William Skinner

Will Skinner focuses his practice on U.S. corporate tax matters, including representation of multinational corporations in international tax consulting and tax controversy, and representation of companies in Silicon Valley M&A transactions.

In his international tax practice, he develops and stress-tests customized tax planning to meet client objectives, and has successfully defended several corporations before the IRS. He has experience representing both outbound and inbound taxpayers, and has particular industry experience with software, hardware and other high technology firms and pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. He also has specialized expertise in foreign currency and financial products tax issues affecting corporate taxpayers.

In his transactional tax practice, Will has led the tax representation on many successfully completed transactions, including public and private company acquisitions, tax-free reorganizations (including cross-border reorganizations), leveraged buy-outs, formations and spin-outs, and S Corp and LLC transactions. He has experience with a range of financial products transactions, including issuances of convertible debt, hedge fund formation, and use of derivatives to monetize appreciated stock positions.

With intense client focus a hallmark of his practice, Will has been recognized by California Super Lawyers as a rising star in tax. He is sought out for the clarity and thoroughness of his writing and speaking, and regularly presents at industry educational programs, such as Bloomberg BNA, Strafford, TEI, and IFA events. He has taught international tax at San Jose State University for several years. A prolific writer, Will has published numerous articles, including in the Journal of Taxation, Journal of Corporate Taxation, International Tax Journal and PLI’s Corporate Tax Practice Series. He is the author of a treatise on cross-border spin-offs for RIA’s Checkpoint Catalyst.

Will served as a law clerk for the Honorable Carlos T. Bea on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Will graduated with a J.D., with distinction from Stanford Law School in 2005, where he was a member of the Stanford Law Review. He received a B.A. in history in 2001 from the University of California, Berkeley.