Chris advises public and private companies on tax planning and analysis in the transactional area. He brings extensive experience in taxable and tax-free acquisitions, divestitures of corporate subsidiaries and divisions, and reorganizations and restructurings.

Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Chris represents companies in the structuring and formation of major corporate joint ventures, limited liability companies, and large venture capital and private equity funds. He also advises companies on the tax issues attendant to both public and private debt and equity offerings.

Chris is particularly experienced in issues related to the taxation of insurance companies and insurance products. He works closely with the firm’s insurance and reinsurance attorneys on transactions involving the acquisition and divestiture of insurance companies, and the structuring of insurance-related investments. Chris also has experience in the creation and taxation of captive insurance arrangements, and authors articles on the topic.

Before joining the firm, Chris worked in New York City in the tax groups of both a major public accounting and a law firm.

  • Advised public and private companies in taxable and tax-free corporate acquisitions and divestitures.
  • Assisted numerous venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds in organizing new funds and making investments in portfolio companies.
  • Assisted companies and individuals with the formation of and investment in joint ventures conducting both investment activities and business operations, as well as the acquisitions and divestitures of such entities.
  • Advised companies on general tax and reporting issues related to their transactions:
  • Becklar, LLC, the parent company of both AvantGuard Monitoring Centers and Freeus, in a completed investment transaction with BV Investment Partners.
  • iA Financial Group in the completed acquisition of Austin-based IAS Parent Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries for a total enterprise value of $720 million, following a competitive auction process.
  • Palladium Equity Partners, LLC, in the completed sale of the parent company of DolEx Dollar Express, Inc., to a group of investors, including management.
  • CopperPoint Insurance Group, a mutual holding company, in the completed $900 million acquisition of the privately held parent company of workers’ compensation and liability insurer Alaska National Insurance Company.
  • An affiliate of Nautic Partners, LLC, in its acquisition of Spartech LLC, in partnership with Spartech management, from private equity owner Arsenal Capital Partners.
  • PTC Inc. in its acquisition of Onshape Inc. for approximately $470 million in cash, net of cash acquired.
  • Vericity, Inc., in its $150 million initial public offering of common stock.
  • Silver Oak Services Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm, in the recapitalization of Keystone Partners, a leading provider of comprehensive outplacement, career management, executive coaching, and leadership development services.
  • MVC Private Equity Fund, L.P., in the sale of its portfolio company Plymouth Rock Energy, a leading retail energy provider of natural gas and electricity, to ENGIE Resources.
  • Prospect Partners in an add-on acquisition by its portfolio company Owen Equipment of Legacy Equipment Company, a supplier of street sweepers, sewer cleaning equipment, refuse and mechanic trucks, and snow removal equipment.
  • Prospect Partners in the sale of its portfolio company Owen Equipment, a specialty equipment platform providing critical infrastructure solutions to municipal, utility, and commercial customers, to CenterGate Capital.
  • Pronto Insurance, a portfolio company held by a private equity fund affiliated with Palladium Equity Partners, LLC, in its sale to Risk Placement Services Inc., a unit of Arthur J. Gallagher + Co.
  • Silver Oak Services Partners, LLC, a lower middle-market private equity firm focused exclusively on business, health care, and consumer services companies, in its sale of The Tranzonic Companies to PNC Riverarch Capital.
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Tax Law (2013-2026)
  • Chambers USA: Tax (2007-2025)

Chris represents companies in the structuring and formation of major corporate joint ventures, limited liability companies, and large venture capital and private equity funds. He also advises companies on the tax issues attendant to both public and private debt and equity offerings.

Chris is particularly experienced in issues related to the taxation of insurance companies and insurance products. He works closely with the firm’s insurance and reinsurance attorneys on transactions involving the acquisition and divestiture of insurance companies, and the structuring of insurance-related investments. Chris also has experience in the creation and taxation of captive insurance arrangements, and authors articles on the topic.

Before joining the firm, Chris worked in New York City in the tax groups of both a major public accounting and a law firm.

  • Advised public and private companies in taxable and tax-free corporate acquisitions and divestitures.
  • Assisted numerous venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds in organizing new funds and making investments in portfolio companies.
  • Assisted companies and individuals with the formation of and investment in joint ventures conducting both investment activities and business operations, as well as the acquisitions and divestitures of such entities.
  • Advised companies on general tax and reporting issues related to their transactions:
  • Becklar, LLC, the parent company of both AvantGuard Monitoring Centers and Freeus, in a completed investment transaction with BV Investment Partners.
  • iA Financial Group in the completed acquisition of Austin-based IAS Parent Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries for a total enterprise value of $720 million, following a competitive auction process.
  • Palladium Equity Partners, LLC, in the completed sale of the parent company of DolEx Dollar Express, Inc., to a group of investors, including management.
  • CopperPoint Insurance Group, a mutual holding company, in the completed $900 million acquisition of the privately held parent company of workers’ compensation and liability insurer Alaska National Insurance Company.
  • An affiliate of Nautic Partners, LLC, in its acquisition of Spartech LLC, in partnership with Spartech management, from private equity owner Arsenal Capital Partners.
  • PTC Inc. in its acquisition of Onshape Inc. for approximately $470 million in cash, net of cash acquired.
  • Vericity, Inc., in its $150 million initial public offering of common stock.
  • Silver Oak Services Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm, in the recapitalization of Keystone Partners, a leading provider of comprehensive outplacement, career management, executive coaching, and leadership development services.
  • MVC Private Equity Fund, L.P., in the sale of its portfolio company Plymouth Rock Energy, a leading retail energy provider of natural gas and electricity, to ENGIE Resources.
  • Prospect Partners in an add-on acquisition by its portfolio company Owen Equipment of Legacy Equipment Company, a supplier of street sweepers, sewer cleaning equipment, refuse and mechanic trucks, and snow removal equipment.
  • Prospect Partners in the sale of its portfolio company Owen Equipment, a specialty equipment platform providing critical infrastructure solutions to municipal, utility, and commercial customers, to CenterGate Capital.
  • Pronto Insurance, a portfolio company held by a private equity fund affiliated with Palladium Equity Partners, LLC, in its sale to Risk Placement Services Inc., a unit of Arthur J. Gallagher + Co.
  • Silver Oak Services Partners, LLC, a lower middle-market private equity firm focused exclusively on business, health care, and consumer services companies, in its sale of The Tranzonic Companies to PNC Riverarch Capital.
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Tax Law (2013-2026)
  • Chambers USA: Tax (2007-2025)
  • Member, Boston Bar Association Tax Section, former chair
  • Member, American Bar Association Section of Taxation
  • Member, Law360 Tax Authority Federal Editorial Advisory Board (2022)

Education

  • New York University School of Law, L.L.M., taxation
  • Boston University School of Law, J.D.
  • Villanova University, cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • Co-author, “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Analysis of Key Provisions for Private Equity Funds and Their Portfolio Companies,” Troutman Pepper Locke, July 15, 2025.
  • Co-author, “The One Big Beautiful Bill: Initial Analysis of Key Provisions for Private Equity Funds and Their Portfolio Companies,” Troutman Pepper Locke, June 9, 2025. Cited in The Lever and MSN, June 19, 2025.
  • Co-author, “Venture Capital Financing,” Organizing, Financing, and Advising a Massachusetts Business – Chapter 11, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, January 31, 2025.
  • Author, “IRS Issues Carried Interest Guidance,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, August 7, 2020.
  • Author, “Federal Income Tax Considerations for Debt Workouts During an Economic Downturn – Partnership Considerations Supplement,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, April 14, 2020.
  • Author, “Federal Income Tax Considerations for Debt Workouts During an Economic Downturn – Lender Considerations Supplement,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, April 14, 2020.
  • Author, “Federal Income Tax Considerations for Debt Workouts During an Economic Downturn – ‘S’ Corporation Considerations Supplement,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, April 14, 2020.
  • Author, “Federal Income Tax Considerations for Debt Workouts During an Economic Downturn – ‘C’ Corporation Considerations Supplement,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, April 14, 2020.
  • Author, “Federal Income Tax Considerations for Debt Workouts During an Economic Downturn,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, April 14, 2020.
  • Author, “IRS Issues Final Regulations under Section 956, With Few Changes from Proposed Regulations,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, May 23, 2019.
  • Author, “Taxes and Business Decisions,” Isenberg School of Management at UMASS Amherst Presentation, April 18, 2019.