Tax Lawyer David Shechtman Joins Drinker Biddle

DAVID SHECHTMAN JOINS DRINKER BIDDLE AS PARTNER IN THE BUSINESS TAX GROUP

PHILADELPHIA (June 19, 2006) – The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP welcomes David Shechtman as a partner in its Business Tax Group.  His practice includes a wide range of federal, state and local tax matters, including tax aspects of mergers, acquisition, and recapitalizations; like-kind exchanges; capital asset disposition planning; S corporations and partnerships; and administrative appeals of federal, state and local tax controversies.  He joins Drinker Biddle from the Philadelphia law firm of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP, where he was Financial Partner and chairman of the Tax Section for almost 20 years.  He will be resident in the Drinker Biddle’s Philadelphia, PA office.

“We are delighted that David has chosen to join our firm,” said Neil K. Haimm, co-head of Drinker Biddle’s Business and Finance Department.  “He brings to us extensive experience in complex tax law issues that will serve our clients well.”

“I am eagerly looking forward to working with Drinker’s Tax Group, which is one of the most sophisticated in the City,” said Mr. Shechtman.  “I am also anxious to take advantage of the opportunities the Firm’s vibrant business, finance and real estate practices will afford me not only to leverage my existing like-kind exchange practice, but also to extend the scope of my corporate and transactional tax practice.”

Mr. Shechtman has developed a national practice in the area of like-kind exchanges of real estate and other assets.  In his capacity as counsel to taxpayers and various exchange intermediaries, he has structured and documented hundreds of like-kind exchange transactions for major oil and gas, telecommunications and railroad companies, as well as REIT’s and smaller real estate owners.  He also represents various banks and financial institutions in their capacities as intermediaries, trustees and escrow agents for exchanges.

Mr. Shechtman received his B.A. degree, with high honors in Economics, from Swarthmore College in 1974 and his J.D. degree from Cornell University Law School in 1977.  He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Shechtman frequently writes on tax topics and lectures at American Bar Association meetings and various conferences on tax law. He is an active member of the Section of Taxation of the American Bar Association, serving on the Corporate Tax Committee and currently serving as Chair of the Committee on Sales, Exchanges and Basis.  Mr. Shechtman is a former Officer and current Council Member of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Tax Section and has chaired several committees which comment on proposed federal and state regulations.  He also is the author of the chapters on federal and Pennsylvania taxes in the West publication “Pennsylvania Forms and Commentary – Business Organizations.”  He was recently elected a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.