Rachel L. Cantor, P.C.

Partner Tax

Chicago +1 312 862 3367

Rachel L. Cantor, P.C.

Overview

Rachel Cantor’s practice focuses on the tax aspects of complex business transactions including domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts, as well as joint ventures, recapitalizations and debt and equity restructurings.

Rachel has worked on numerous private equity, LBO and merger and acquisition transactions ranging from several million dollars to several billion dollars for clients including: Madison Dearborn Partners, Audax Group, Wind Point Partners, Levine Leichtman, AE Industrial Partners and Accel KKR.

Rachel is a current member and past chair of the Planning Committee for the University of Chicago Federal Tax Conference.

Recognized by Chambers USA for a decade, and as one of only seven attorneys in Illinois as band 1 for Tax in 2024, the guide quotes Rachel’s clients stating she “is an excellent tax lawyer in every regard,” “is one of the smartest tax attorneys I’ve ever known” and praising her for being “extremely responsive,” “car[ing] deeply about client relationships” and being “very pragmatic and solution-oriented.” She has also been recommended by The Legal 500 U.S. recognized by clients as "really smart, diligent, and pleasant to work with." Rachel was also named to "Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law" list by Crain's Chicago Business in 2022, its "Chicago's Notable Women in Law" list in 2020 and selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Tax Law since 2013. She is a frequent speaker on tax topics.

Law ClerkHonorable Carlos F. LuceroUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit2000–2001

McKee Nelson, 2001–2005

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Thought Leadership

Seminars

Rachel presented on the topic: “The Opaque Meaning of U.S. Property Under Section 956” at The University of Chicago 66th Tax Conference on November 9, 2013.

She has also been a lecturer on a variety of federal tax issues at seminars and conferences, including the Tax Executives Institute, the Chicago Tax Club, the Practicing Law Institute and the Chicago Kent Federal Tax Institute.

Recognition

Named to "Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law" by Crain's Chicago Business, 2022.

Named to "2022 Tax Authority Federal Editorial Advisory Board" by Law360, 2022. 

Named to “Chicago’s Notable Women in Law” by Crain’s Chicago Business in 2020.

Recognized by Best Lawyers, Spring 2017 Business Edition, “Women In The Law” for Tax Law.

Recognized by Chambers USA from 2017–2024 for Tax Law. Selected as an “Up and Coming” lawyer in 2014 and 2015. In the guide, clients laud her for being “an excellent tax lawyer in every regard,” “one of the smartest tax attorneys I’ve ever known” and praising her for being “extremely responsive,” “car[ing] deeply about client relationships” and being “very pragmatic and solution-oriented.”

Selected as "MVP of the Year" for Tax Law by Law360 in 2013.

Named to "Chicago's 40 Under 40" by The National Law Journal in July 2013.

Selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Tax Law in 2013–2024.

Recognized by clients as "really smart, diligent, and pleasant to work with," Rachel has been recommended for both private equity and tax in The Legal 500 U.S.

Memberships & Affiliations

Current Member and former Chair of the Planning Committee for the University of Chicago Federal Tax Conference

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2003New York
  • 2003District of Columbia
  • 2006Illinois

Education

  • University of Chicago Law SchoolJ.D.with Honors2000
    Comment Editor, University of Chicago Law Review
  • Yale UniversityB.S., Computer Sciencecum laude 1995