Profile
Robert D. Simon assists clients in the tax ramifications of cross-border transactions. He frequently advises clients involved in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and dispositions of public and private companies. Bob has been involved in planning a number of major domestic and international reorganizations and spin-offs.
Bob has broad experience in tax planning for U.S. corporations operating abroad, including internal structuring for optimal tax results. His international tax practice is focused on all areas of "outbound" investment - emphasizing foreign tax credit planning, tax deferral, holding companies, the tax-efficient use of debt, the repatriation of foreign earnings, tax treaties and management of a company's worldwide effective tax rate.
Bob also advises foreign corporations who are purchasing U.S. businesses or expanding their existing U.S. operations. He has advised on all aspects of "inbound" investment, including capitalization of U.S. operations, restructuring, withholding tax, the repatriation of earnings, tax treaties and foreign investment in U.S. real property. Bob assists many foreign natural resource companies on their U.S. operations and acquisitions. Bob also advises real estate funds and investors, particularly with respect to the U.S. income tax consequences of investments by foreign investors, including sovereign wealth funds and pension funds.
Concentrations
- Tax planning for international transactions and investments
- Domestic and international spin-off transactions
- All areas of "outbound" and "inbound" investment
- Corporate mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and joint ventures
- Sovereign investors
- REITs
- Capital markets offerings
The attorney is providing legal services through and affiliated with Greenberg Traurig, LLP, a New York Limited Liability Partnership. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented Jarden Corporation in its approximately $1.8 billion acquisition of Yankee Candle Company, the leading scented-candle maker which owns and operates more than 560 retail stores in the U.S. and Canada and sells its products in over 35,000 retail locations.
- Acted as U.S. tax counsel to a Canadian gold mining company on its multi-billion dollar acquisition of an Australian mining company with Latin American operations.
- Provided tax advice to a Canadian gold mining company in connection with its acquisition by, and amalgamation with, a competitor in a transaction valued at over $10 billion.
- Assisted in the acquisition by a UK-based hotel company of all of the stock of a U.S. hotel company (from a foreign seller) in a transaction valued at approximately $700 million.
- Advised a major telecommunications corporation on its acquisition of a UK-based internet service company.
- Advised a significant coal and natural gas company on the disposition of certain of its historic coal assets.
- Advised a major Canadian-based copper mining company in connection with its acquisition by a European company.
- Assisted in the representation of an Argentine based oil and gas company in connection with its acquisition of a U.S. energy company with international operations.
- Advised a German auto parts company on its acquisition of stock of a U.S.-based company and the subsequent restructuring of its U.S. operations.
- Advised on the tax aspects of a joint venture between a U.S.-based telecommunications company and a European based telecommunications company, and on the initial public offering by the combined company.
- Assisted in the representation of a major Canadian gold mining company (with worldwide operations) in connection with its tender offer for the stock of a competitor in a combination valued at approximately $26 billion.
- Assisted in the representation of a U.S.-based media company on the exchange of its interest in a Japanese company for stock in another Japanese company.
- Assisted in the representation of a U.S. media company on its exchange of stock in a wholly owned subsidiary for stock in an Australian company in a transaction valued at several billion dollars.
- Provided tax advice to Metallica Resources on its three way merger with New Gold and Peak Resources. The transaction was structured as a reorganization for U.S. tax purposes.
- Provided tax advice to Silvercorp Metals Inc. on its unsolicited tender offer for Klondex Mines Ltd. The transaction was structured as a reorganization for U.S. tax purposes.
- Provided tax advice to a major U.S. based media company in connection with its investment in an Australian company, which was then contemplating a domestication.
- Provided tax advice in connection with the sale by a UK-based private equity firm of all of its stock in an international ceramics company in a transaction valued at 100 million.
- Provided tax advice in connection with the bankruptcy reorganization of a former subsidiary of Global Crossing.
- Assisted in the representation of an investment banking subsidiary in connection with its spin-off by a major retailer in what was reported to be one of the largest spin off transactions in U.S. history.
- Acted as U.S. International Tax Counsel to REITs (on U.S. and non-U.S. Investments).
- Acted as U.S. Tax Counsel to sovereign wealth funds in connection with their investment in private REITs.
- Structured numerous private REITs, primarily in connection with investments by non-U.S. persons.
- Provided tax advice in connection with the spin-off by a major media company of its international operations in a multibillion dollar transaction.
- Advised a major resource company on the spin-off of a portion of its assets.
- Advised a global telecommunications company on a spin-off of a Japanese subsidiary and its subsequent combination with a public company.
°Certain of the representations listed above were handled by Mr. Simon prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Team Member, Chambers & Partners USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2017 and 2022
- Team Member, a Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2023
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, 2014-2018
- Tax - International Tax, 2014-2018
- Tax - U.S. Taxes - Non-Contentious, 2018
- Member, Winning Team, "M&A Deal of the Year (Over $1 Billion to $5 Billion)" for Platform Specialty Products Corporation (f/k/a Platform Acquisition Holdings Limited) acquisition of MacDermid, Incorporated and related entities, The M&A Advisor’s 6th Annual International M&A Awards, 2014
- Member, Winning Team, "Consumer and Retail Products Deal of the Year (over $200mm)" for Merger of Burger King and Justice Holdings Ltd., ACG New York Champion’s Award, 2013
A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
- Member, American Bar Association, 2004-Present
- Member, International Fiscal Association, 2003-Present
- Member, Colorado Bar Association, 1982-Present
- Member, District of Columbia Bar Association, 2008-Present
Credentials
- LL.M., Taxation, New York University School of Law
- J.D., Rutgers School of Law - Camden
- B.A., University of Maryland, College Park
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- New Jersey
- New York