Tamika Cushenberry
Accounting graduate from Clark Atlanta University with JD degree from Northwestern University. Currently working as Tax Associate at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.
| Headline: | Entrepreneur |
| Groups: | HBA Business Plan Competition |
| Interested in: | Brainstorming, Finding business partners, Finding cofounders, Finding team mates, Meeting new people, Professional opportunities, Promoting my startups, Recruiting for my startup |
| Schools: | Clark Atlanta University, Northwestern University |
WORK EXPERIENCE
| Employer: | Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, New York, NY |
| Position: | Tax Associate |
| Time period: | April 2007 - Present |
| Description: | • Represent companies in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, financing, real estate joint venture, and partnership transactions, including drafting and negotiating purchase agreements, offering memoranda, and operating agreements
• Represent individuals and companies in state and local tax matters, including tax planning and tax controversy • Represent client in a petition before the U.S. Tax Court and successfully negotiated a significant settlement • Revise major tax publication used by tax professionals regarding the tax treatment of capital assets • Represent pro bono clients in obtaining and defending federal and state tax-exempt status • Establishing pro bono microenterprise program; advised on various corporate and tax microenterprise issues • Member of the Diversity Committee, Women’s Committee, Summer Steering Committee and Recruiting Committee |
| Employer: | Simpson Thacher & Barlett, New York, NY |
| Position: | Tax Associate, Summer Associate |
| Time period: | May 2003 - April 2007 |
| Description: | Tax Associate September 2004–April 2007
• Represent companies in public and private securities offerings (including equity-linked notes and ADRs), domestic and cross-border acquisitions, complex credit transactions, and real estate and partnership transactions • Provide tax advice on domestic stock acquisition, including drafting tax sharing agreement, subsequent IPO and spin-off • Represent public company in issuance of Money Market Preferred and Variable Inverse Preferred Custodial Receipts; wrote comprehensive memo regarding structure and tax issues • Co-authored article on bifurcation of financial instruments containing multiple rights (publication in PLI) • Represent pro bono clients in resolving tax liens, entity formation and incorporation, and obtaining tax-exempt status Summer Associate May 2003–August 2003 • Researched and wrote legal memoranda on Section 367(b) related to corporate inversions and alternative domestication transactions by large multinational corporation; researched tax issues related to corporate inversions, Section 956, Section 897 and the definition of “real property,” contingent convertible debt, Section 704(c) and Section 1031 |
| Employer: | Foley & Lardner, Chicago, IL |
| Position: | Summer Associate |
| Time period: | May 2002 - August 2002 |
| Description: | • Researched and drafted legal memoranda on legal issues including: avoidable preferences in bankruptcy, taxability of an award of contingent fees, contingent claims against insolvent insurers, and dissolution of not-for-profit corporations
• Researched licensing requirements for adoption agencies; wrote legal memorandum to be used in making legislative proposals regarding licensing of adoption agencies; gave oral presentation to client on licensing of adoption agencies • Researched and drafted article on corporate inversions that was published on firm intranet • Performed due diligence on large hospital system for tax-exempt bond issuance and documented findings • Participated in mock trial program; prepared opening and closing statements; conducted direct and cross examinations |
| Employer: | Ernst & Young, New York, NY/Atlanta, GA |
| Position: | Senior Auditor – Financial Services Industry; Staff Auditor |
| Time period: | September 1997 - August 2001 |
| Description: | Senior Auditor – Financial Services Industry July 1999–August 2001
Staff Auditor September 1997–July 1999 • Audited and prepared financial statements for foreign banking, insurance, manufacturing, and healthcare companies • Identified accounting issues; recommended solutions to clients; ensured compliance with regulatory bodies • Managed staff of four during concurrent audit engagements; coordinated daily activities of audit projects; liased with internal and external senior management • Researched impending merger and acquisition deals for advising clients on contemplated transactions |
EDUCATION
| University: | Northwestern University |
| Time period: | 2004 |
| Degree: | JD |
| University: | Clark Atlanta University |
| Time period: | 1997 |
| Degree: | Accounting, BA |
INFORMATION
| Hobbies: | Intramural volleyball, tennis, softball, crossword puzzles, and Swarovski crystal collecting |
| Memberships: | American Bar Association, National Urban League, Chair – Finance Committee
Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation, Board of Directors, Member – Finance Committee (May 2009 – Present); Dewitt Clinton Mentoring Program (2004-present); One-to-One Mentoring Program, Ernst & Young (2000-2001); Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, I.R.S. (1998-1999) |
| Awards: | Lawyer’s Alliance Cornerstone Award for outstanding pro bono legal service (2007) |
Tamika's Startups (2)
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OneBusiness Alliance
Start-up online business providing business information and business services for small businesses.
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OneBusiness Alliance
Start-up online business providing business information and advice on operations and strategy.