Gerald Rokoff

Gerald Rokoff

Partner
Gerald Rokoff is our go to. He has no peer. When we have him, I know everything is covered. He is a brilliant lateral thinker seasoned by years of experience. Literally available around the clock and always on point.
Client comment, The Legal 500
About

Gerald Rokoff has more than 35 years of experience in global and US tax matters, helping clients ensure maximum financial benefit and optimum tax treatment.

Gerald has extensive experience in representing asset managers, underwriters, and investors with respect to asset-backed securitizations, as well as asset advisory firms and investors in the making of U.S. inbound investments across a variety of asset classes, including direct credit, CLOs, REMICs, REITs, and others.  

Gerald is involved in the growing business of tax risk insurance. Gerald benefits from advising both underwriters -- by reviewing taxpayer submissions and advising on the tax risks to be insured -- and taxpayers who wish to eliminate risk at a fair premium.  The latter involves preparing thorough and well-prepared opinion on the underlying tax issues. In addition, he regularly advises clients on the specialized rules applicable to insurance companies under the controlled foreign corporation and passive foreign investment company regimes, and how to take advantage of statutory safe harbors under these two regimes.

Gerald has extensively advised bankers and investment bankers on the tax aspects of capital market transactions, including structures designed to legally reduce the cost of funds or enhance yield in the United States and abroad.

He does tax advisory work in a broad range of sectors, including media, sports and entertainment and asset management (both on the institutional investor and the sponsor/advisory sides). Additionally, he acts as the point person for the coordination of US and international tax advice. Gerald acts as special tax counsel for a variety of companies and helps them identify the optimal path forward. In addition to advising foreign sovereigns and high net worth family offices, his clients include Ares Management, Goldman Sachs, Hayfin Capital Management, SoundPoint, KCK Group, AMP Capital, HarbourView Equity Partners, Concord Music, Captech, Intangible assets Group, Jane Street, AIG, Vale Insurance Partners, Lloyds of London syndicate members, Oxford, Omers and QIA.

Bar admissionsNew York
CourtsUnited States Tax Court
Education
  • J.D., Yale Law School 1974
    Editor, Yale Law Journal
    Assistant-in-Instruction
  • B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook 1971
    Valedictorian
    summa cum laude

Awards

The Legal 500 United States

  • Leading Lawyer, Financial Products (2024)
  • Recommended, US Taxes: Non-contentious (2015-2023)
    • Client comments: "Gerald Rokoff is deeply connected within the tax space. He understands the commercial drivers for transactions and knows how to right-size the response to the particular issue or question." 

    • "Gerald Rokoff is broadly and deeply experienced. Highly committed to and supportive of clients, including being notably encouraging and empathetic. Considers the big picture beyond the tax component. Approaches the client relationship as a true relationship, not just a transactional project."

  • Recommended, Insurance: Non-contentious (2017-2018)
  • Recommended, Financial Products (2022-2023)
    • Client comments:"DLA Piper’s tax team is exceptional. It has consistently provided us with excellent and thorough, solutions-focused tax support in the private credit space. I work a lot with Gerald Rokoff and John Wei. They are extremely knowledgeable and creative. They are on the forefront of deal developments and very practical in providing advice. They have a very good understanding of our needs, and their advice is very important to us." 
    • "The tax team led by Jerry Rokoff was able to identify key tax issues in a multifaceted joint venture negotiation and formation. They were also able to subsequently coordinate effectively with the tax accountants in the preparation of the company’s tax returns. Jerry has the valued ability to explain complex tax issues in plain English as well as assist the client in assessing tax risk." "Jerry Rokoff is well respected by lawyers for the league and other teams which help move transactions forward and issues effectively resolved.
    • “Outstanding tax lawyer who is pragmatic, responsive and user friendly.”
    • “Gerald Rokoff is our longest relationship at DLA and oversees our engagement. We appreciate that he is deeply connected within the industry and understands our organization. He knows how to right -size his advice and also to staff our account with the right people at DLA.”
Other recognitions
  • International Tax Review—World Tax recognized Gerald as a top-tier tax adviser, noting that clients praise him as "incredibly sensitive, client-service oriented and a problem solver extraordinaire."
  • He has been given the highest Martindale-Hubbell® rating and has been named a New York Super Lawyer

 

Clerk Experience

  • The Honorable Irving R. Kaufman, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (1974-1975)

Prior Experience

Before joining DLA Piper, Gerald was a tax partner at a global law firm and the Chair of its Global Tax Planning Committee.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • New York State Bar Association
  • International Fiscal Association
  • Tax Club of New York (President, 2000 – 2001)

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