Tim Becker and Wells Miller hired as partners by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Tim Becker and Wells Miller hired as partners by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

They were both serving at Choate Hall & Stewart

One of the top 40 US firms Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has hired Tim Becker and Wells Miller as partners in its tax practice, ahead of the Boston office launch.

While Becker has re-joined the firm after eight years, he was previously the firm's partner in New York. Later, he served at Choate Hall & Stewart and also had a short stint as an independent practitioner. Meanwhile, Miller worked with Choate Hall for almost a decade and in 2021, entered a partnership.

This is Akin Gump's first hire in the city. The firm's 70-lawyer-strong tax practice is led from New York by partners Patrick Fenn and Stuart Leblang. Its clients include Blackstone Alternative Asset Management, Diamondback Energy, and 7-Eleven.

Kim Koopersmith, the chair of the firm remarked, "Becker and Miller are phenomenal practitioners who focus on the private equity and funds space. They operate across Akin Gump's practices in tax, financial restructuring, funds, investigations, and regulations. We are delighted to welcome them and are excited about the value they bring to the firm's clients."

Becker stated, "Akin Gump is an ideal platform for our clients. We are excited to continue serving the investment management industry with the support of the firm's special situations, private equity M&A, funds, and tax capabilities, all of which are in high demand in the Boston market."

Becker advises private equity funds, venture capital funds and hedge funds on US and international tax and structuring issues relating to funding formation, operations, and investments. He also advises buyers, sellers and target companies in private equity M&A, and other domestic and cross-border transactions.

Miller advises fund clients on matters relating to executive compensation, including drafting, negotiating and implementing non-qualified deferred compensation plans, equity and equity-based incentive compensation arrangements, severance, change in control and executive employment agreements, particularly M&A.