On Tax Gus Makris of Dow
Apr 8, 2025
Gus Makris, Senior Managing Counsel at Dow and former tax associate at Cravath, shares insights from his illustrious career in tax law. He discusses how a pivotal philosophy class shaped his journey into tax, and emphasizes the importance of simplifying complex tax concepts for new attorneys. Gus reflects on career transitions, highlighting how differing views on tax within organizations can impact strategy. He also shares experiences balancing family life with personal interests like golf, inviting listeners to engage with future topics.
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Discovering Tax Through Economics
- Gus Makris discovered his interest in tax during law school when he took a basic federal income tax class as preparation for corporate law.
- He was fascinated by understanding economic events underlying tax rules, such as the nature of debt and creditor relationships.
Simplify Complex Tax Concepts
- Grasping tax concepts like basis is crucial to understanding tax consequences, despite initial vocabulary confusion.
- Simplifying complex concepts into relatable examples aids learning and reduces fear of tax law.
Tax Requires Deep Transaction Understanding
- Tax law involves understanding economic and legal details as the government acts as the unnamed third party in transactions.
- Philosophy helps frame this understanding by clarifying questions and resolving confusion in communication.