudisill, Former Tax Counsel to Sen. Rob Portman, Joins Akin Gump

(Washington, D.C.) – Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Zachary M. Rudisill, formerly tax counsel to Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), has joined the firm as a partner in its public law and policy practice. A member of Sen. Portman’s staff since 2014, Mr. Rudisill served as his principal advisor during the creation, markup and passage of last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and brings tremendous Senate tax policy experience to the firm.

“Zach is a terrific addition to Akin Gump, and his significant, first-hand experience with federal tax policy in the Senate will prove highly valuable to many of our clients,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “For our industry-leading public law and policy practice, Zach’s arrival will further solidify our position as the number one firm for clients with interests in Washington.”

As Sen. Portman’s tax counsel, Mr. Rudisill staffed the Senator’s efforts as co-chair of the Senate Finance Working Group on International Tax Reform, including organizing group hearings on international tax issues. The Group’s effort culminated in a bipartisan, 80-page report on the topic and led to Sen. Portman being awarded the Tax Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award for 2015. These efforts contributed to the passage last December of the most significant tax reform package in over 30 years.

In addition, Mr. Rudisill managed the trade portfolio for Sen. Portman, a former U.S. Trade Representative, assisting the Senator with the implementation of the Leveling the Playing Field Act and the Enforce and Protect Act and advising the Senator on ongoing trade negotiations.

“Zach’s knowledge of tax policy and his strong relationships in the Senate and with the Trump administration will be an incredibly powerful complement to our team of tax lawyers and policy advisors,” said G. Hunter Bates, co-head of Akin Gump’s public law and policy practice. “I know our clients will find Zach to be enormously knowledgeable, and we are very happy to have him on our team.”

“Moving into the implementation stage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this is a pivotal time for Akin Gump’s clients,” added Mr. Rudisill. “Many will be seeking our counsel on how the new law will affect them and how they may need to adapt and respond. I am grateful to Sen. Portman for all of the opportunities he gave me to do meaningful policy work, and I look forward to starting this next chapter with the professionals at Akin Gump.”

About Zachary M. Rudisill

Before joining Sen. Portman’s staff, Mr. Rudisill served as legislative director and tax counsel to Rep. David Reichert (R-WA). He oversaw the Congressman’s legislative portfolio as a member of the Ways and Means Committee and successfully advocated for Mr. Reichert’s priorities to be included in the Tax Reform Act of 2014.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Rudisill was a legislative assistant to the tax staff of the Ways and Means Committee and to the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, where he worked with the Committee staff, the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Office of Legislative Counsel in policy and legislative drafting work.

Mr. Rudisill received his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and his B.A. from Northern Michigan University.

About Akin Gump’s Public Law and Policy Practice

The public law and policy practice at Akin Gump has long understood that solutions to many issues facing clients involve the very processes by which legislation and policy are conceived, developed and implemented by governments in the United States and around the world. For this reason, Akin Gump has built and maintains one of the largest and most diverse government relations practices of any major law firm worldwide. The firm’s practice stresses careful evaluation of client issues and detailed design of strategies and tactics to achieve objectives and provide advocacy that is executed in an effective, timely and coordinated manner.

The practice is consistently top rated in the field of government relations by legal directories Chambers USA and The Legal 500, and its members have been named “Top Lobbyists” by The Hill and “MVPs” by Law360 and as industry leaders by a number of business and legal publications.

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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