Education
LL.M. Taxation 2014 – University of San Diego School of Law
Summer Program, International Business Transactions & Chinese Legal System 2012 – Zhejiang University, Guanghua School of Law
J.D. Certificate in Global Legal Studies 2012 – Thomas Jefferson School of Law
B.A. Political Science International Relations 2008 – University of California
Bar and Court Admissions
State of California – Admitted
Memberships
California Bar Association – Taxation, Trusts & Estates Section
San Diego County Bar Association
California Lawyers Association – Taxation Section
Leadership Position
Publications Co-Lead for the Corporate and Passthrough Entities Committee of the California Lawyers Association Taxation Section
As an Associate at Teeple Hall, LLP, Spencer Higgins has handled a variety of matters in the Firm’s Tax, Corporate, and International Estate Planning Practice Groups since joining the firm in 2017. In his role at the Firm, Mr. Higgins focuses on tax (international, U.S. federal, and state & local), mergers and acquisitions, U.S. and cross border business planning, international estate planning, and corporate governance matters for a diverse set of clients.
Mr. Higgins has been practicing law since 2014 and has experience in U.S. and cross-border M&A transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations, tax planning/structuring, and post-deal integration. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Higgins worked in U.S. national and state politics. Between 2007 and 2009, Mr. Higgins worked at The White House where he began as an intern in the Office of Political Affairs and then finished his national political career as a Press Advance Representative in the Office of Presidential Advance. Before joining Teeple Hall, LLP Mr. Higgins spent several years working for PricewaterhouseCoopers where he worked in the M&A Tax and US State & Local Tax groups.
Mr. Higgins holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from University of California, Davis, a Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law (Certificate in Global Legal Studies), and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from University of San Diego School of Law.
Outside of his work at the Firm, Mr. Higgins is a member of several local, regional, and international organizations, including the California Bar Association, the San Diego County Bar Association, and the California Lawyers Association Taxation Section. Mr. Higgins also currently serves as the Publications Co-Lead for the Corporate and Passthrough Entities Committee of the California Lawyers Association Taxation section.
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Advised a U.S. nonresident alien individual on U.S. pre-immigration planning matters. Mr. Higgins’ work also included designing and restructuring the client’s assets in order to efficiently minimize U.S. income and estate tax exposures.
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Represented a Private Equity firm in their $20MM acquisition of a middle-market energy service provider. Mr. Higgins also worked to formulate a detailed pre-acquisition tax planning structure.
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Advised corporate client on multiple add-on mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Higgins also acted as outside general counsel for the client’s ongoing corporate and tax needs.