Colin Bowes-Carlson

Colin's practice focuses on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, global corporate reorganizations, post-acquisition integrations, spin-offs, carve-out transactions, and global cash utilization and redeployment projects.

Colin routinely counsels multinational clients on international legal compliance and cross-border business law issues. He is experienced in partnering with both internal tax teams and outside tax advisors to ensure tax optimization and tax-efficient transaction structures.

The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is the state agency responsible for the enforcement of many of the state’s tax laws. As General Counsel, I led the team of lawyers and professional staff responsible for litigating tax disputes, as well as interpreting and advising on tax legislation and promulgating tax rules and regulations consistent with the law. In this role, I also advised our staff on complex legal issues, provided counsel to the Department’s senior leadership on internal policy, and directed our legal resources to IDOR’s various programs.

• Planned and executed cross-border legal projects related to multi-jurisdiction and post-acquisition corporate reorganizations, spin-offs, carve-out transactions, and cash repatriation projects

• Worked hand-in-hand with correspondent counsel and outside tax advisors to ensure tax optimization and tax-efficient transaction structures

• Counseled multinational clients on maintenance of global corporate portfolios of legal entities and international legal compliance

• Represented public and private companies in a broad range of transactional matters, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and securities-related matters

• Negotiated and drafted transaction documents related to mergers and acquisitions, including merger agreements, business transfer agreements, asset purchase agreements, intercompany contribution and distribution agreements and related corporate approvals

• Coordinated global corporate, employment, and regulatory due diligence review and led international diligence teams

• Conducted research on federal securities laws and advised clients on periodic reporting obligations

• Represented public and private companies in financings, mergers and acquisitions, and going-public transactions

• Advised development-stage companies on federal and state securities laws matters, including reporting and disclosure obligations

• Represented start-up peer-to-peer lending platform in corporate formation, corporate governance, multiple financing rounds, and regulatory compliance

• Drafted documents and coordinated filings related to public offerings of debt and equity securities

• Summer Associate (June 2012 – July 2012)

• Competitively selected to participate in yearlong field clinic program in the Civil Rights Bureau

• Prepared research memoranda analyzing a variety of federal, state, and municipal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI, Title VII, and the New York Human Rights Law

• Assisted with discovery and completed fair housing testing training

• Conducted intakes at legal clinics and homeless youth shelters

• Counseled clients on available forms of immigration relief

• Drafted affidavits and court documents in connection with immigration proceedings and legal name changes

• Conducted “Know Your Rights” trainings to youth on issues including access to shelters and public housing accommodations

• Assisted staff attorneys working with LGBT homeless youth on a variety of issues including mistreatment of youth in foster care and juvenile detention systems, discharge planning, and litigation / advocacy aimed at improving foster and homeless care for LGBT youth