Christopher J. Leff

Christopher J. Leff is a Director at Paul Frank + Collins who provides commercial and tax law counsel to businesses, business owners, and nonprofit organizations. His work includes entity formation, ownership agreements, mergers and acquisitions, business sales, owner buyouts, and financing. He also advises foreign businesses on U.S. legal matters and assists captive insurance companies and insureds with the tax aspects of insurance arrangements.

Christopher earned a J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 2001 and a B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Vermont in 1994. He was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as Student Director of the University of Minnesota Tax Clinic. His tax clinic leadership forms part of a background focused on commercial and tax counsel. He advises businesses, owners, and nonprofits on transactions and on federal and state tax issues associated with their operations.

Christopher assists Canadian and other foreign businesses with U.S. subsidiaries, state registrations, joint ventures, business acquisitions, contracts, and tax matters. He also represents foreign lenders and borrowers in financing involving U.S. collateral. His taxation work covers income, sales, employment, real estate, and international issues. He has prepared legal opinions on federal income taxation of captive insurance arrangements and advises on structuring those arrangements.

Christopher J. Leff is admitted in Vermont and belongs to the American, Vermont, and Chittenden County Bar Associations. His practice links commercial agreements with the tax questions that can influence their structure. Business transactions require consideration of ownership, financing, and ongoing obligations together. His experience helps clients evaluate those interrelated issues when establishing operations, changing ownership arrangements, or carrying out transactions involving parties across national borders.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Paul Frank + Collins
• Member, Vermont Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Chittenden County Bar Association
• Board Member, First Night Burlington (2005)
• Counsel to the Board, Present, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce (2018)
• Member of the Board, Present, University of Vermont Lane Series (2007)
• Member, Leadership Champlain Alumni, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce

Licensed State

• Vermont

Education

• University of Minnesota
  J.D. ( Magna Cum Laude
• University of Vermont
  B.A. ( Magna Cum Laude

Awards & Badges