Europe produces world-class scientists and engineers but has struggled to produce technology companies at scale. The Draghi report and the Kukies-Noyer FIVE report diagnose the structural causes: a financing gap; a fragmented equity compensation landscape; and an absence of the capital gains incentive architecture that makes long-term, patient investment in illiquid startups financially pragmatic. 

Scott Levine’s timely analysis in Tax Notes International situates these reforms within a broader geopolitical argument: A more competitive European innovation ecosystem serves both European and U.S. interests by deepening allied technological capacity, strengthening supply-chain resilience, and expanding markets for innovation. Our panel will look at these issues and other reforms that could help close the gap between U.S. and European tech companies. 

Tax Analysts is offering this episode of Taxing Issues as a free service to the public, and all attendees can receive CPE credits. To do so, you must register for the webcast before it starts and log in no later than the scheduled start time. You also must request CPE credits before each webcast, and you must answer the polling questions that will be asked throughout the event. 

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Cara Griffith
President and CEO, Tax Analysts

As the moderator for our Taxing Issues webinars, Cara objectively analyzes issues and asks probing questions that challenge panelists to explain and defend their positions.

When she’s not moderating Taxing Issues webinars, Cara provides strategic oversight for Tax Analysts. She has led efforts to improve the Tax Notes suite of products and to aggressively pursue transparency in the administration of tax systems. Previously, Cara managed the editorial department, including the flagship daily news publications and weekly magazines. She has written for a broad range of tax policy publications, including Tax Notes State, The Tax Adviser, The Hedge Fund Law Report, and The Hill. She regularly speaks at tax conferences and other events, discussing a variety of technical tax issues as well as the need for transparency in tax administration.

Cara has a BA in political science and a BA in international studies from the University of Evansville and a JD from the George Washington University Law School.

Benjamin Angel
Director for direct taxation, tax coordination, economic analysis, and evaluation in DG TAXUD

Benjamin Angel's career includes positions as Director for indirect taxation (DG TAXUD), Director for the Treasury and financial operations (DG ECFIN), Director for the economies of the Member States (DG ECFIN), Head of unit for financial institutions and stability mechanisms (DG ECFIN). He is a former member of the cabinet of three Commissioners for economic and monetary affairs (Yves-Thibault de Silguy, Pedro Solbes and Joaquin Almunia). He has a master’s in business administration from HEC Paris, a master’s in public administration from Sciences-Po Paris, a master’s in political science (University Paris Assas), and a PhD in law (University Paris Assas). 

Christian Kaeser
Executive vice president and global head of tax at Siemens AG

Christian Kaeser is global head of tax and corporate vice president at Siemens, based in Munich. He is chair of the Tax Commission of the German Federation of Industries (BDI) and chair of the supervisory board of the tax advisory company WTS AG. He is a member of the BRITACOM advisory board and is International Chamber of Commerce representative for BRITACOM. Kaeser teaches at the Free University of Berlin and the University of Lausanne. 

Gerhard Huemer
Director for economic and fiscal policy at SME United

Gerhard Huemer has been the director of economic and fiscal policy at SME United since 1999. In this role, he leads the association's work on policies that support the economic environment for small and medium-size enterprises in Europe, focusing on macroeconomic coordination, state aid, tax policy, SME finance, sustainable finance, and innovation.  
Previously, Gerhard was deputy director of the economic policy department at the Austrian Economic Chamber. Gerhard received a diploma in economic and social science and policy from the University of Linz. 

Scott Levine
Tax partner in Baker McKenzie's Washington Office 
Former Treasury deputy assistant secretary for international tax affairs in the Biden administration

Scott Levine is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Tax Practice Group, based in the firm’s DC office. He has more than 25 years of private practice experience advising multinational companies on the tax aspects of corporate transactions, including cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and other divestitures, restructurings, financing and joint ventures. Scott has also successfully negotiated private letter rulings with the Internal Revenue Service in the corporate, international, financial instruments and energy tax credit areas. 

Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Scott most recently served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary (International Tax Affairs) in the US Department of the Treasury, where he led the Office of Tax Policy's work on international affairs, including regulations, treaties, and the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS negotiations on Pillar 1 and Pillar 2.