Brownstein Announces Formation of National Tax Policy Group in Preparation for Critical Policy Challenges Ahead

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is pleased to announce today that one of the nation’s leading tax policy teams will be joining the firm and forming a national tax policy group. Russell Sullivan, Harold Hancock and Rosemary Becchi will join the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, making Brownstein’s National Tax Policy Group one of the most prominent tax policy teams in the country and providing clients with insights into the legislative and regulatory risks and opportunities related to tax policy.

“Last year’s landmark tax reform changed the face of tax policy for years to come, but the true impacts will be determined as the bill is implemented over the next couple of years,” said Marc Lampkin, the managing partner of Brownstein’s Washington, D.C., office. “Whether it is technical corrections, or tax reform 2.0, changes to the tax code are far from over and our clients are relying on us to help them navigate this new landscape. The addition of Russ and his team will position Brownstein as the go-to firm to impact tax policy for the next generation.”

Sullivan, Hancock and Becchi add decades of combined legislative and administrative experience to the firm’s tax group that includes veteran tax lawyer Greg Berger. This demonstrates Brownstein’s commitment to anticipating future challenges and opportunities for its clients. The team’s experience and perspective will provide clients with valuable insights as they manage this uncertainty.

Sullivan, a Capitol Hill veteran who spent 14 years with the Senate Finance Committee, including nine years as staff director, will serve as chair of the firm’s National Tax Policy Group. “There is an urgent need for clients to stay focused on tax policy in the coming years. Even small changes to last year’s multitrillion-dollar tax bill can have a profound impact on clients and their businesses,” said Sullivan. “Brownstein’s bipartisan, bicameral team is perfectly positioned to help clients engage officials, identify opportunities and mitigate threats during this turbulent time.”

This team brings years of expertise to the Brownstein tax group. Sullivan began working on Capitol Hill in 1995 and joined the staff of the Senate Finance Committee four years later. He spent the next 14 years with the committee and served as its staff director from 2004 to 2013. He has advised both nonprofit and for-profit clients on a broad range of issues, including health care, pension planning, trade, economic development and tax policy. He is a graduate of Baylor University and the University of Texas Law School.

Hancock brings over six years of experience serving as tax counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee. While working for the committee, he developed critical provisions in major pieces of legislation under three committee chairs. Prior to his time on Capitol Hill, Hancock was an analyst for the tax and business law consulting firm, CCH. Hancock is a specialist in a number of areas of tax law and policy, including partnerships, corporations and tax-exempt organizations. He most recently served as a partner at McGuire Woods. Hancock is a graduate of the University of California Santa Cruz, the University of Wisconsin Law School and the Georgetown University Law Center.

Becchi joins Brownstein with experience having worked in the Office of the Chief Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service and served as the tax counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. After her time on Capitol Hill, Becchi held positions at an accounting firm, a global financial services corporation and a mutual fund and institutional investing firm. She has been a key figure in developing legislation and regulations on a wide variety of tax-related issues and is a skilled counselor on tax and financial services policy. Becchi is a graduate of the University of San Diego, the Gonzaga University School of Law and the Georgetown University Law Center.