PHOENIX, Ariz. (May 28, 2015) – Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Eliot L. Kaplan has joined the firm’s Corporate practice as partner in the Phoenix office, where he will help lead the business and tax practice.

Eliot concentrates his practice on international, federal, state and local tax issues, as well as real estate, private equity transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. He provides guidance on entity planning and structuring, fund formation, and business reorganizations and restructurings. A former attorney-adviser in the national office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Eliot is familiar with regulations and revenue rulings and procedures, and regularly advises on complex tax issues, and tax controversies.

“The breadth of Eliot’s experience in tax and business transaction matters aligns perfectly with the capabilities and direction of the firm’s Corporate practice,” said Michael Glaser, firmwide Chair of the Corporate practice. “His proficiency working at local, national and international levels, in a range of industries, ensures that he will be an asset to a wide array of Perkins Coie’s sophisticated and demanding clients.”

Previously a partner at Squire Patton Boggs, Eliot is a Fellow in the American College of Tax Counsel, and a frequent lecturer on tax issues before audiences such as the American Bar Association, New York University Institute, and the California CPA Society. As adjunct professor of law at the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law, he has taught courses on the taxation of business organizations and partnerships. He earned his J.D. from Arizona State University and his LL.M. from Georgetown University; he received his B.A. from the University of Arizona.

An active member of the Phoenix community, Eliot served as president of the Board of Directors for the Southwest Human Development Corporation, is a board member of the Desert Southwest Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is chair of the Business and Professionals Group of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and is an ambassador of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

“Eliot is well-known and highly regarded for his legal acumen in the local business and legal communities,” said Shane Swindle, Managing Partner of the firm’s Phoenix office. “He is a substantive business attorney well regarded by his peers nationally and admired regionally for his deep commitment to civic responsibility. I am delighted to welcome Eliot to Perkins Coie.”

Perkins Coie’s transaction practice is comprised more than 265 attorneys who provide merger, acquisition, tax, structuring, restructuring, finance, and other transaction counseling services for various types and sizes of operating and real estate businesses and ventures, including single purpose entities, joint ventures, startups, private equity companies, funds, midmarket businesses and Fortune 50 companies. The experience we have gained from representing businesses of all types and sizes enables us to provide cost-effective advice that is in line with our clients’ strategic and economic objectives. In addition, as part of a full-service firm with offices across the country, we have the depth and breadth to advise on virtually every legal area important to businesses, including tax, real estate, debt and capital restructurings, intellectual property and antitrust.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

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