Mayer Brown Adds International Tax Partner Andy Baik to Expand Capabilities in Northern California

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 18 -- Mayer Brown, a law firm, issued the following news:

Mayer Brown has strengthened its transactional tax planning capabilities with the arrival of Andy Baik, who joins the firm as a partner in the Tax Transactions & Consulting practice in Northern California. Mr. Baik was previously at Ernst & Young LLP.

"Mayer Brown has prioritized the growth of its West Coast presence, as well as its funds and asset management capabilities. Andy's arrival complements both of these initiatives," said Jason Bazar, the co-leader of Mayer Brown's Tax Transactions & Consulting practice. "Andy's significant cross-border tax planning experience, as well as his impressive background providing counsel for Asian-based sovereign investment funds and Asian asset managers investing in the US, align perfectly with our growth strategy."

Mr. Baik focuses his practice on serving private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds and others in the financial services sector on international tax matters, including inbound-into-US Asian multinational corporation funds on their investments and several global sovereign investment funds on all aspects of their investment activities in the US. Additionally, Mr. Baik spent 11 years in Singapore and Korea advising on both Asia-inbound and Asia-outbound tax matters.

"The strength and reputation of Mayer Brown's Tax Transactions & Consulting practice and the firm's global platform, particularly its prominent presence in Asia, were significant factors in my decision to join the firm," said Mr. Baik. "I look forward to leveraging my experience in Asia to address our US clients on their Asia-related tax needs and our Asia-based clients on their US inbound and global tax needs."

"Andy's addition is in line with Mayer Brown's ongoing commitment to deliver the full range of transactional tax offerings and to further broaden our Northern California team," said Ward Johnson, the managing partner of Mayer Brown's Northern California offices.