Alvarez & Marsal Taxand, an affiliate of global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal, appointed Houston-based Michael McGee to lead its newly launched global trade and customs practice.

The global trade and customs practice helps clients manage tariff and tax liabilities and maintain compliance across the spectrum of trade and customs requirements, including sanctions and export controls impacting services and technology across borders.

McGee joined Alvarez & Marsal Taxand with more than 20 years of experience in consulting and compliance management for multinational companies. He has knowledge of U.S. customs law, Department of Commerce Export Administration regulations, Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control and Department of Commerce antiboycott regulations. He has designed and implemented global trade compliance programs for global companies across multiple industries, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, electronics and retail.

Prior to joining Alvarez & Marsal Taxand, McGee served as the global director of international trade regulations at BP America. In that role, he built the company’s compliance program and developed mechanisms to identify trade risks and mitigate import and export compliance risks. He also led the drive to automate trade compliance for several BP businesses.

“The political landscape and the pandemic have led to more regulations, increasingly complex tax regimes and the need to redraw supply chains. As a result, there is greater demand for expert tax advisory services, including for global trade and tariffs and duties,” Ernesto R. Perez, managing director and global practice leader of Alvarez & Marsal Taxand, said. “In line with A&M’s leadership, action, results approach, A&M Taxand is responding to the shifting business environment by expanding and strengthening specialized tax services to maximize value for clients.”

In the past year, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand has launched and strengthened several practices to meet growing corporate demand for tax services. Most recently, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand appointed Fabrizio Lolliri as global head of transfer pricing. In November 2020, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand launched transformation and technology tax advisory offerings with the appointment of senior professionals like Thomas Ewigleben.

“A&M Taxand is committed to strengthening our robust tax advisory capabilities to meet evolving market needs,” Albert Liguori, managing director at Alvarez & Marsal Taxand, said. “Michael’s track record of setting up platforms to manage tariff and tax liabilities and maintain compliance across the spectrum of trade and customs requirements is an essential part in redesigning clients’ supply chains.”

“Michael’s expertise strengthens our integrated offering as we support clients confronting supply chain disruption, particularly in the current environment with demand outpacing supply in many critical categories of materials,” Cyndi Joiner, managing director at Alvarez & Marsal and leader of the corporate performance improvement practice’s east region, said. “As the international trade market becomes more competitive, A&M continues to strengthen its capabilities in helping clients build resilient supply chain with solid monitoring, compliance and risk management processes.”

In addition to his work with BP, McGee served as corporate director of trade compliance at Cardinal Health. Prior to that, he led KPMG’s southwest trade and customs practice.

McGee is a co-founder of the Houston Energy Industry Trade Compliance Forum and chair of its steering committee. He serves on the chemical/pharmaceutical committee of the American Association of Exporters and Importers.