Ameek Ashok Ponda, a partner and co-director in Sullivan & Worcester LLP's tax department, recently received two prestigious designations.  Ponda was elected to membership in the American Law Institute and selected as one of the Boston Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” for 2007.
 
Founded in 1923 following a study conducted by prominent American judges, lawyers and teachers, the American Law Institute (ALI) seeks to improve the law and the administration of justice in a scholarly and scientific manner.  Membership in the organization is a distinct professional honor as only 3,000 lawyers nationwide are selected to be part of this group.  Individuals chosen reflect the excellence and diversity of today’s legal profession.

Each year, The Boston Business Journal selects 40 business professionals under the age of 40 who are considered to be the next generation of business leaders and innovators.  This highly competitive award recognizes outstanding Boston-area professionals for both their business success and community contributions.  Ponda will be honored at a reception that will be held Thursday, October 11, 2007 at the Marriott Boston Copley Hotel.
 
“I am not surprised that Ameek has received these two impressive designations,” said Joel R. Carpenter, co-Managing Partner of Sullivan & Worcester.  “The ALI and the Boston Business Journal have recognized what we have known for quite some time – within our deep bench of highly skilled lawyers, Ameek is a standout.  To date, he has skillfully designed the tax structure for over 1,000 mergers and acquisitions, including the first REIT-to-REIT spin-off, advised numerous emerging companies on tax and business issues, and worked closely with foreign enterprises investing in the US.”

Ponda has published several articles in leading tax journals that have been recognized for their analytical depth and their prescriptions for tax policy.  Two of his tax articles precipitated changes in thinking at the Treasury Department that culminated in changes to the federal tax law.
 
In addition to his impressive professional accomplishments, Ponda is actively involved in cultivating a new generation of lawyers.  For the past 10 years, he has been an adjunct faculty member at Boston University’s Graduate Tax Program, teaching courses in Business Tax Planning, Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions, RICs & REITs, Financial Products, and International Transactions.
 
Ameek also shares his South Asian language skills with Boston’s youngest Indian-Americans, teaching Hindi at Shishu Bharati, an Indian Sunday school for language and culture in the Boston area; and several years ago, he volunteered to edit the introductory Urdu textbook used at Harvard University.

He is a longstanding member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), the South Asian Bar Association, the India Association of Greater Boston, and the Pakistan Association of Greater Boston, and serves as an editor for the Peace and Democracy in South Asia Journal.
 
Ponda resides in the Back Bay with his wife Samia Kirmani, a Pakistani-American attorney.
 
“It’s truly an honor to be selected as a member of the ALI and as part of the BBJ’s ‘40 Under 40’ list both in the same week,” said Ponda.  “These professional recognitions stem from the warm support and mentoring that I have received over the years from family, friends, clients, and of course my colleagues at Sullivan & Worcester.  I am looking forward to contributing to ALI’s mission, and to remaining involved in the commercial and civic fabric of the Boston community.”
 
About Sullivan & Worcester LLP
 
Sullivan & Worcester LLP is a leading corporate law firm providing counsel to domestic and international clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to emerging businesses.  With 200 lawyers in Boston, New York and Washington D.C., the firm offers services in a wide range of areas including corporate finance; securities; litigation; mergers and acquisitions; tax; real estate; private equity and venture capital; bankruptcy; regulatory law and employment and benefits.  Sullivan & Worcester is also recognized for its representation of REITs and its deep expertise in energy and mutual fund law.  For more information please visit www.sandw.com.

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