James R. Barry

James R. Barry is senior counsel in Mayer Brown’s Tax practice and a member of the Tax Transactions & Planning team. Jim previously served as a co-leader of the firm’s global Tax practice. He represents US corporations and individuals in tax planning for foreign and domestic operations, as well as foreign corporations and individuals in tax planning for US operations. His work includes tax planning for restructuring of existing foreign and US corporate groups, spin-offs, and acquisitions of foreign and domestic corporations, including obtaining private letter rulings from the Internal Revenue Service. He has been described as someone who is "very well versed in this highly technical area" and “is a super smart and insightful lawyer." (Chambers USA).

Jim also represents sponsors and investors in real estate funds, hedge funds, and other investment entities, as well as offshore insurance companies regarding US taxation of their income and related issues. He represents creditors and debtors in tax planning for workouts of financially troubled companies to minimize tax costs of restructuring and preserve tax attributes (including several detailed matters under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code). In addition, Jim represents corporations and investment bankers regarding tax implications of issuing financial instruments and securitization and other financing, as well as the impact of the alternative minimum tax.

Jim has been ranked as a leading tax lawyer by various publications, including Chambers USA, Legal 500 and Illinois Super Lawyers.

Jim is a frequent lecturer and writer on tax topics.  He has spoken at the University of Chicago Tax Conference, where he is a member of the planning committee, the Practicing Law Institute, the American Bar Association, OFII, TEI, ATLAS, Strategic Research Institute and other groups and has authored papers that have appeared in Taxes Magazine, PLI – Tax Strategies for Corporate Acquisitions, Dispositions, Spin-offs, Joint Ventures, Financings, Reorganizations & Restructurings and other publications.

• ACE Limited in its migration from the Cayman Islands to Switzerland.
• Various acquisitions and dispositions on behalf of US and foreign clients, including Transcanada Corporation, Nestle and Precision Drilling.
• Various foreign corporations and individuals on tax planning for investment in US real estate, creditors and debtors in tax planning for workouts of financially troubled companies to minimize tax costs of restructuring and preserve tax attributes.
• Various corporations and investment bankers regarding tax implications of issuing financial instrument and securitization and impact of the alternative minimum tax.

• DePaul University College of Law, JD, with honors
• DePaul University, BSc (Accounting) with high honors

• Illinois

• International Fiscal Association
• American Bar Association, Section of Taxation