The region's leading firms and advisers congregated at the Pierre Hotel in New York for the 13th annual Americas Tax Awards.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom claimed the crown for the Americas tax firm of the year, which recognises outstanding work across a number of tax areas. Deloitte, meanwhile, successfully defended its title as the leading transfer pricing firm in the Americas, being recognised for its innovative practice. These two firms also won a string of awards across North, South and Central America in a number of awards categories.

Uber LatAM retained the title as the Americas In-House Tax Team of the year. In Latin America, Baker McKenzie was awarded as the Latin America Tax Firm of the Year, while BaseFirma clinched the title for Latin Americas Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year.

Mayer Brown, Pinheiro Neto Advogados, and Lefosse Advogados also won regional awards for their excellence.

It was a big night for Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados, which swept up several awards including Brazil Tax Firm of the Year and Brazil Tax Court Firm of the Year. Mattos Filho's Renata Correia Cubas also retained the award for Americas Indirect Tax Practice Leader of the Year.

The award for Americas Tax Litigation & Disputes Practice Leader of the Year went to Al Meghji of Osler Hoskin & Harcourt, while Scott Wilkie of Blake Cassels & Graydon won Americas Transfer Pricing Leader of the Year. The Americas Tax Practice Leader of the Year award went to Juan Manuel Albacete of Guyer & Regules.

These were just some of the many awards given out on the night. Read on to see the rest. On the following pages, winners are listed first, followed by a list of nominees.

Methodology Between April and June 2018, International Tax Review invited law firms, accountancy and other tax advisory firms to submit examples of their best work in tax transactions, tax disputes, indirect tax, restructuring and transfer pricing, and for best tax innovation and tax technology. We also invited submissions for outstanding practice leaders from across the region. International Tax Review's editorial staff considered these submissions and the information obtained through interviews with tax directors, as well as peer interviews, for World Tax 2019 and World Transfer Pricing 2019, to compile shortlists and choose winners for each of the country and regional awards. The US city areas include tax professionals based in the surrounding area within a 150-mile radius. These awards represent the opinions of the market on the leading tax advisers in the Americas based on their work between January 1 2017 and March 31 2018. Awards criteria Size: Not critical, but it indicates what a team is capable of taking on. Innovation: Did the solution the adviser employed show something more than the straightforward answer that is commonly used? Complexity: Did the matter address tax issues that were out of the ordinary? Impact: What impact did the tax advice have on the client's business? E.g., did it save money? How much? Did it allow them to acquire a larger rival/ biggest competitor? Was it the first time particular issues were litigated in court? Was it the company's first debt or equity issuance in a particular jurisdiction? Was it the company's first advance pricing agreement in that jurisdiction?

> Baker McKenzie

> Bruchou Fernández Madero & Lombardi

> Deloitte

> Estudio O’Farrell

> Grupo GNP

> Laiún Fernández Sabella & Smudt

> Rosso Alba Francia & Asociados

> Baker McKenzie

> BaseFirma

> Deloitte

> Estudio O’Farrell

> Grupo GNP

> Laiún Fernández Sabella & Smudt

> Pérez Alati Grondona Benites & Arntsen

> BMA Advogados – Barbosa Müssnich Aragão

> Deloitte

> Fraga Bekierman & Cristiano Advogados

> Gaia Silva Gaede Advogados

> Lefosse Advogados

> Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados

> Trench Rossi Watanabe

> BaseFirma

> BRATAX – Brazuna Ruschmann e Soriano Sociedade de Advogados

> Deloitte

> Gaia Silva Gaede Advogados

> Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados

> Pinheiro Neto Advogados

> Trench Rossi Watanabe

> BDO Panama (GIINTAX services)

> Deloitte

> EY

> Blake Cassels & Graydon

> Borden Ladner Gervais, Taxand Canada

> Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

> Deloitte

> Grant Thornton

> McCarthy Tétrault

> Torys

> Baker McKenzie

> Blake Cassels & Graydon

> Deloitte

> McCarthy Tétrault

> Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

> Torys

> Baker McKenzie

> Deloitte

> Garrigues

> KPMG

> Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

> PwC

> Baker McKenzie

> BaseFirma

> Carey

> Deloitte

> KPMG

> Baker McKenzie

> Deloitte

> EY

> Garrigues

> Godoy & Hoyos

> Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

> Baker McKenzie

> BaseFirma

> Brigard Urrutia

> EY

> Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

> PwC

> Baker McKenzie

> Deloitte

> Garrigues

> Escalante y Asociados

> Mijares Angoitia Cortes y Fuentes, Taxand Mexico

> Ritch Mueller Heather y Nicolau

> SMPS Legal

> BaseFirma

> Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez

> Deloitte

> Élan Zaak

> Garrigues

> Salles Sainz Grant Thornton

> Estudio Echecopar

> Estudio Olaechea

> EY

> Garrigues

> Muñiz Ramírez Pérez-Taiman & Olaya

> Payet Rey Cauvi Pérez Abogados

> Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

> BaseFirma

> Estudio Echecopar

> Estudio Olaechea

> EY

> Rodrigo Elías & Medrano

> Bergstein Abogados

> Deloitte

> Ferrere

> Fischer & Schickendantz

> Grant Thornton

> Innovation Tax & Trust

> KPMG

> Bergstein Abogados

> Deloitte

> Ferrere

> Guyer & Regules

> KPMG

> Kirkland & Ellis

> Mayer Brown

> Norton Rose Fulbright

> Baker McKenzie

> Fenwick & West

> Kirkland & Ellis

> Mayer Brown

> DLA Piper

> Baker McKenzie

> Dentons

> Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

> Mayer Brown

> Miller & Chevalier Chartered

> Morgan Lewis & Bockius

> Vinson & Elkins

> Baker McKenzie

> Mayer Brown

> Morgan Lewis & Bockius

> Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> Baker McKenzie

> Debevoise & Plimpton

> Kirkland & Ellis

> Norton Rose Fulbright

> Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> Sullivan & Cromwell

> Vinson & Elkins

> Baker McKenzie

> Fenwick & West

> Kirkland & Ellis

> Mayer Brown

> Morgan Lewis & Bockius

> Norton Rose Fulbright

> Vinson & Elkins

> Baker McKenzie

> Dentons

> Epsilon Economics

> Fenwick & West

> Mayer Brown

> Morgan Lewis & Bockius

> Norton Rose Fulbright

> Baker McKenzie

> D’Empaire Reyna Abogados

> Planincorp Consultores

> PwC

> BaseFirma

> Deloitte

> EY

> Mendoza Delgado Labrador & Asociados

> PwC

Tax Court Firms of the Year

> Bichara Advogados

> BRATAX – Brazuna Ruschmann e Soriano Sociedade de Advogados

> Lacaz Martins Pereira Neto Gurevich & Schoueri Advogados

> Lefosse Advogados

> Veirano Advogados

> Baker McKenzie

> Blake Cassels & Graydon

> McCarthy Tétrault

> Baker McKenzie

> Dentons

> Fenwick & West

> Mayer Brown

> Morgan Lewis & Bockius

REGIONAL, INDIVIDUAL AND DEAL AWARDS

> Aptis Global

> Escalante & Asociados

> Guyer & Regules

> Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados

> Baker McKenzie Argentina

> Deloitte US

> Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados

> Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

> McMillan

> Wolters Kluwer

> Arthur Cox

> Luciana Rosanova Galhardo, Pinheiro Neto Advogados

> Samira Haddad, BaseFirma

> George Hani, Miller & Chevalier Chartered

> Kathrine Kimball, Aptis Global

> Lucas Moreno, Brigard Urrutia

> José Andrés Romero, Brigard Urrutia

> Luís Eduardo Schoueri, Lacaz Martins Pereira Neto Gurevich & Schoueri Advogados

> Baker McKenzie Colombia

> BDO Panama (GIINTAX services)

> Juan Manuel Albacete, Guyer & Regules

> Luiz Gustavo AS Bichara, Bichara Advogados

> César Camilo Cermeño Cristancho, Garrigues Colombia

> Roberto Quiroga Mosquera, Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados

> Paulo Rogério Garcia Ribeiro, Machado Associados

> Alejandro Gómez Rutmann, Gómez Rutmann y Asociados, Deloitte Venezuela

> Dante Sanguinetti, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

> George Hani, Miller & Chevalier Chartered

> Camilo Zarama Martínez, Garrigues Colombia

> Roberto Quiroga Mosquera, Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga

> Júlio de Oliveira, Machado Associados

> Jose Andres Romero-Angrisano, BDO Panama (GIINTAX services)

> Fernando Tonanni, Machado Meyer Advogados

> Jeffrey Trossman, Blake Cassels & Graydon

> Baker McKenzie US

> Brigard Urrutia

> Deloitte Canada

> Guyer & Regules

> MJ Alves e Burle

> Juan Manuel Albacete, Guyer & Regules

> Fernanda Sá Freire, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados

> Camila Galvão, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados

> Sandro Machado dos Reis, Bichara Advogados

> Ignacio Rodriguez, Lara Marambio y Asociados (Deloitte Venezuela)

> Ricardo Marletti Debatin da Silveira, Machado Associados

> Walker Villanueva, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

DEAL AWARDS

> Altice USA IPO: Mayer Brown; Ropes & Gray; Shearman & Sterling

> IBRD's joint multi-country floating rate earthquake-linked capital-at-risk notes: Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez; Linklaters; Sullivan & Cromwell

> Bank of Nova Scotia's Additional Tier 1 Capital notes: Morrison & Foerster; Osler Hoskin & Harcourt; Shearman & Sterling

> TD Bank Group's USD green bond: McCarthy Tétrault

> IENova global debut senior notes offering: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez; Galaz Yamazaki Ruiz Urquiza (Deloitte) (auditors); Latham & Watkins; Mijares Angoitia Cortés y Fuentes, Taxand Mexico; Shipman & Goodwin

> Uruguay's first global bond in nominal pesos in the international market to BBVA Securities, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley: Guyer & Regules

> Vista Oil & Gas SPAC IPO: Bruchou Fernández Madero & Lombardi; Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez; Latham & Watkins; Ritch Mueller Heather y Nicolau; Shearman & Sterling

> Diageo acquisition Casamigos Tequila from founders George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman: Sullivan & Cromwell; Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker

> JAB Holding's acquisition of Panera Bread Company: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom; Sullivan & Cromwell

> Nestlé acquisition of Atrium Innovations: EY; Mayer Brown; McCarthy Tétrault; Stikeman Elliott

> Refresco Group acquisition of Cott Beverages: Allen & Overy; CMS Netherlands; Drinker Biddle & Reath; Goodmans; McMillan; Nixon Peabody; Squire Patton Boggs

> Restaurant Brands International acquisition of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg; King & Spalding; Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison; Stikeman Elliott

> Roark Capital's acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings: DLA Piper; King & Spalding; White & Case

> Toromont Industries acquisition of Hewitt Group: McCarthy Tétrault; Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

> Acquisition of Calpine Corporation by an affiliate of Energy Capital Partners and a consortium of investors: Debevoise & Plimpton; Latham & Watkins; Shearman & Sterling; Sullivan & Cromwell; Torys; White & Case

> BlackRock acquisition of First Reserve Energy Infrastructure Funds: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> Blackstone Group's joint venture with Sanchez Energy Corporation: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Kirkland & Ellis

> CFE and its wholly-owned subsidiary, CFE Transmission, in its public global offering of energy and infrastructure trust certificates: Clifford Chance; Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez; White & Case

> GE's sale to SUEZ of the shares owned by GE Mexico in GE Water & Process: Baker McKenzie; Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Weil Gotshal & Manges

> Saudi Aramco acquisition of Motiva Enterprises from Shell: Vinson & Elkins

> Sempra Energy all-cash acquisition of Energy Future Holdings and its subsidiary, Energy Future Intermediate Holding: Cravath Swaine & Moore; Jones Day; Kirkland & Ellis; Sidley Austin; White & Case

> CF Corporation and The Blackstone Group's acquisition of Fidelity & Guaranty Life: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Debevoise & Plimpton; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom; Winston & Strawn

> The Bank of Nova Scotia issuance of a new form of Additional Tier 1 Capital: Osler Hoskin & Harcourt; Torys; Shearman & Sterling; Morrison & Foerster

> TD Bank Group acquisition of Scottrade Bank: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell; Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz

> Vista Equity Partners combines Misys and D+H as Finastra: Cravath Swaine & Moore; Goodmans; Kirkland & Ellis; Stikeman Elliott

> Blackstone Group's joint venture with Sanchez Energy Corporation: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Kirkland & Ellis

> Canada Pension Plan Investment Board / Cyrela Commercial Properties joint venture: Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados; Shearman & Sterling; Tauil & Chequer in association with Mayer Brown

> Joint venture between Federal-Mogul and FRAS-LE: Demarest Advogados; Feijó Lopes Advogados; Philippi Prietocarrizosa & Uría; TozziniFreire Advogados

> SNC-Lavalin' new infrastructure investment vehicle: McMillan; Norton Rose Fulbright

> Acquisition of Calpine Corporation by an affiliate of Energy Capital Partners and a consortium of investors: Debevoise & Plimpton; Latham & Watkins; Shearman & Sterling; Sullivan & Cromwell Torys; White & Case

> Liberty Interactive Corporation's acquisition of General Communication: Baker Botts; Sherman & Howard; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> CDPQ and SUEZ acquisition of GE Water: Baker McKenzie; Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Demarest Advogados; Weil Gotshal & Manges

> Discovery Communication's acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive: Debevoise & Plimpton; Kirkland & Ellis; Sullivan & Cromwell; Weil Gotshal & Manges

> Merger of Enbridge and Spectra Energy: Goodmans; McCarthy Tétrault; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom; Sullivan & Cromwell

> Potash merger with Agrium: Blake Cassels & Graydon; Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg; Felesky Flynn; Jones Day; Stikeman Elliot

> Vantiv acquisition of WorldPay Group: Allen & Overy; Ashurst; Latham & Watkins; Sidley Austin; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> Discovery Communication's acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive: Debevoise & Plimpton; Kirkland & Ellis; Sullivan & Cromwell; Weil Gotshal & Manges

> Liberty Interactive's acquisition of HSN: Baker Botts; Davis Polk & Wardwell

> Scientific Games Corporation's acquisition of NYX Gaming Group: Carey Olsen; Cravath Swaine & Moore; Latham & Watkins; McMillan; Stikeman Elliott

> Bain Capital Private Equity carve out acquisition from Sealed Air: Kirkland & Ellis; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> Blackstone acquisition of Aon Hewitt's benefits and administration and HR business process outsourcing platform: Davies Ward Phillips and Vineberg; Kirkland & Ellis; Sidley Austin; Torys

> BlackRock acquisition of First Reserve Energy Infrastructure Funds: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> Carlyle Group's joint venture with Hilcorp Energy: Andrews Kurth Kenyon; Baker Botts

> Roark Capital Group's acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings: DLA Piper; King & Spalding; White & Case

> Sycamore Partners acquisition of Staples: Kirkland & Ellis; WilmerHale

> Vista Equity Partners combines Misys and D+H as Finastra: Cravath Swaine & Moore; Goodmans; Kirkland & Ellis; Stikeman Elliott

> Brookfield Property Partners privatization of Brookfield Canada Office Properties REIT:

> Goodmans; Torys

> Canada Pension Plan Investment Board joint venture with Cyrela Commercial Properties: Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados; Shearman & Sterling; Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown

> LSF10 Casa Participações acquisition of Apoema Participações: Demarest Advogados; Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson; Pinheiro Neto Advogados

> Mexico City Airport Group Fibra E placement: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez; Jones Day; Muñoz Manzo y Ocampo; Paul Hastings

> Milestone Apartments REIT privatisation by Starwood Capital Group: Goodmans; Kirkland & Ellis; Stikeman & Elliott; Vinson & Elkins

> SmartREIT and Strathallen acquisition of OneREIT: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg; Fasken Martineau DuMoulin; Goodmans; Osler Hoskin & Harcourt; Stikeman Elliott

> Tricon Capital Group's acquisition of Silver Bay Realty Trust: Blake Cassels & Graydon; Goodmans; Goulston & Storrs; McMillan; Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe; Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison

> Concesionaria del Sisga restructuring in Colombia: Brigard Urrutia

> Liberty Interactive Corporation's acquisition of General Communication: Baker Botts; Sherman & Howard; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> Natura's restructuring and acquisition of Body Shop: Baker McKenzie; Trench Rossi Watanabe

> Performance Sports Group restructuring: Allen & Overy; Brown Rudnick; McMillan; Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison; Stikeman Elliott; Thornton Grout Finnigan

> Sempra Energy on its $18.8 billion all-cash acquisition of Energy Future Holdings and its subsidiary, Energy Future Intermediate Holding Company: Cravath Swaine & Moore; Jones Day; Kirkland & Ellis; Sidley Austin; White & Case;

> Stelco CCAA proceedings: Bennett Jones; Blake Cassels & Graydon; Cavalluzzo Shilton McIntyre Cornish; Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg; Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber; Goodmans; Inch Hammond Professional Corporation; Koskie Minsky; McCarthy Tétrault; Norton Rose Fulbright Canada; Osler Hoskin & Harcourt; Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein; Stikeman Elliott; Thornton Grout Finnigan; Weil Gotshal & Manges; WeirFoulds; Wildeboer Dellelce

> Thomson Reuters IP cross-border restructuring: Pinheiro Neto Advogados; PwC

> Altice USA IPO: Mayer Brown; Ropes & Gray; Shearman & Sterling

> Creative Drive's acquisition of Decora: Barbosa Müssnich Aragão; Hirschler Fleischer; TozziniFreire Advogados

> BCE's acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services: Aikins MacAulay & Thorvaldson; Blake Cassels & Graydon; McCarthy Tétrault; Stikeman Elliott; Sullivan & Cromwell; Taylor McCaffrey

> Cray acquisition of Seagate: Fenwick & West

> Liberty Interactive Corporation's acquisition of General Communication: Baker Botts; Sherman & Howard; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> SAP acquisition of CallidusCloud: Fenwick & West

> Verizon Communication's acquisition of Yahoo! Inc's operating business: Cravath Swaine & Moore; Covington & Burling; Gibson Dunn & Crutcher; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom; Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz; Weil Gotshal & Manges; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; Winston & Strawn

> Blake Cassels & Graydon

> Dentons

> Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

> Fenwick & West

> Morgan Lewis & Bockius

> Sullivan & Worcester

> Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

> Baker McKenzie Argentina

> KPMG Chile

> Lacaz Martins Pereira Neto Gurevich & Schoueri Advogados

> Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados

> Rosso Alba Francia & Asociados

> SMPS Legal

> Veirano Advogados

> Baker McKenzie

> D’Empaire Reyna

> Deloitte

> Grant Thornton

> Lacaz Martins Pereira Neto Gurevich & Schoueri Advogados

> PwC Chile

> Rosso Alba Francia & Asociados

> Baker McKenzie

> Basefirma

> Blakes Cassels & Graydon

> Grant Thornton

> Mayer Brown

> Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

> PwC

> Baker McKenzie

> Carey

> Gaia Silva Gaede Advogados

> Garrigues

> Machado Associados

> McCarthy Tétrault

> Trench Rossi Watanabe

> Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

> Kirkland & Ellis

> Mayer Brown

> McCarthy Tétrault

> Morgan Lewis & Bockius

> Norton Rose Fulbright

> Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

> Baker McKenzie

> Creel Garcia-Cuellar Aiza y Enriquez

> Deloitte

> Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados

> Mayer Brown

> Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

> Baker McKenzie

> Blakes Cassels & Graydon

> Fenwick & West

> Grant Thornton

> Mayer Brown

> Morgan Lewis & Bockius

> Osler Hoskin & Harcourt

> Arias

> Brigard Urrutia

> Carey

> Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez

> Deloitte

> Mattos Filho Veiga Filho Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados

> PwC

In-house awards

> Amazon

> Liberty Global