Americas Tax Awards 2020: The winners

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2024

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Americas Tax Awards 2020: The winners

The winners of ITR Americas Tax Awards have been announced

The winners of the ITR Americas Tax Awards have been announced through a webinar presentation.


The winners of the ITR Americas Tax Awards have been announced. Please watch the video below to find out the winning firms, in-house companies, individuals, deals and cases from the ceremony.






ITR is delighted to announce the winners of the 15th ITR Americas Tax Awards. The awards were announced through a virtual presentation ceremony, attended by over 1,000 people on Tuesday, September 22 2020. Please watch the video above, which is available to view free on demand.



Deloitte was announced as the Americas transfer pricing firm of the year, achieving widespread national and regional success throughout the Americas.



EY and Baker McKenzie were crowned as Latin America tax firm of the year and Latin America litigation and disputes firm of the year, respectively. These two firms also won a string of awards across the Americas region in a number of categories. Skadden also had a strong year, winning several regional categories including Americas tax firm of the year.



Falabella Group claimed the title as the Americas in-house direct tax team of the year, while Louis Dreyfus, Diageo and iFood were recognised as the leading in-house transfer pricing, indirect tax, and tax technology teams, respectively. 



Base Firma, Pinheiro Neto, Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga, Garrigues and Utumi Advogados were among the firms who won regional awards for their excellence. Machado Meyer Sendacz & Opice Advogados picked up the much coveted tax prize for Brazil, while Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza & Enriquez retained its tax policy prize amid tough competition.



We remain keen to fulfil any promotions that firms would like to undertake on the back of their success and request that you contact ITR's head of business development for events, Margaret Varela-Christie, with any queries. For further inquires, contact the ITR team at: editorial@internationaltaxreview.com



A full list of shortlisted firms for the 2020 ITR Americas Tax Awards was released in August 2020. Reactions to the shortlist by nominated firms can be found here.



National Awards

Argentina Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Marval O'Farrell & Mairal

• Bruchou Fernández Madero & Lombardi

• Deloitte

• Estudio O’Farrell

• Grupo GNP

• Pérez Alati Grondona Benites & Arntsen

• Rosso Alba Francia & Asociados



Argentina Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Baker McKenzie

• BaseFirma

• Bruchou Fernández Madero & Lombardi

• Estudio O’Farrell

• Laiún Fernández Sabella & Smudt

• Pérez Alati Grondona Benites & Arntsen

• Rosso Alba Francia & Asociados



Bolivia Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: CR & F Rojas

• Bufete Aguirre Quintanilla Soria & Nishizawa

• Criales & Urcullo

• Ferrere

• Villegas Aldasoza



Bolivia Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Ferrere

• CR & F Rojas

• Criales & Urcullo



Brazil Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Machado Meyer Sendacz & Opice Advogados

• Demarest Advogados

• Lefosse Advogados

• Machado Associados Advogados & Consultores

• Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga Advogados

• Pinheiro Neto Advogados

• Trench Rossi & Watanabe



Brazil Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Pinheiro Neto Advogados

• BaseFirma

• Deloitte

• Lacaz Martins Pereira Neto Gurevich & Schoueri Advogados

• Machado Associados Advogados & Consultores

• Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga Advogados

• Trench Rossi & Watanabe



Canada Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• Blake Cassels & Graydon

• Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

• Deloitte

• Goodmans

• McCarthy Tétrault

• Torys



Canada Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Deloitte 

• Baker McKenzie

• Barsalou Lawson Rheault

• Bennett Jones

• Gowling WLG

• Grant Thornton

• Osler Hoskin & Harcourt



Caribbean Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: OMG 

• Canahuate Rouchès

• Deloitte

• EY 

• Guzmán Ariza

• KPMG 

• Pellerano & Herrera



Central America Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Arias

• Consortium Legal

• Deloitte

• EY

• Lexincorp

• Mayora & Mayora

• Sfera Legal



Central America Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Deloitte

• Arias

• Consortium Legal

• EY

• Grant Thornton



Chile Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: PwC

• Baraona Fischer & Cía

• Carey

• Deloitte

• EY

• KPMG

• Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría



Chile Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: PwC

• Baraona Fischer & Cía

• BaseFirma/Bruzzone & González Abogados

• Deloitte

• EY

• KPMG

• Mazars



Colombia Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Posse Herrera Ruiz

• Brigard Urrutia

• DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán

• EY

• Godoy & Hoyos Abogados

• Gómez-Pinzón Abogados

• Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría



Colombia Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: EY

• BaseFirma

• Deloitte

• Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas

• Godoy & Hoyos Abogados

• Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

• Posse Herrera Ruiz



Ecuador Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Ferrere 

• EY

• Fabara & Compañia

• Perez Bustamante & Ponce

• Vivanco & Vivanco



Ecuador Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: EY

• Fabara & Compañia

• Ferrere

• Perez Bustamante & Ponce

• Spingarn & Marks



Mexico Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza & Enriquez

• Baker McKenzie

• Basham Ringe & Correa

• Deloitte

• Ritch Mueller Heather & Nicolau

• Sánchez Devanny

Skatt



Mexico Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Deloitte

• Baker McKenzie

• BaseFirma

• Basham Ringe & Correa

• Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa

• QCG Transfer Pricing Practice

• Salles Sainz Grant Thornton



Paraguay Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: BKM | Berkemeyer 

• Deloitte

• Ferrere

• Mersan Abogados



Peru Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Zuzunaga Assereto & Zegarra Abogados

• CMS Grau

• Estudio Echecopa - a member firm of Baker McKenzie International

• EY

• Garrigues

• Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

• Rodrigo Elías & Medrano Abogados



Peru Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: EY 

• BaseFirma

• CMS Grau

• Deloitte

Grant Thornton

• Rodrigo Elías & Medrano Abogados/+Value

• Zuzunaga Assereto & Zegarra Abogados



Uruguay Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Guyer & Regules

• Brum Costa Abogados

• Deloitte

• Ferrere

• KPMG




Uruguay Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Grant Thornton

• Bergstein Abogados

• Deloitte 

• Ferrere

• KPMG



US: Chicago Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Kirkland & Ellis

• Mayer Brown

• McDermott Will & Emery

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom



US: Dallas & Houston Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Vinson & Elkins 

• Baker Botts

• Mayer Brown

• Norton Rose Fulbright

• Weil Gotshal & Manges



US: Los Angeles Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Kirkland & Ellis

• Mayer Brown



US: New York Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Kirkland & Ellis

• Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft

• Debevoise & Plimpton

• Mayer Brown

• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Weil Gotshal & Manges

• White & Case



US: San Francisco Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Fenwick & West 

• DLA Piper

• Mayer Brown

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom



US: Washington DC Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Crowell & Moring

• Dentons

• Mayer Brown

• McDermott Will & Emery

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Weil Gotshal & Manges



US Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Kirkland & Ellis

• Mayer Brown

• McDermott Will & Emery

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Vinson & Elkins 

• Weil Gotshal & Manges



US Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Mayer Brown

• Deloitte

• Duff & Phelps

• Fenwick & West

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• White & Case



Venezuela Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Baker McKenzie

• Altum Abogados

• D'Empaire Reyna Abogados

• Deloitte

• Planincorp Consultores



Venezuela Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: BaseFirma 

• Baker McKenzie

• D'Empaire Reyna Abogados

• Deloitte

• NLC Asesoría



Individual Awards

North America Tax Practice Leader of the Year

Winner: Jessica Hough, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Carrie Smit, Goodmans

• Firoz Ahmed, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• Francois Champoux, Deloitte

• Joseph Pari, Weil Gotshal & Manges

• Raj Juneja, McCarthy Tétrault

• Todd F Maynes, Kirkland & Ellis

Latin America Tax Practice Leader of the Year

Winner: Roberto Quiroga Mosquera, Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga

• Carolina Flores, Arias

• Catalina Hoyos, Godoy & Hoyos

• Gerardo Nieto, Basham Ringe & Correa

• Jessica Power, Carey

• Marcelo Natale, Deloitte

• María Inés Brandt, Marval O'Farrell & Mairal

North America Transfer Pricing Practice Leader of the Year

Winner: Jill Weise, Duff & Phelps

• Brad Rolph, Grant Thornton

• Brian Gleicher, White & Case

• Jason Osborn, Mayer Brown

• Natalie Hoyer Keller, Kirkland & Ellis

• Sébastien Rheault, Barsalou Lawson Rheault

• Tony Anderson, Deloitte

Latin America Transfer Pricing Practice Leader of the Year

Winner: Simon Somohano, Deloitte

• Andres Parra, EY

• Luciana Rosanova Galhardo, Pinheiro Neto Advogados

• Marcial Garcia, EY

• Nicolas Juan, Grant Thornton

Roberto Carlos Rivas, PwC

• Stephanie Makin, Machado Associados Advogados & Consultores

North America Tax Litigation and Disputes Practice Leader of the Year

Winner: Kim Marie Boylan, White & Case

• Jacques Bernier, Baker McKenzie

• Jeffrey Erney, Dentons

• John Porter, Baker Botts

• Monica Biringer, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• Raj Madan, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Sanford Stark, Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Latin America Tax Litigation and Disputes Practice Leader of the Year

Winner: Jorge S Narváez-Hasfura, Baker McKenzie

• Álvaro Andrés Díaz, Gómez-Pinzón Abogados

Gonzalo Schmidt Gabler, PwC

• Karem Jureidini Dias, Rivitti & Dias

• Liban Kusa, Bruchou Fernández Madero & Lombardi

• Lígia Regini da Silveira, Barbosa Müssnich & Aragão Advogados

• Mauricio Martínez D´Meza Violante, Deloitte 

North America Indirect Tax Practice Leader of the Year

Winner: Alan Kenigsberg, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• David B Blair, Crowell & Moring

• Michael Bussmann, Gowling WLG

• Nicolas Cloutier, McCarthy Tétrault

• Renn G Neilson, Baker Botts

• Richard Jones, Sullivan & Worcester

• Zvi Halpern-Shavim, Blake Cassels & Graydon

Latin America Indirect Tax Practice Leader of the Year

Winner: Ricardo Marletti Debatin da Silveira, Machado Associados Advogados & Consultores

• Andrés González Becerra, DLA Piper Martinez Beltran

• Camila Galvão, Machado Meyer Sendacz Opice Advogados

• Carolina Velloso Verginelli, Deloitte

• Marcelo Marques Roncaglia, Pinheiro Neto Advogados

• Maria Fernanda Furtado, Trench Rossi & Watanabe - a member firm of Baker McKenzie International

• Pablo Ordoñez, PPO Abogados

In-house awards

Tax Team of the Year

Winner: Falabella Group

• C&A

• Diageo

• IBM Brazil

• iFood

• Orbis

• Petrobras

• Uber

Transfer Pricing Team of the Year

Winner: Louis Dreyfus

• Bavaria

• Elecnor

• Falabella Group

• Grupo Sura

• Shell

Indirect Tax Team of the Year

Winner: Diageo

• IBM Brazil


• Shell

• The HEINEKEN Company

• Uber

Tax Technology Team of the Year

Winner: iFood

• Airbnb

• Netflix

• Rappi

• Televisa

• Uber

Tax Director of the Year

Winner: Luiz Guilherme De Medeiros Ferreira, IBM Brazil

• Angelica Parga, Diageo

• Carlos Ramirez, Orbis

• Cristian Alfredo Gonzalez Rubilar, Falabella Group

• Francois Chadwick, Uber

• Pablo Gentini, Johnson & Johnson

• Rodolfo Araujo, iFood

Transfer Pricing Director of the Year

Winner: Fernanda Amaral, Louis Dreyfus

• Luiz Guilherme De Medeiros Ferreira, IBM Brazil

• Mario Trindade, Shell

• Pablo Gentini, Johnson & Johnson

Indirect Tax Director of the Year

Winner: Maíra Oltra, The HEINEKEN Company

• Brian Kuntz, Uber

• Juan Pablo Wills, Uber (formerly)

• Vasco Gruber Franco, Telefonica Brasil



Deals and Cases

Impact deals

Akamai acquisition of Exceda: Jones Day, Machado Associados Advogados & Consultores, Marval O'Farrell & Mairal, Morales & Besa, Sánchez Devanny, TozziniFreire Advogados, WilmerHale



Asterion acquisition of a portfolio of 11 data centers from Telefónica: Carey, Clifford Chance, Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza & Enriquez

EY, Graça Couto Advogados, Holland & Knight, Machado Meyer Sendacz & Opice Advogados, Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno, Rodrigo Elias & Medrano, Uría Menéndez, Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho



Banco Santander acquisition of Santander Mexico: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza & Enriquez, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Uría Menéndez



Bristol-Myers Squibb acquisition of Celgene: Baker McKenzie, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Jones Day, Kirkland & Ellis, Mayer Brown, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz



Brookfield Business Partners acquisition of Johnson Controls power solutions business: Baker McKenzie, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 



Engie-led consortium acquisition of TAG: Barbosa Müssnich & Aragão Advogados, Jones Day, Machado Meyer Sendacz & Opice Advogados, Schmidt Valois Miranda Ferreira & Agel, Stocche Forbes Advogados, Tauil & Chequer Advogados - a member firm of Mayer Brown



Natura & Co acquisition of Avon: Baker McKenzie, Cravath Swaine & Moore, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Junqueira Ie Advogados, Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga, Pinheiro Neto Advogados, Sullivan & Cromwell, Trench Rossi & Watanabe, Tudisco & Rodrigues Advogados



Newmont acquisition of Goldcorp: Cassels Brock & Blackwell, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Goodmans, Neal Gerber & Eisenberg, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, White & Case



Raytheon acquisition of United Technologies: Shearman & Sterling, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz


Uber IPO: Cooley, Covington & Burling, Davis Polk & Wardwell 

Impact cases

Altera Corp v Commissioner: Baker & McKenzie, Fenwick & West, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Gupta Wessler, Latham & Watkins, Mayer Brown, McDermott Will & Emery, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Munger Tolles & Olson, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Steptoe & Johnson, Wilson Law Group



Amazon.com v. Commissioner: Baker & McKenzie, Caplin & Drysdale, Sidley Austin, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Steptoe & Johnson



Cameco Corporation v The Queen: Fenwick & West, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt



Eaton Corporation v Commissioner: Davis Polk & Wardwell, Mayer Brown, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom



Intercement Participações dispute: Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga



Wobben Windpower dispute: Machado Associados Advogados & Consultores



Regional Awards

Americas Diversity & Inclusion Firm of the Year


Winner: Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga Advogados

• Baker Botts

• Deloitte (US office)

• Grupo GNP

• Mazars (US office)

Americas Pro Bono Firm of the Year

Winner: Pinheiro Neto Advogados

• Brigard Urrutia

• Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza & Enriquez

• Ferrere

• Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga Advogados

Best Newcomer Firm of the Year in the Americas

Winner: Utumi Advogados

Bruzzone & González Abogados

• Diego Galbinski Advocacia

• Epsilon Economics

• SanintRivas

International Tax Law Firm of the Year in the Americas

Winner: Garrigues

• Clifford Chance

• CMS

• DLA Piper

• Uría Menéndez

Americas Tax Innovator of the Year

Winner: Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• BaseFirma

• Deloitte

• Pinheiro Neto Advogados

• Rodrigo Elías & Medrano Abogados

• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Stikeman Elliott

Americas Tax Technology Firm of the Year

Winner: Deloitte

• ASBZ Advogados

• Global TaxUpdate

• Grupo GNP

• KPMG

Mannrich e Vasconcelos Advogados

• McMillan

Americas Tax Compliance and Reporting Firm of the Year

Winner: Deloitte 

• Brigard Urrutia

• Coimbra & Chaves Sociedade de Advogados

• Fenwick & West

• GIINTAX

• Kostelanetz & Fink

• Mayer Brown

Americas Tax Policy Firm of the Year

Winner: Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza & Enriquez 

• Deloitte

• Mayora & Mayora Abogados

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• MJ Alves & Burle Advogados & Consultores

• Rosso Alba Francia & Asociados Abogados

• Villegas Aldazosa

Americas Tax Court Firm of the Year

Winner: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Baker McKenzie

• Brigard Urrutia

• Deloitte

• Mayer Brown

• Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• Pinheiro Neto Advogados

Americas Indirect Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Machado Associados Advogados & Consultores

• Bichara Advogados

• Brazuna Ruschmann & Soriano Sociedade de Advogados (BRATAX)

• Deloitte

• EY

• Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga Advogados

• Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

North America Litigation and Disputes Firm of the Year

Winner: Mayer Brown

• Baker McKenzie

• Bennett Jones

• McDermott Will & Emery

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

Latin America Litigation and Disputes Firm of the Year

Winner: Baker McKenzie

• Baraona Fischer & Cía

• Basham Ringe & Correa

• Bruchou Fernández Madero & Lombardi

• Rosso Alba Francia & Asociados Abogados

• Machado Meyer Sendacz & Opice Advogados

• Pinheiro Neto Advogados

North America Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Deloitte

• Duff & Phelps

• Fenwick & West

• Mayer Brown

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

Latin America Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: BaseFirma

• Baker McKenzie

• Deloitte

• EY

• Ferrere

• Grant Thornton

• KPMG

North America Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

• Kirkland & Ellis

• Mayer Brown

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

• Torys

Latin America Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: EY

• Arias

• Baker McKenzie

• Consortium Legal

• Deloitte

• Ferrere

• Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

Americas Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year

Winner: Deloitte

• Baker McKenzie

• BaseFirma

• EY

• Grant Thornton

• Mayer Brown

• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

Americas Tax Firm of the Year

Winner: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

• Kirkland & Ellis

• Machado Meyer Sendacz & Opice Advogados

• Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr & Quiroga Advogados

• Mayer Brown

• Morgan Lewis & Bockius

• Pinheiro Neto Advogados

Editors' Choice

For his work as the head of tax of a leading multinational and for his voice on digital tax reforms

Winner: Francois Chadwick (Uber)

more across site & bottom lb ros

More from across our site

The appointment of former Missouri representative Billy Long means Danny Werfel’s term will be cut short; in other news, former UK chancellor Philip Hammond has joined a tax consultancy’s board
But advisers also suggest that the proposals may lead to increased compliance costs and obligations
PwC’s ability to ‘quarantine critical information’ should raise concerns for regulators worldwide, Deborah O’Neill said in her warning letter to the PCAOB
After no party won a majority, it’s important that government formation talks are concluded quickly, one Irish tax partner said
Netherlands to think again on VAT increase; consumption tax levels stable in OECD
Problem solving skills are nothing more than a ‘nice to have’ for clients, according to new ITR+ research and conversations with six global in-house and advisory tax leaders
The US President’s decision comes despite him previously ruling out a pardon for his son
Despite China and India’s hesitation towards pillar two, there’s still enough movement in other countries for clients to start getting ready, James Badenach also tells ITR
The investigations dated back to 2015 and alleged that the companies received huge financial advantages from TP rulings; in other news, Australia is set to adopt a CbCR regime
Taxpayers would have to register controlled commodity transactions and declare information to the Brazilian tax authorities under the proposed regulations
Gift this article