McKenna Long & Aldridge Expands Tax Practice; More Growth Planned

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) today announced that it has added three tax partners to its nationally-recognized corporate department, and the firm plans to bring on additional tax attorneys in the near future. The firm is expanding its tax capabilities to meet the broadening needs of its current clients and to attract new clients with all levels of tax needs. The new partners are Donald M. Etheridge, Jr., Scott A. Harty and Ann E. Murray.

ATLANTA, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) today announced that it has added three tax partners to its nationally-recognized corporate department, and the firm plans to bring on additional tax attorneys in the near future. The firm is expanding its tax capabilities to meet the broadening needs of its current clients and to attract new clients with all levels of tax needs. The new partners are Donald M. Etheridge, Jr., Scott A. Harty and Ann E. Murray.

"Our philosophy in building the tax practice extends beyond traditional models in which tax primarily plays a transaction support role. We're really creating a stand-alone practice team with its own client base," said Wayne Bradley, Co-Chair of MLA's Corporate Department. "The combination of Ann, Don and Scott, as well as our highly-regarded tax attorneys like Russell Love, Dudley Lang and Charles Zink, creates a group deep and talented in M&A, employee benefits, executive compensation, partnerships, private equity, real estate, estates and other tax disciplines."

"We want our attorneys to know legal issues and implications, but we also want them ready to offer clients business solutions, such as the options companies have in anticipation of policy changes. That's the kind of value and effective tax counseling that Ann, Don and Scott offer, and why we're so pleased to have them," said Tom Wardell, Co-Chair of MLA's Corporate Department.

The Legal 500 recently recognized MLA's Corporate Practice as one of the best on the East Coast.

Don Etheridge joins the firm from Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. Scott Harty and Ann Murray come from Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

Donald M. Etheridge, Jr., Partner (Atlanta) - For over thirty years,
Don Etheridge has been handling a wide variety of federal tax matters
ranging from corporate and partnership transactions to advising high
net worth families on sophisticated income tax and estate planning
techniques. He is also a frequent advisor to tax exempt organizations,
and has experience structuring complex investment and real estate
transactions designed to produce favorable tax results for his clients.
Etheridge began his career as an attorney with the Internal Revenue
Service in the National Office in Washington, and later spent over
twelve years as an in house attorney for Duke University. During his
last five years at Duke he served as general counsel for Duke
Management Company, a subsidiary established by Duke in 1990 to manage
the University's investment assets. While at Duke, Etheridge held
adjunct faculty appointments at both Duke Law School and the Fuqua
School of Business. He received his A.B., from Duke University, magna
cum laude and graduated with distinction. His J.D., is from Duke
University School of Law, and his LL.M. is in Taxation from Georgetown
University Law Center. Etheridge is a Certified Public Accountant, and
is a member of both the Georgia and North Carolina Bar.

Scott A. Harty, Partner (Atlanta) - Scott Harty's practice focuses on
domestic and international tax planning, including advising clients on
taxable and tax-free mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, internal
corporate restructurings and inbound and outbound tax planning. His
international tax expertise encompasses multiple facets of foreign
investments including foreign investment in U.S. real estate, Subpart F
and foreign tax credit planning, and tax consequences of international
acquisitions.

Harty also represents clients in domestic and international tax
controversy matters ranging from IRS-initiated examinations to taxpayer
voluntary disclosures. He represents clients through the audit process
and administrative appeals, including the negotiation and settlement of
taxes and civil and criminal penalties.

Harty speaks regularly on behalf of the American Bar Association's
International Tax Enforcement Subcommittee of the Committee on Civil
and Criminal Tax Penalties. He received his B.A., with honors, in
International Studies with a minor in Economics from Virginia Tech; his
J.D. from Vanderbilt University; and his LL.M. in Taxation from New
York University.

Ann E. Murray, Partner (Atlanta) - Ann Murray focuses her practice on
executive compensation, merger and acquisition issues, qualified
retirement plans, ESOPs, and health and welfare benefits. She regularly
advises public and private companies, tax-exempt entities,
multiemployer plans, and insurers and administrators in providing and
developing services for employee benefit plans. Murray previously
served as in-house benefits counsel for a publicly-traded company,
giving her a unique insight into the day-to-day administration and
implementation issues faced by employers. She also assists clients with
miscellaneous tax issues such as state and federal payroll and ticket
excise taxes.

Murray has written and lectured on many aspects of employee benefits
and executive compensation. She received her B.A., magna cum laude,
from Menlo College; and her J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from the
University of San Diego School of Law.

About McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP is an international law firm of lawyers and public policy advisors. The firm provides business solutions in the areas of environmental regulation, international law, public policy and regulatory affairs, corporate law, government contracts, intellectual property and technology, complex litigation, real estate, energy and finance. To learn more about the firm and its services, log on to http://www.mckennalong.com .