Jackson Walker L.L.P. welcomes John Ransom as a partner in its Houston office. Mr. Ransom adds considerable strength to the firm’s Tax practice, whose deep bench includes some of the pre–eminent tax lawyers in the state.

Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Mr. Ransom was a partner at Porter Hedges LLP, where he served as head of that firm’s tax section and a member of its management committee. For more than 35 years, Mr. Ransom has represented clients as both a legal advisor and CPA in a wide range of transaction and tax matters. He regularly leads acquisition and sale transactions and has particular experience structuring the tax aspects of M&A transactions including upstream and midstream oil and gas ventures, and contributions to master limited partnerships. In addition, he often acts as de facto general counsel for closely held private and family–owned businesses and assists clients with the purchase and sale of turbine aircraft.

Mr. Ransom chose Jackson Walker as the best platform to serve his clients due to its Texas footprint and depth of legal talent and resources. The firm’s Tax lawyers focus on understanding each client’s business goals and providing effective strategies to maximize tax benefits while minimizing potential risks. The firm’s reputation for innovation reaches back to founding partner John Paul Jackson, a nationally regarded authority on tax law whose work helped to shape tax legislation in the mid–20th century. Today, members of the practice group continue that tradition of excellence. They have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Tax Law, hold advanced degrees including the L.L.M in Taxation, are licensed CPAs, and have held positions with leading tax organizations throughout the country.

“We have the brain trust here,” said Jackson Walker partner Brian Dethrow, who heads the Tax practice group. Mr. Dethrow attributes the success of the group to the sophistication of the firm’s practice combined with the flexible and efficient overhead structure, which provides an attractive environment for attorneys and their clients, “We have a platform that enables us to be competitive in a variety of markets and deliver tremendous value for each client,” he said.

Mr. Ransom joins other high–profile partners who have made the move to Jackson Walker’s tax practice group in the past few years. In April, Brandon Jones joined the firm from Haynes and Boone, LLP, where he was co-chair of the Business Planning, Taxation and Benefits Section. In 2011, Ron Kerridge joined the firm from K&L Gates LLP; among his many distinctions, Mr. Kerridge is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a member of the American Law Institute, and has served as chair of the Dallas Bar Association’s Tax Section.

On a personal note, Mr. Ransom grew up in a multi–generational ranching family in West Texas and brings that perspective to his practice. His down–to–earth approach to client service compliments a sophisticated and experienced understanding of tax strategies and transaction structures. He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and Texas Super Lawyers in the area of tax law since 2004 and in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition in tax law in 2009. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and a member of the Houston Tax Roundtable. Since 2010, he has been has been a lecturer on M&A and Bankruptcy Tax Issues for the Rice University Executive MBA Program and he has served on the boards of a number of community organizations. Mr. Ransom received his B.A. in Economics from Rice University and his J.D. degree from the University of Houston.

www.jw.com