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Ruth is a partner in the Tax Group. Her practice focuses on the tax aspects of corporate and real estate transactions, including business formations, mergers and acquisitions, tax-free reorganizations and spin-offs, business dispositions, debt and equity financings and restructurings, lending transactions, real estate acquisitions, dispositions and tax-deferred exchanges, and real estate restructurings and loan workouts. She also is experienced in tax planning for start-up and emerging growth companies, as well as passthrough entities such as limited liability companies, partnerships and S corporations. She has advised clients in a wide range of industries including renewable energy, biofuels, media and technology, entertainment, telecommunications, manufacturing, food, medical device, biopharmaceutical, healthcare, financial services, venture capital and private equity funds and real estate development. She also counsels numerous tax-exempt organizations on a multitude of tax and nonprofit corporate law issues.

Ruth was featured in the December 1999 cover story of San Francisco Attorney, "Through the Looking Glass: A Selection of Women From Boalt Hall's Remarkable Class of 1977 Reflect on a Quarter Century in the Law."  She was also profiled in the ABA Journal twice - in the May 2001 issue in the story "Life in Question: How Five Lawyers Worked Out Answers of Their Own," and in the July 2006 issue in the story "Life in Question…Continued."  Ruth was also selected by her peers and the publishers of Law & Politics and Los Angeles Magazine as one of Southern California's "Super Lawyers" for 2006.

Publications

• Co-author, "IRS Modifies Safe Harbor Rules for Renewable Energy Projects Utilizing Partnership Flip Structure," Reed Smith, Energy Alert 09-263 (September 23, 2009)
• Co-author, “IRS Issues Guidance on Application Process for Tax Credits for Manufacturers of Renewable Energy Property,” Reed Smith, Energy Alert 09-236 (August 18, 2009)
• Co-author, “Proposed Legislation Would Provide Exemption from Passive Activity Limitations for Qualified Wind Facilities, Extend Cash Grants in Lieu of Tax Credits,” Reed Smith, Client Alert 09-221 (July 29, 2009)
• Co-author, “Treasury Department Issues Guidance on Electing Cash Grants in Lieu of Production or Investment Tax Credits,” Reed Smith, Energy Alert 09-211 (July 15, 2009)
• Quoted, "Obama Officials Detail Grants For Large Clean Tech Projects," Los Angeles Daily Journal (July 10, 2009)
• Co-author, "Effect of the Recovery Act on Renewable Energy Projects," Reed Smith, Energy Alert 09-040 (February 2009).
• Co-author, "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Tax Incentives for Business," Reed Smith, Tax Alert 09-045 (February 2009).
• "Expert Advice: Tax Reporting After Settlement," in California Lawyer, Vol. 28, No. 12 (December 2008)
• "New Tax Incentives and Extensions for Renewable Energy Included in Financial Rescue Bill," Reed Smith, Client Alert 08-180 (October 2008)
• "Congress Enacts Five-Year Extension of Tax Incentives for Green Buildings," Reed Smith, Environmental E-Flash Bulletin (October 9, 2008)
• "California Adopts New Green Building Code Impacting Developers, Lenders and Tenants," Reed Smith, Environmental E-Flash Bulletin (August 7, 2008)
• "IRS Establishes Safe Harbor For Section 45 Credits Claimed By Partners of Wind Energy Partners," Reed Smith, Energy E-Flash Bulletin, (October 25, 2007)
• "New Tax Incentives for 'Green' Buildings Have Owners Seeing Green," in the ABA's The Construction Lawyer, Vol. 27, No. 3 (Summer 2007); an earlier version appeared in Reed Smith, The Critical Path, Vol. VII, No. 2, (Fall 2006).
• "IRS Issues Guidance on New Tax Break for U.S. Film and Television Productions," featured in the February 13, 2007 issue of Adlaw by Request, www.adlawbyrequest.com
• Co-author, "Drawing Lines in the Sand Between More Transparency in Reporting and Privileged Tax Advice," Reed Smith, Commercial Restructuring & Bankruptcy Alert, Vol. II, No. 8, (December 2006), also in Reed Smith Client Bulletin, Bulletin 06-26, (September 2006)
• "The 2003 Tax Bill - What it means to you," Reed Smith Client Bulletin, Bulletin 03-54, (July 18, 2003)
• "IRS Process for Distribution of IRS Checks," Crosby Heafey Memorandum, (July 1, 2001)

Speeches / Presentations

• “Tax Incentives for Clean Energy: Preparing for Life After the Stimulus Act,” West Legal Works webcast, 3/11/09
• “FIN 48 and Tax Transparency: What Clients Need to Know,” Reed Smith webinar, 5/2/07

Experience

Legal Education

Undergraduate Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• California

Professional Affiliations

• Beverly Hills Bar Association (Business Law and Tax sections)
• Los Angeles County Bar Association (Business Law and Tax sections)

Pro Bono

• Received the Los Angeles Urban League's 2008 Community Service Award for leading a Reed Smith pro bono team that helped put in place a new education partnership (Greater Crenshaw Education Partnership) to run Crenshaw High School in south Los Angeles under an MOU that Ruth's team successfully negotiated with the LA Unified School District