Four Decades for Justice
Stephen L. Gordon retired from the Tax Department in 2022. Mr. Gordon was Head or Co‑Head of the Department from 2000 through 2020. He advised clients on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions and other major transactions, including spin‑offs, international restructurings and corporate joint ventures. Mr. Gordon also worked with clients on issues related to corporate finance and domestic and international taxation.
Mr. Gordon was recognized as one of the country’s leading tax practitioners for many years by, among others, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax. Clients quoted in Chambers USA reported Mr. Gordon to be “as good as it gets, incredibly smart” with “tremendous, impeccable business judgment.” Mr. Gordon was named to The Legal 500 US Hall of Fame in the International Tax and U.S. Taxes: Non‑contentious categories. He was chosen by corporate counsel as one of the BTI Client Service All‑Stars for his exceptional commitment to understanding his clients’ legal and business objectives, recognizing client goals and providing innovative and effective solutions tailored specifically to the client’s desired outcome.
Mr. Gordon was born in Syracuse, New York. He received an A.B. cum laude from Cornell University in 1978 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1981, where he was an Editor of the Harvard Law Review.
Mr. Gordon joined Cravath in 1981 and was elected a partner in 1987. Mr. Gordon served as the Firm’s Hiring Partner and as Managing Partner of Administration.
Mr. Gordon was recognized as one of the country’s leading tax practitioners for many years by, among others, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax. Clients quoted in Chambers USA reported Mr. Gordon to be “as good as it gets, incredibly smart” with “tremendous, impeccable business judgment.” Mr. Gordon was named to The Legal 500 US Hall of Fame in the International Tax and U.S. Taxes: Non‑contentious categories. He was chosen by corporate counsel as one of the BTI Client Service All‑Stars for his exceptional commitment to understanding his clients’ legal and business objectives, recognizing client goals and providing innovative and effective solutions tailored specifically to the client’s desired outcome.
Mr. Gordon was born in Syracuse, New York. He received an A.B. cum laude from Cornell University in 1978 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1981, where he was an Editor of the Harvard Law Review.
Mr. Gordon joined Cravath in 1981 and was elected a partner in 1987. Mr. Gordon served as the Firm’s Hiring Partner and as Managing Partner of Administration.
Podcasts
December 20, 2022
Steve Gordon served as Head or Co-Head of Cravath’s Tax Department from 2000 through 2020. In this episode of On Tax, he talks to host and fellow Cravath partner Len Teti about the many different paths people take into tax law, how his interest in transactional work led him to the tax practice at Cravath—where high profile M&A and other corporate transactions are a cornerstone—and the collaborative, trusting culture he worked to cultivate in his years leading the Firm’s Tax Department.
Activities & Publications
May 05, 2021
On May 4, 2021, Cravath prepared for its clients a memo entitled “The Federal Reserve, FDIC and OCC Release Proposal on Tax Allocation Agreements and Invite Comment,” which examined a newly proposed rule that would codify, and make additions to, existing guidance on income tax allocation agreements among banks and their holding companies and affiliates. The rule, proposed by the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, would require any bank that files federal or state income tax returns as part of a consolidated group that includes members other than the bank and its subsidiaries to enter into a tax allocation agreement containing specified terms. The memo provides insight on general requirements included in the rule, required provisions for tax allocation agreements and other considerations relevant to banks during tax filing.
Stephen L. Gordon retired from the Tax Department in 2022. Mr. Gordon was Head or Co‑Head of the Department from 2000 through 2020. He advised clients on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions and other major transactions, including spin‑offs, international restructurings and corporate joint ventures. Mr. Gordon also worked with clients on issues related to corporate finance and domestic and international taxation.
Mr. Gordon was recognized as one of the country’s leading tax practitioners for many years by, among others, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax. Clients quoted in Chambers USA reported Mr. Gordon to be “as good as it gets, incredibly smart” with “tremendous, impeccable business judgment.” Mr. Gordon was named to The Legal 500 US Hall of Fame in the International Tax and U.S. Taxes: Non‑contentious categories. He was chosen by corporate counsel as one of the BTI Client Service All‑Stars for his exceptional commitment to understanding his clients’ legal and business objectives, recognizing client goals and providing innovative and effective solutions tailored specifically to the client’s desired outcome.
Mr. Gordon was born in Syracuse, New York. He received an A.B. cum laude from Cornell University in 1978 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1981, where he was an Editor of the Harvard Law Review.
Mr. Gordon joined Cravath in 1981 and was elected a partner in 1987. Mr. Gordon served as the Firm’s Hiring Partner and as Managing Partner of Administration.
Mr. Gordon was recognized as one of the country’s leading tax practitioners for many years by, among others, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax. Clients quoted in Chambers USA reported Mr. Gordon to be “as good as it gets, incredibly smart” with “tremendous, impeccable business judgment.” Mr. Gordon was named to The Legal 500 US Hall of Fame in the International Tax and U.S. Taxes: Non‑contentious categories. He was chosen by corporate counsel as one of the BTI Client Service All‑Stars for his exceptional commitment to understanding his clients’ legal and business objectives, recognizing client goals and providing innovative and effective solutions tailored specifically to the client’s desired outcome.
Mr. Gordon was born in Syracuse, New York. He received an A.B. cum laude from Cornell University in 1978 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1981, where he was an Editor of the Harvard Law Review.
Mr. Gordon joined Cravath in 1981 and was elected a partner in 1987. Mr. Gordon served as the Firm’s Hiring Partner and as Managing Partner of Administration.
Podcasts
December 20, 2022
Steve Gordon served as Head or Co-Head of Cravath’s Tax Department from 2000 through 2020. In this episode of On Tax, he talks to host and fellow Cravath partner Len Teti about the many different paths people take into tax law, how his interest in transactional work led him to the tax practice at Cravath—where high profile M&A and other corporate transactions are a cornerstone—and the collaborative, trusting culture he worked to cultivate in his years leading the Firm’s Tax Department.
Activities & Publications
May 05, 2021
On May 4, 2021, Cravath prepared for its clients a memo entitled “The Federal Reserve, FDIC and OCC Release Proposal on Tax Allocation Agreements and Invite Comment,” which examined a newly proposed rule that would codify, and make additions to, existing guidance on income tax allocation agreements among banks and their holding companies and affiliates. The rule, proposed by the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, would require any bank that files federal or state income tax returns as part of a consolidated group that includes members other than the bank and its subsidiaries to enter into a tax allocation agreement containing specified terms. The memo provides insight on general requirements included in the rule, required provisions for tax allocation agreements and other considerations relevant to banks during tax filing.
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