Peter Serreze is a public finance counsel in the Tax and Benefits Department of Ropes & Gray LLP. His practice concentrates on providing tax advice on public finance transactions for governmental issuers and conduit borrowers. He also advises financial sector clients on compliance with U.S. tax withholding and reporting obligations.
In the public finance area, in addition to providing tax structuring advice in connection with bond issuances, Pete assists universities, hospitals and other nonprofit borrowers in developing programs to maintain the compliance of their bond issues with applicable federal tax requirements after the bonds have been issued. He led a group of Ropes & Gray colleagues in writing Post-Issuance Compliance: A Guide to Practical Strategies and Procedures for 501(c)(3) Borrowers, a comprehensive manual used by dozens of universities, hospital systems and other nonprofit borrowers. He speaks frequently before national and regional groups on the subject of bond compliance, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Treasury Institute for Higher Education and the National Association of College and University Attorneys. Pete also handles public finance matters before the IRS, including audits, ruling requests and closing agreements.
In the withholding/reporting area, Pete advises U.S. and foreign broker-dealers, custodians, administrators, and other institutions on compliance with the technical requirements of the rules relating to information reporting, nonresident alien withholding, backup withholding, and emerging areas such as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). He assists clients in developing effective compliance processes, and has helped clients achieve successful resolution with the IRS of matters involving prior withholding and reporting irregularities.
Professional & Civic Activities
- Chair of the 501(c)(3) Bonds Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Tax Section
Clerkships
- Honorable Paul H. Roney, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Honorable Sam J. Ervin III, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
©1996-2012 Ropes & Gray LLP. All rights reserved.
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PRACTICES
Tax & Benefits
Corporate
Education
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JD, University of Virginia School of Law, 1999; Order of the Coif; Pro Bono Award; Editorial Board member, Virginia Law Review
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BA (History), with Distinction in all Subjects, Cornell University, 1994
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