Baker Botts Tax Department Chair Moves to Kirkland in Houston

Richard Husseini, who was chair of Baker Botts‘ tax department, joined Kirkland & Ellis in Houston on Monday as a tax partner in Houston, an addition that bolsters the firm’s team in a busy practice area.

Husseini, who joined Baker Botts in 1992, had served on the firm’s executive committee and was one of four partners who sought to become managing partner in 2019. California partner John Martin was elected in 2019 to a four-year term as managing partner.

The new Kirkland partner, who focuses on tax controversy and planning, said Kirkland offered him a “fabulously unique opportunity” to help build its controversy practice.

He said there has been a push to ramp up enforcement of tax laws under the Biden administration, and demand in his practice has been high.

“I definitely was very aware of Kirkland’s place in the market and had lots of friends here,” he said. “Conversations just sort of ensued … and that sort of led to this move.”

When asked if the fact he did not become the firm’s managing partner affected his decision to move to Baker Botts, Husseini said he will always cherish his time at the firm and the many lifelong friendships he made there. But “the time was right to make the move,” because the opportunity to lead growth of the tax controversy practice was so attractive.

Husseini said most of his clients are in energy, oil and gas, electric power and oilfield services, but he declined to identify specific clients.

In a press release, Jon Ballis, chairman of Kirkland’s executive committee, wrote that the firm is focused on delivering the best talent to its clients, and Husseini fits that bill as a “top tax lawyer with an outstanding reputation earned over 30 years of practice at the highest levels.”

Andrew Calder, a corporate partner in Kirkland’s Houston office and a member of the firm’s executive committee, wrote that adding lawyers such as Husseini will help the firm grow its energy and infrastructure practices.

In the tax controversy side of his practice, Husseini represents clients before the IRS, before arbitrators in private party tax disputes and in courts including the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. District courts. He also advises on federal tax issues in transactions in the energy, oil and gas, and electric and gas utility industries.

Baker Botts provided this statement on Husseini’s departure: “We appreciate Richard’s contributions and wish him the best.”