Dentons announced that Clifford B. Levine, Shareholder and William R. Taxay, Shareholder and Co-Leader, Real Estate National Practice Group, have been appointed by Pennsylvania Governor-elect Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor-elect Austin Davis to their Transition Advisory Committee.

Levine and Taxay will serve on the Advisory Committee for Economic Development, providing critical insights into issues that will allow the incoming administration to be fully prepared to take office on January 17, 2023.

The appointment reflects Levine and Taxay's extensive experience and background in real estate, urban redevelopment, and frequent interactions with state and local governments. Both will serve on the Business Development subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Economic Development, tasked with creating new opportunities for businesses and workers across the Commonwealth. Additional responsibilities include reviewing current policies and making recommendations about how to spur innovation, grow the economy, reduce taxes, cut burdensome regulations, and embrace Pennsylvania's role as an energy leader.

"Bill Taxay and I look forward to working with so many other talented individuals on the Shapiro-Davis Transition Team, specifically on the Economic Development Advisory Committee, with a focus on statewide Business Development," said Levine. "Through our work at Dentons representing clients across the region, we have seen first-hand that embracing new technologies while preserving traditions, creating vibrant neighborhoods, supporting the arts and culture and bringing together corporate, workforce, educational institutions and foundations can move a region forward.”

Added Taxay, “We embrace the exciting challenge of helping the Shapiro-Davis Administration in building a vital, globally competitive Pennsylvania economy where all people thrive and appreciate the opportunity to address the economic development initiatives that will position the Pittsburgh region and Commonwealth to compete successfully for new jobs, talent and investment."

Levine works at the intersection of law, government and politics. With extensive litigation and appellate experience, as well as fluency with the governmental and regulatory process, he provides businesses, developers, governments and organizations with a sophisticated, problem-solving approach to address issues such as land use and real estate development, environmental regulation and governmental permitting, administrative law and commercial matters. Levine has served in leadership roles with numerous political campaigns and transition teams, including as State Counsel to Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during their presidential campaigns. An active member of Pittsburgh's civic, legal and political communities, Levine has served on governmental commissions, including the Southwest Planning Commission, the Pittsburgh Planning Commission and the Pittsburgh Zoning Board, where he was instrumental in redrafting Pittsburgh's zoning code to reflect the contemporary landscape of modern cities.

Taxay is a solution-oriented and relationship-focused real estate and business lawyer who utilizes his deep understanding of the real estate industry to help advise and navigate clients' needs in the market. For more than 25 years, he has helped clients with the acquisition, sale, development, leasing, investment structuring and financing of mixed-use, office, commercial, retail, hospitality, residential and industrial properties. Taxay also regularly represents clients on various business matters, such as mergers and acquisitions, debt financing transactions and general business and transactional matters.

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