House Ways and Means Counsel Joins McGuireWoods

WASHINGTON – Harold Hancock, who served as tax counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee for the past six years, has joined McGuireWoods as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.  He will provide strategic guidance on federal tax policy matters to clients across industries. Hancock also is a senior adviser with McGuireWoods Consulting, the firm’s full-service public affairs and government relations arm.

In his role as tax counsel, Hancock served under three chairmen: U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas; U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc. (now Speaker of the House); and former U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich. He was instrumental in developing policy and drafting tax legislation concerning business deductions and credits, tax accounting, exempt organizations, and estates and gifts. He also devised key provisions in major legislation, including 2015’s Bipartisan Budget Act and Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act.

Hancock joins two other McGuireWoods tax partners who held senior staff positions on congressional panels instrumental in developing the nation’s tax laws: Russ Sullivan, the Senate Finance Committee staff director under former Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont.; and Rosemary Becchi, tax counsel on the committee’s Republican staff.

Hancock arrives at McGuireWoods as Congress debates a wide array of measures with significant tax implications. They include a replacement for the Affordable Care Act and comprehensive tax reform — both important priorities of the Republican majority and President Donald Trump.

According to Charles D. “Skip” Fox IV, chair of the firm’s Tax and Employee Benefits Department, Hancock’s inside involvement in national tax policy adds substantial firepower to the firm’s already formidable tax capabilities.

“Harold has been at the epicenter of the biggest tax policy developments of the past six years,” Fox said. “His deep institutional knowledge will provide tremendous advantages to our clients as Congress pursues tax reforms that present significant risks and opportunities to their businesses.”

“Harold’s reputation as a strategic thinker with excellent business instincts precedes him,” Sullivan said. “He knows the history, the process for getting things done on Capitol Hill and how the leaders crafting this legislation think. This will benefit our clients’ businesses in myriad ways.”

“We are delighted to welcome Harold to our office,” added Todd Mullins, managing partner of the firm’s Washington office. “He adds to our already rich roster of lawyers with significant government and public policy experience.”

“McGuireWoods is known in Washington and beyond for the depth and breadth of its tax practice,” said Hancock, who earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin and his LL.M. in tax from Georgetown University. “I look forward to contributing to the firm’s well-earned reputation for working closely with key policymakers to help clients anticipate challenges and achieve their business and financial objectives.”