Doug is the leader of Sullivan's International Tax Practice Group. He concentrates his practice on international tax planning for clients in a wide range of industries with a particular emphasis on U.S.-based clients investing in foreign jurisdictions. Additionally, Doug works with Sullivan’s Fintech & Blockchain Group, advising clients on the tax implications of multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency and fintech-related ventures.
Doug is a former co-chair of the International Tax Committee of the Boston Bar Association, a member of the Board of Advisors for Practical U.S./International Tax Strategies, a contributing author for Lexis Practice Advisor and a member of the adjunct tax faculty at Boston University School of Law. Doug is also a frequent speaker at various conferences and webinars on international tax topics for Bloomberg Tax, Financial Executives International, Boston Bar Association and the International Fiscal Association.
Representative Client Work
- Restructured numerous foreign and domestic businesses in response to the enactment of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
- Structured numerous tax efficient multi-jurisdictional mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and reorganizations for public and private clients in the financial services, life sciences, manufacturing, private equity, technology and venture capital industries
- Designed cross-border financing strategies, including hybrid debt structures, for multiple domestic and foreign acquisitions and restructurings and assisted clients in the recapitalization of foreign operations to reduce foreign tax burdens and enhance foreign earnings repatriation efficiency
- Advised clients on capital loss planning, foreign tax credit utilization, foreign holding company structures, treasury and cash flow management, transfer pricing and migration of intellectual property to tax-favored jurisdictions
- Represented a Hong Kong-based fabric manufacturer with a presence in 8 countries and 3 continents in migrating its global research and development centre by assisting the company with strategy design and implementation of the project, including acting as lead counsel for a worldwide legal team in Hong Kong, the BVI, the United Kingdom, Mauritius, Cyprus, Indonesia and Singapore
- Provided U.S. tax advice to an Israel-based public company on its $117 million reverse IPO
- Led a worldwide team of attorneys and other advisors to restructure foreign operations in 20 countries for a $2 billion public manufacturing company
- Served as lead counsel for a 10-country reorganization of a public manufacturing company
- Advised U.S. and non-U.S. clients on structuring cross-border real estate investments ranging from $10 million to $2 billion
- Represented public and private clients in matters before the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, including controversies, voluntary disclosures related to offshore activities and private letter rulings
- Counseled nonresident families on pre-immigration U.S. tax and estate and gift planning matters, including advising a foreign individual who established a foreign trust with U.S. and non-U.S. beneficiaries that required coordinating the complex multijurisdictional rules to satisfy the client’s personal objectives of preserving wealth and passing her assets to her children while, at the same time, meeting the numerous tax and legal requirements of the countries involved; and assisting a U.S. citizen regarding her inheritance of substantial foreign assets to ensure she received such assets without any adverse US estate, gift or income tax consequences while ensuring there are no adverse consequences for the nonresidents in their respective foreign countries
Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Tax Court
Education
- LL.M., Taxation, University of Miami School of Law
- J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law; Projects Editor, Miami Law Review
- B.A., cum laude, Harvard University
Community Engagement
- Lecturer in Law, Boston University School of Law, Graduate Tax Program
- Co-Chair, International Tax Committee, Boston Bar Association, 2009-2011
- Advisory Board, Practical U.S./International Tax Strategies
- International Fiscal Association
- Taxation and International Law Sections, American Bar Association
Languages
- Spanish
Awards & Honors
- Boston Magazine 2021 Top Lawyers, Tax (2021)
- Chambers USA, Tax (Massachusetts) (2017-2019)
- The Legal 500 U.S., International Tax (2014-2022)
- The Legal 500 U.S, Fintech (2021-2023)
- Best Lawyers in America® (2011-2023)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2013, 2016-2022)
- Tax Controversy Leaders' Guide, International Tax Review (2011-2014, 2016-2023)
- "Rising Star," Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2009-2012)
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Press ReleaseDecember 6, 2022
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New England Super Lawyers MagazineOctober 11, 2022
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Press ReleaseAugust 31, 2022
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USA TODAY, QuotedJuly 31, 2022
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Global Legal InsightsAugust 2022
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Press ReleaseJune 8, 2022
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Press ReleaseDecember 10, 2021
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Press ReleaseNovember 24, 2021
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Press ReleaseNovember 19, 2021
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New England Super Lawyers MagazineOctober 12, 2021
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RTE Radio 1October 7, 2021
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Press ReleaseSeptember 28, 2021
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Global Legal InsightsAugust 2021
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Tax Notes, QuotedJuly 13, 2021
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The Irish Times, QuotedJune 21, 2021
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Press ReleaseJune 9, 2021
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CisionMay 18, 2021
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Press ReleaseFebruary 12, 2021
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International Tax Review, QuotedNovember 5, 2020
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Press ReleaseSeptember 22, 2020
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Press ReleaseJune 10, 2020
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New England Super Lawyers MagazineOctober 17, 2019
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Sullivan Press ReleaseSeptember 18, 2019
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Sullivan Press ReleaseMay 30, 2019
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Press ReleaseApril 23, 2019
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GlobesMarch 14, 2019
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New England Super Lawyers MagazineOctober 18, 2018
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International Tax Review, QuotedSeptember 12, 2018
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Press ReleaseSeptember 5, 2018
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Lexis Practice AdvisorAugust 2018
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Lexis Practice AdvisorAugust 2018
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TP Week, QuotedAugust 9, 2018
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Law360June 29, 2018
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Client AlertJune 13, 2018
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International Tax Review, QuotedApril 30, 2018
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ILTV Israel DailyMarch 20, 2018
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National Journal, QuotedFebruary 25, 2018
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International Tax Review, QuotedFebruary 19, 2018
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The Times of Israel, QuotedJanuary 25, 2018
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Bloomberg Law, QuotedJanuary 5, 2018
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Thomson Reuters CheckpointJanuary 2018
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Daily Tax Report, QuotedDecember 19, 2017
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Worldwide Tax Daily, QuotedDecember 12, 2017
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Times of Israel, QuotedDecember 3, 2017
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The Times of Israel, QuotedNovember 12, 2017
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International Tax ReviewOctober 23, 2017
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International Tax Review, QuotedOctober 23, 2017
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Worldwide Tax Daily, QuotedOctober 2, 2017
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Press ReleaseSeptember 5, 2017
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TP Week, QuotedJuly 24, 2017
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TP Week, QuotedJune 27, 2017
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fDi Intelligence, QuotedJune 15, 2017
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Multinational Tax & Transfer Pricing News, QuotedApril 26, 2017
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March 9, 2017
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International Tax Review, QuotedFebruary 24, 2017
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International Tax Review, QuotedJanuary 19, 2017
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Worldwide Tax Daily, QuotedJanuary 12, 2017
Seminars & Presentations
- Updates to U.S. Tax Law & What it Means For Your U.S. Business
AmCham Finland (March 11, 2021) - Understanding the U.S. Tax Environment
AmCham Latvia (June 11, 2020) - 48th Annual Conference of the USA Branch of the International Fiscal Association
(February 27, 2020) - US and International Approaches to Taxing Foreign Source Income and Addressing Base Erosion
Council on State Taxation (COST) (October 23, 2019) - Recent OECD Proposals Regarding the Digital Economy
USA Branch of the International Fiscal Association (IFA USA) (June 13, 2019) - North Atlantic Regional State Tax Seminar
Council on State Taxation (May 9, 2019) - Where Have All My Deductions Gone? An Operational Analysis For Multinational Corporations Post-TCJA
Tax Executives Institute (April 2, 2019) - U.S. M&A Deals: Key Points for 2019
AmCham Finland (March 26, 2019) - Debt Planning after Tax Reform
International Fiscal Association (November 15, 2018) - GILTI as Charged: How to Structure Successful U.S. Offshore Business Activities
Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center, Boston, MA (November 14, 2018) - The Impact of U.S. Tax Reform
AmCham Finland (September 20, 2018) - The 11th Annual Worldwide Tax Update
Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center (May 15, 2018) - Trump's Tax Reform - Opportunities and Uncertainties
Hilton Tel Aviv, 205 HaYarkon Street (March 22, 2018) - Crossing the Border (With a Smile)
Berkovitch St 4, Tel Aviv-Yafo (October 31, 2017) - 10th Annual Worldwide Tax Update
Sullivan & Worcester Conference Center, Boston, MA (May 16, 2017) - U.S. Tax Reform is Coming
Amcham Finland Offices, Helsinki, Finland (March 30, 2017) - 2017 North American Annual Tax Conference
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (January 3, 2017)