Hunton & Williams’ George Howell Tapped as ABA Tax Section Chair-Elect

NEW YORK — August 21, 2014 — The head of Hunton & Williams LLP’s tax and employee benefits practice George C. Howell, III has been selected as chair-elect of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation, the nation’s largest professional association of tax lawyers. A partner in the firm’s New York City and Richmond, Va. offices, Howell will lead the 21,000-member organization as it focuses on improving the tax system. Howell will automatically become section chair in August 2015.

“This appointment is a prestigious professional milestone for George and we are delighted he was chosen,” said Wally Martinez, managing partner of Hunton & Williams. “We know George will be as dedicated to providing leadership and guidance in this role as he is in providing experienced advice to his clients and colleagues.”

Howell is the immediate past chair of the American College of Tax Counsel. He also has held a number of prior leadership positions with the Tax Section, including serving as its vice chair of communications, its secretary, its assistant secretary, and chair of its financial transactions and tax shelter committees. He is a former managing editor of the Tax Section’s law review, The Tax Lawyer.

“It is an honor and privilege to be chosen to serve in this leadership role. I am committed to working with our members and staff to find and implement innovative ways to improve the tax system, the benefits that we provide to our members, and the diversity of our membership,” said Howell. “I look forward to an interesting and productive two years.”

Howell’s practice focuses on the formation and structuring of REITs, REMICs, and other securitization transactions. He also deals extensively with private investment funds, derivatives, and other complex financial products. He is nationally recognized as a Leader in the Field of Capital Markets: REITs (Band 1) by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2007-2014.