Biography
Devon Bodoh is a partner in Weil’s Tax Department and is based in Miami and Washington, D.C. Devon is the head of the Firm’s international and cross-border Tax practice, a member of the Tax Department’s leadership team and Managing Partner of the Miami office.
Devon advises clients on cross-border mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, other divisive strategies, restructurings, bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy workouts, the use of net operating losses, foreign tax credits, and other tax attributes, and consolidated return matters.
Prior to joining Weil, Devon was the leader of KPMG’s Global Complex Transactions group. He was also the Principal-in-Charge of the Washington National Tax International M&A Group, and a member of KPMG’s global leadership group for International Tax and Deal Advisory (M&A) Tax. He also was Principal-in-Charge of KPMG’s Latin America Markets Tax practice. Prior to joining KPMG in 2010, he was a partner at another major law firm.
Devon is widely recognized by industry publications and directories as a leading lawyer, including having been named a 2023 “Tax Law Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal. Devon is also ranked as a leading lawyer for Tax in the District of Columbia by Chambers USA, where clients describe him as “a brilliant transactional lawyer and a great international tax planner” who “is a commercial force in the transactional tax community; an innovative thought leader with a vast network of relationships.” He is recommended for Tax: Financial Products, US Taxes: Non-Contentious and International Tax by Legal 500 US and recognized as an expert in Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who of Corporate Tax and as a “Bankruptcy Tax Specialist” by Turnarounds & Workouts magazine. Devon is recognized as a “Highly Regarded” lawyer for Transactional Tax in the U.S. and a “Tax Leading Advisor” in D.C. by International Tax Review’s World Tax and named among Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Dealmakers in America” list. Devon is also recognized as a “Best Lawyer” for Tax Law in Washington, D.C. by Best Lawyers in America. He was also included among the 2021 “Top Tax Lawyers in North America” by MergerLinks.
Devon frequently speaks on related subjects for groups including the Practicising Law Institute, International Fiscal Association, DC Bar, Tax Executives Institute, the American Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Fundaçao Brasileira de Contabilidade and the Latin Lawyer. He has been an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law, and formerly was a member of the Dean's Advisory Board for the University of Detroit School of Law.
Representative Experience*
- Willis Towers Watson PLC in its proposed $80 billion combination with Aon PLC and its $1.3 billion acquisition of TRANZACT.
- MSP Recovery, LLC in its $32.6 billion business combination with Lionheart Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC sponsored by Lionheart Equities.
- Glencore, CPP Investments and BCI, as shareholders, in Viterra Ltd.’s approximately $18 billion business combination with Bunge Ltd.
- SoftBank Group Corp. (SBG) in its agreement to provide $6.5 billion in debt and equity financing to WeWork, to make a $3 billion tender offer to holders of WeWork shares, other than SBG and its affiliates, and in connection with revisions to the WeWork governance structure.
- Churchill Capital Corp IV, a SPAC sponsored by Churchill Capital Group, in its $11.75 billion merger with Lucid Motors.
- Churchill Capital Corp III, a SPAC sponsored by Churchill Capital Group, in its $5.7 billion merger with MultiPlan, Inc. that has an enterprise value based on the transaction of approximately $11 billion.
- Brookfield Business Partners in its $8 billion sale of Westinghouse Electric Company
- Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by Bilcar FT, LP and Trasimene Capital FT, LP., in its $7.3 billion combination with Alight Solutions LLC.
- Vonage Holdings Corp. in its $6.2 billion sale to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
- TPG Pace Solutions Corp., a SPAC sponsored by TPG Pace Group, in its $4.5 billion business combination with Vacasa LLC.
- Froneri International Limited (a joint venture between Nestlé and PAI Partners) in its $4 billion acquisition of Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Holdings, Inc.
- Bell Canada in its C$5 billion acquisition of Ziply Fiber and senior unsecured term loan facility to finance the acquisition of Ziply Fiber.
- Allego N.V. in an exchange offer and consent solicitation including the exchange of 13,029,838 of the Company’s warrants for 2,996,918 ordinary shares.
- Allego Holding B.V. (n/k/a Allego N.V.) (a portfolio company of Meridiam Infrastructure Partners) in its $3.14 billion business combination with Spartan Acquisition Corp. III, a SPAC sponsored by Spartan Acquisition Sponsor III LLC (an affiliate of Apollo Global Management).
- GS Acquisition Holdings Corp II, a SPAC sponsored by an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, in its $2.6 billion business combination with Mirion Technologies, Inc. (at the time, a portfolio company of Charterhouse Capital Partners).
- Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., as the largest shareholder of Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc, in the pending $2.555 billion sale of Atlantica to Energy Capital Partners and a group of institutional co-investors.
- Sanofi in its $2.5 billion acquisition of Synthorx, Inc.
- Cardtronics plc in its $2.5 billion sale to NCR Corporation.
- Blackstone Energy Partners, as 70% stakeholder in Vine Energy Inc., in Vine's $2.2 billion sale to Chesapeake Energy Corporation.
- ChampionX Corporation in its pending sale to SLB.
- Scandinavian Airlines in connection with its global restructuring and chapter 11 reorganization.
- Wejo Limited in its $1.1 billion business combination with Virtuoso Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by Virtuoso Sponsor LLC.
- Lone Star Funds and XSYS Germany Holding Gmbh in its $325 million acquisition of the MacDermid graphics business from Element Solutions Incorporated.
- Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation I, a SPAC sponsored by Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, in its $629 million initial public offering.
- Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a SPAC sponsored by Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, in its $1.3 billion initial public offering.
- Trebia Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by affiliates of Trasimene Capital Management and Bridgeport Partners, in its $1.4 billion business combination with System1, LLC.
- Marquee Raine Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by an affiliate of The Raine Group LLC and Marquee Sports Holdings SPAC I, LLC, in its $1.2 billion business combination with Enjoy Technology, Inc.
- Marquee Raine Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by an affiliate of The Raine Group LLC and Marquee Sports Holdings SPAC I, LLC, in its $374 million initial public offering.
- EO Charging in its proposed $675 million business combination with First Reserve Sustainable Growth Corp., a SPAC sponsored by First Reserve Corporation.
- Ross Acquisition Corp II, a SPAC sponsored by Ross Holding Company LLC, in its $345 million initial public offering.
- Fortistar Sustainable Solutions Corp., a SPAC sponsored by an affiliate of Fortistar LLC, in its $259 million initial public offering.
- Avista Public Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC sponsored by Avista Acquisition LP II (an affiliate of Avista Capital Holdings), in its pending $850 million business combination with OmniAb, Inc.
- Avista Public Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC sponsored by Avista Acquisition LP II (an affiliate of Avista Capital Holdings), in its $230 million initial public offering.
- Access Industries Inc. in the tax aspects of the $1.2 billion merger of Deezer S.A. with I2PO, a SPAC.
- SiriusXM in its acquisitions of Simplecast, Stitcher, Team Coco and of a minority stake in SoundCloud Ltd.
- Hologic, Inc. in its $159 million acquisition of Diagenode, Inc.
- Ember SPV I Purchaser Inc. (an entity controlled by funds managed by Ember Infrastructure Management, LP) in its acquisition, alongside IQ and CDPQ, of H2O Innovation Inc.
- Giant Eagle, Inc. in its sale of GetGo Café + Market Stores to Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc.
- ILEGAL Mezcal in its sale to Bacardi Limited.
- Goldman Sachs in its pending sale of Marcus Invest’s digital investing account business to Betterment LLC.
- Goldman Sachs in the sale of its Personal Financial Management unit to wealth management firm Creative Planning.
- Goldman Sachs in its acquisition of NextCapital Group, Inc.
- Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC (a portfolio company of Brookfield Business Partners) in its acquisition of the North American Civil Nuclear Systems and Services Business.
- CPP Investments as a member of a consortium led by EQT in that consortium's $2.7 billion acquisition of Waystar, Inc.
- The Government of the United Kingdom as part of a 50/50 consortium with Bharti Global Limited in the consortium's acquisition, in a chapter 11 court-supervised sale process, of OneWeb Global Limited and subsequent investments by other parties who joined the consortium.
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) in its acquisitions of Imperial Parking Corp. and majority stakes in Vantage Elevator Solutions and NVISION; the formation of Trivium Packaging, through a combination of OTPP's portfolio company, Exal Corporation, with the Food & Specialty Metal Packaging business of Ardagh Group; the $604 million sale of the assets of Chisholm Energy Holdings, LLC (a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus and OTPP); BroadStreet Partners, Inc. in recapitalization transactions involving a new equity investment by affiliates of Century Equity Partners; a $3.5 billion syndicated debt refinancing of its existing term loan facilities; a $100 million second lien debt and equity investment by affiliates of Penfund Partners; and, along with Westland Insurance Group Ltd., a $1.28 billion senior secured term loan facility.
- Digital Realty Trust, Inc. in definitive agreements with Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. and its institutional partners, Cyxtera Technologies and Digital Core REIT, that successfully resolve the relationships with Cyxtera, including its (i) $459 million sale of four data centers located in California and New Jersey, (ii) $44 million purchase and termination of three of Cyxtera’s leases in Germany and Singapore, (iii) assignment to Brookfield of three leases in Los Angeles and New Jersey and (iv) purchase option to acquire from Brookfield one colocation center outside of London.
- Providence Equity Partners and its portfolio company Grupo TorreSur in its $315 million sale of São Paulo Cinco Locação de Torres Ltda.
- H&R Block, Inc. in its $405 million acquisition of Wave Financial Inc.
- Kantar Group Holdings Ltd. (a portfolio company of Bain Capital) in its sale of Competitive Media Reporting, LLC and Competitive Media Reporting Canada Inc. (d/b/a Vivvix to MediaRadar).
- Kantar Health, LLC in its $375 million sale by The Kantar Group Limited (a portfolio company of Bain Capital).
- SGS SA in its $335 million sale of Petroleum Service Corporation to Aurora Capital Partners.
- Kantar Group (a portfolio company of Bain Capital Private Equity) in its acquisition of Numerator.
- KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, as lender, in a superpriority debtor-in-possession term loan facility for Accuride Corporation (a portfolio company of Crestview Partners).
- Howden Group Holdings Limited (an investee company of General Atlantic, CDPQ and Hg) in its acquisition of TigerRisk Partners, LLC. and its debut offering of $1 billion 7.250% senior secured notes and $500 million 8.125% senior notes.
- Speedcast International Limited, and its affiliates, in their chapter 11 cases.
- National Energy & Gas Transmission, Inc. (f/k/a/ PG&E National Energy Group, Inc.) in their chapter 11 proceeding.
- Fiera Infrastructure in its investment in Conterra Networks and, together with APG Group, in the acquisition of the equity interests not already owned by Fiera in Conterra Networks.
- Unidentified co-investors in, together with First Infrastructure Capital Advisors, the acquisition of WhiteWater Midstream, LLC, including, notably, WhiteWater's 60% stake in Agua Blanca from Denham Capital and Ridgemont Equity, and the acquisition of an additional 20% stake in Agua Blanca from WPX Energy.
- Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC sponsored by an affiliate of Trasimene Capital Management, LLC and led by William P. Foley II, in a $9 billion business combination with Paysafe Limited.
- Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC sponsored by Trasimene Capital FT, LP II, in its $1.5 billion initial public offering.
- Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by Bilcar FT, LP and Trasimene Capital FT, LP., in its $1 billion initial public offering.
- Trebia Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by affiliates of Trasimene Capital Management and Bridgeport Partners organized to acquire target businesses in the financial services, technology, software, data, analytics, services and related industries, in its $518 million initial public offering, together with a $75 million forward purchase agreement with an affiliate of Cannae Holdings, Inc.
- LTS Investments, as a shareholder, in tax aspects of the $746 million initial public offering of ON.
- General Electric in its $9.5 billion acquisition of Amersham plc.
- General Electric in its $5 billion sale of GE Americom Communications to Societe Europeene des Satellites (SES).
- KKR Credit, as main creditor to Abengoa SA, in the restructuring of Abengoa SA.
- PG&E in their $9 billion California Utility chapter 11 proceeding.
- Burger King in its acquisition of Tim Hortons and formation of Restaurant Brands International.
- Restaurant Brands International in its acquisition of Popeyes Louisiana Chicken.
- Mosaic corporation in its acquisition of Vale Fertilizantes and its significant Canadian assets.
- The Walt Disney Company in its $6.4 billion acquisition of Pixar.
- The Walt Disney Company in its $5.2 billion acquisition of Fox Family.
- The Walt Disney Company in its $3.8 billion acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
- The Walt Disney Company in its $2.7 billion spin-off of ABC Radio and subsequent merger with Citadel Broadcasting Corporation.
- The Walt Disney Company in its acquisition of Muppets.
- Ackerley Group in its $800 million sale to Clear Channel Worldwide.
*Includes matters handled prior to joining Weil.
Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Guides and Resources, Latest Thinking, Firm News & Announcements
Awards and Recognition
- Devon Bodoh Named a "Tax Law Trailblazer" Award Brief — National Law Journal
- Devon Bodoh Named a “Leading” Lawyer for Tax in the District of Columbia Award Brief — Chambers USA
- Devon Bodoh Recommended for Tax: Financial Products, US Taxes: Non-Contentious and International Tax Award Brief — Legal 500 US
- Devon Bodoh Recognized as an Expert for Tax Award Brief — Who's Who Legal
- Devon Bodoh Recognized as a “Highly Regarded” Lawyer for Transactional Tax in the U.S. and a “Tax Leading Advisor” in D.C. Award Brief — International Tax Review’s World Tax
- Devon Bodoh Named a “Best Lawyer” for Tax Law in Washington, D.C. Award Brief — Best Lawyers in America (Best Lawyers (in America) is by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners)
- Devon Bodoh Named Among the 2021 “Top Tax Lawyers in North America” Award Brief — MergerLinks
Speaking Engagements
-
ABA Virtual 2024 Fall Tax Meeting
Speaker(s):
Devon Bodoh
September 23-25, 2024 — Weil International Tax Head Devon Bodoh chaired two panels titled “Current Issues with Troubled Companies” and “Section 355 Delayed Distributions, Retentions and Debt Exchanges,” as well as the Corporate Committee Transaction Lunch and moderated the Foreign Lawyers Forum panel titled “Investments In and Into Latin America” as part of the ABA Virtual 2024 Fall Tax Meeting.
-
IBA Annual Conference Mexico City 2024
Speaker(s):
Devon Bodoh
September 18, 2024 — Weil International Tax Head Devon Bodoh moderated a panel titled “Pillar 2 Implementation” as part of the IBA Annual Conference Mexico City 2024.
Latest Thinking
-
2024 Election Observations: The Future of Tax Policy under A Second Trump Administration
Blog Post — Tax Blog
— By
Devon Bodoh and
Grant Solomon
— November 13, 2024
On November 5, former President Donald J. Trump was elected to serve as the 47th President of the United States. In addition, it is certain that Republicans will be in control of the Senate. Whether the U.S. House of Representatives will be controlled by Republicans or Democrats is still uncertain and may not be known for several more days; however, Republicans are optimistic that results are trending toward a unified government. ...
-
New IRS Guidance on Spin-Offs and CAMT: Expert Analysis
Blog Post — Tax Blog
— By
Devon Bodoh
— October 15, 2024
In the latest edition of the Weil, Gotshal & Manges Expert Focus series on US tax issues, the firm’s tax co-chair Joe Pari and international tax head Devon Bodoh discuss recent guidance on the procedural mechanisms for obtaining an IRS ruling with respect to a tax-free spin-off, covering both substance and procedure related to this guidance, as well as the long-awaited guidance on corporate alternative minimum tax. ...
- New IRS Guidance on Spin-Offs and CAMT: Expert Analysis Alert — Chambers Expert Focus — By Devon Bodoh and Joseph M. Pari — October 15, 2024
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TREASURY AND IRS ISSUE FINAL RULES RELATING TO REPATRIATION OF IP
Blog Post — Tax Blog
— By
Devon Bodoh,
Greg Featherman and
Grant Solomon
— October 10, 2024
On October 9, 2024, the Treasury Department (“Treasury”) and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued final regulations (the “Final Regulations”), which, in certain cases, terminate the continued application of Section 367(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) from a previous transfer of intangible property to a foreign corporation when the intangible property is repatriated to certain U.S. persons.Background.Section 367(d) of the Code provides rules for outbound transfers of intangible property (e.g., intellectual property) by a U.S. person (a “U.S. transferor”) to a foreign corporation. Under these rules, when a U.S. transferor transfers intangible property to a foreign corporation in an otherwise tax-free exchange under Sections[1] 351 or 361, the U.S. transferor is treated as having sold the intangible property in exchange for annual royalty payments (an “annual inclusion”) over the useful life of the intangible property (or a lump sum payment in the case of a disposition of the intangible property following the initial outbound transfer). The U.S. transferor treats the annual inclusion and lump sum as ordinary income and royalties for purposes of determining source and the foreign tax credit limitation category.On May 3, 2023, Treasury and the IRS published a notice of proposed rulemaking under Section 367 (the “Proposed Regulations”). The Proposed Regulations were intended to address simple, common fact patterns involving repatriations of intangible property by terminating the continued application of Section 367(d) when a transferee foreign corporation repatriates intangible property subject to Section 367(d) to a qualified domestic person when certain reporting requirements are satisfied. The Proposed Regulations also included a rule coordinating the application of Section 367(d) and the provisions in Treasury Regulations Section 1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(D) that apply the principles of Section 367(d) to determine the appropriate amount of gross income attributable to a foreign branch.The Final Regulations adopt, without significant modification, the Proposed Regulations. For a further discussion of the proposed regulations, see “IP Phone Home – IRS Issues New Proposed Rules on the Repatriation of Intangible Property” posted on the Weil Tax Blog on May 4, 2023.Final Regulations.As indicated above, the Final Regulations adopted the Proposed Regulations with only minor changes. In addition to a clarification to one example, the Proposed Regulations clarify one aspect of the reporting rules. As a condition for terminating the application of Section 367(d) with respect to repatriated intangible property, the Proposed Regulations would have required a U.S. transferor to provide the information described in Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.6038B-1(d)(2)(iv). If a U.S. transferor failed to provide that information, the requirement to take an annual inclusion into account over the useful life of the intangible property, continued to apply. However, a U.S. transferor was eligible for relief under the Proposed Regulations if the Proposed Regulations would have applied to the subsequent transfer of intangible property but for the fact that the required information was not provided and the U.S. transferor, upon becoming aware of the failure, promptly provided the required information, explained its failure to comply, and met certain other requirements (if applicable).One comment to the Proposed Regulations requested that the Final Regulations clarify whether relief for a failure to comply is, in relevant part, also conditioned on the U.S. transferor timely filing one or more amended returns for the taxable year in which the subsequent transfer occurred and succeeding years, and, if the U.S. transferor is under examination when an amended return is filed, providing a copy of the amended return(s) to the IRS personnel conducting the examination. Treasury and the IRS adopted that comment in the Final Regulations to clarify that the relief for a failure to comply is conditioned upon the requirements listed in the previous sentence (if applicable).Applicability Date.Consistent with the applicability date in the Proposed Regulations, the Final Regulations apply only to repatriations of intangible property occurring on or after the date the final regulations are published in the Federal Register, which is scheduled to be October 10, 2024. ...
- 2024 Tax Country Comparative Guide – U.S. Tax Publication — Legal 500 — By Devon Bodoh, Joseph M. Pari, Greg Featherman and Alfonso J. Dulcey — October 07, 2024
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil Advises BCE in C$5B Acquisition of Ziply Fiber Deal Brief — November 04, 2024
- Twenty-Eight Weil Partners Named to 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America List Firm Announcement — October 21, 2024
- Weil Earns High Honors in ITR World Tax 2025 Firm Announcement — August 30, 2024
- Weil Advises Giant Eagle, Inc. in the Sale of GetGo Café + Market Stores to Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc. Deal Brief — August 19, 2024
- Weil Advised Regis Corporation in New Credit Facility to Refinance Existing Debt and Deleverage Balance Sheet Deal Brief — June 27, 2024