Alston & Bird Hires Its First-Ever London Tax Partner, Strengthening Cross-Border Transactional Capability as US Firms Deepen City Presence
Alston & Bird, an Am Law 50 firm (ranked among the 50 largest US law firms by revenue), has appointed Satvi Vepa as a partner in its federal and international tax group in London — marking the first tax-focused partner in the history of the firm's London office. Vepa advises on the tax aspects of domestic and cross-border transactions, with particular emphasis on financing transactions including structured finance and securitisations (financial instruments that pool assets and sell interests to investors). She also advises on global tax considerations for M&A transactions, including deals involving private equity sponsors and clients in the technology and life sciences sectors. The hire reflects the firm's stated aim of expanding its 'capabilities on global tax issues' and strengthening its transactional practices on two continents. For Alston & Bird, placing a dedicated tax partner in London signals a strategic intent to compete for cross-border deals with significant US-UK or international tax dimensions — a market traditionally dominated by Magic Circle and Silver Circle firms with integrated tax practices, as well as larger US firms with longer-established London tax benches. The move is part of a broader pattern of US firms investing in specialist transactional capability in London, particularly in areas — such as international tax for PE and structured finance — where deal complexity is high and client demand for integrated advice is growing.
Why this matters
US firms adding specialist tax partners to London offices signals continued investment in full-service transactional capability in the City, directly competing with Magic Circle and Silver Circle firms for cross-border deal tax mandates. For City law students, this matters because it accelerates the competitive pressure on UK firms to maintain integrated tax practices alongside their core corporate, finance, and disputes offerings. The structured finance and PE-focused profile of this hire tracks the current deal market: leveraged buyouts, fund formation, and securitisation transactions all have complex cross-border tax dimensions that increasingly require coordinated advice across US and English law jurisdictions.
On the Ground
A trainee supporting a cross-border M&A tax team would prepare a choice-of-law summary covering the relevant jurisdictions for a transaction with US and UK tax dimensions, coordinate local counsel instruction letters for international tax opinions, and draft sections of a due diligence report on the target's historical tax positions.
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“What competitive advantages do Magic Circle firms retain over US firms in London on complex cross-border M&A transactions, and where are US firms closing the gap most quickly?”
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