Spotlight Interview
GET TO KNOW THE TEAM
Today for our Spotlight Interview we’re going to chat with Lisa Laverty, Tax Director at Seaborn. An essential member of the team, Lisa is responsible for advising the company on all things tax-related, which sounds quite daunting when considering our work across the U.S. and Brazil. Lisa makes it all look easy!
What did you want to be when you grow up? Really, I wanted to be a tax attorney… Haha! Actually, I wanted to be a professional dancer. However, my love of food won out and my future on the stage in NYC as a starving dancer was not really in the cards.
What was it that originally brought you to Seaborn? The accomplished management team, the innovative business model, and the ability to dig deep into new areas of tax and expand my skillset to include telecommunications, state, and Brazilian tax experience.
If you could eat anything right now, what would it be? Garlic lobster risotto calabrese from Todd English’s The Olive’s Table Cookbook. Creamy, decadent comfort food with a bit of heat.
What is it about working for Seaborn that you enjoy the most? It’s a tie between having complex, interesting tax puzzles to solve and the opportunity to work with a talented group of people committed to the success of the company.
If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Paris. I’ve never been, and as Audrey Hepburn said: Paris is always a good idea.
Given that a lot of our work is in Brazil, how is your Portuguese coming along?According to Google Translate, Não tão bom.
What’s been the biggest challenge of your career? That is such a great story and I would love to share it. However, that information is protected by the work product doctrine, attorney client privilege and/or work-product information otherwise protected, which sadly I am not at liberty to disclose.
What is your go-to drink order? A Maple Manhattan.
How has COVID-19 impacted your daily work? The countries, states and localities that we do business in continue to pass legislation designed to provide relief during the crisis. This has resulted in changes to reporting and payment deadlines, as well as substantive domestic and international tax rules with guidance still forthcoming. There is quite a bit of additional reading and research to be done. It’s also understandably more challenging to reach tax authorities under the circumstances.
How do you think Seaborn has been coping with the current climate thus far? Very well, the team is nimble and able to quickly transition to working from home and adapting to the challenges that presents.
What is your favorite way to spend a day outside the office? Hiking and exploring our national parks.
Where do you see Seaborn’s future headed? Expanding, branching out to new locations and growing significantly in our existing markets.
Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes Spotlight Interviews with Seaborn team members as we get to know them and a few of their champagne wishes and caviar dreams!