D. Frederick Sparks

Frederick advises clients on the structuring of transactions, including the consideration of tax consequences, in a variety of industries, including finance, technology, entertainment and manufacturing. He also drafts and reviews a wide range of business-related agreements, including corporate formation documents, corporate bylaws, shareholder agreements, financing documents, film distribution agreements and software license agreements. Prior to joining the firm, Frederick worked in the New York office of Skadden Arps, where he advised clients including Fortune 500 companies on the tax consequences of complex business transactions, specifically in the preparation of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for tax free mergers and acquisitions. He also specialized in the tax consequences of U.S. shareholders investing in foreign companies. Before attending law school, Frederick was a staff accountant with Price Waterhouse where he performed audits of company financial records and reviewed and made recommendations concerning internal controls. He also worked in the software license compliance group of Oracle Corporation where he was responsible for performing audits of customers’ usage of Oracle products to ensure compliance with license agreements. Frederick served as a board member of East Bay Habitat for Humanity and for the Black Skeptics Los Angeles (BSLA). He currently sits on the scholarship committee of BSLA’s First in Family Humanist Scholarship.

• Of Counsel