Bio

Arthur Hazlitt, Chair of O’Melveny’s Tax Practice, advises clients in connection with tax issues relating to mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, real estate, bankruptcies and energy transactions. Arthur was previously the chair of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae’s and co-chair of Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Tax Departments, and has been practicing tax law for over 30 years. Arthur helps clients structure, plan, and negotiate all tax aspects of US and international taxable and tax-free mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs and joint ventures for clients ranging from multibillion dollar Fortune 500 companies to small start-up ventures. He also provides tax counseling for corporate workouts and bankruptcies (including prepackaged bankruptcies) for large publicly traded and private entities, multinational real estate holding companies, partnerships and start-up high-tech joint ventures. Much of Arthur’s transactional tax planning, acquisition and bankruptcy related activities have involved working with utilities, energy and infrastructure related companies and business. Arthur represents publicly traded REITs in connection with their formation, compliance, and capital market transactions. He represented an offshore investment group in connection with their establishment of a US$10 billion commercial property REIT and continues to represent them with their ongoing REIT compliance issues. Arthur also regularly represents financial advisors in connection with REIT drop/spin transactions. Arthur has more than 20 years of experience advising clients in connection with the structuring and funding of projects involving renewable and clean energy, including energy related to wind, solar, geothermal and other alternative sources. Arthur’s capital markets counseling work includes advising clients in connection with public and private debt and equity offerings, REITs, the use of derivatives, and the tax benefits of issuing contingent and convertible securities. He also has significant experience counseling clients in connection with private placements and financing transactions (including bank and non-bank lending, and securitization transactions). Arthur is recognized as a leading expert in the development of hybrid and other specialty financial products used to raise capital in the insurance and utility industries.