Biography

Professor Archie Parnell is a distinguished legal professional with an unparalleled five-decade career spanning public service, global finance, and international academia. His journey began in 1974 as a Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice's Tax Division, followed by a formative role as a staff member on the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, where he gained initial insights into national tax policy.

His career then transitioned to the forefront of global enterprise. He strategically led tax departments for Exxon across dynamic Asia Pacific and European markets, subsequently moving to the international law firm Coudert Brothers, a New York-based firm with a global footprint. A pivotal phase unfolded at Goldman Sachs, where, based in Hong Kong and Tokyo, he headed the tax department across Asia. Here, he not only dealt with complex substantive tax matters at the interface of U.S. and various Asian tax laws, but also attentively influenced global tax policy discussions.

A ‘leading light’ in international tax, Professor Parnell actively helped to shape the global tax discourse. He notably chaired the American Chamber’s Tax Committee in Hong Kong and the Capital Markets Tax Committee of Asia. His significant contributions extended to the Hong Kong Joint Liaison Tax Committee (a government advisory body), and he dedicated a decade to serving on Hong Kong's Board of Review, the city's first level of tax appeal. His impactful tenure as Vice Chair of the OECD's BIAC Tax Committee further underscores his thoughtful influence in tax policy at the highest international levels.

Now, Professor Parnell brings this wealth of real-world expertise directly to the classroom. Having previously taught international tax law at U.S. law schools, he is currently co-teaching two distinct courses at Jindal Global Law School: one on resolving double tax disputes between India and the U.S., and another exploring taxation and the environment. His research interests encompass international tax policy, climate change taxation, and cross-border tax disputes. He has published in prestigious law reviews, from The Tax Lawyer to the Yale Law Journal, and is a sought-after speaker at various tax conferences.

His matchless background offers students a unique opportunity to learn from a practitioner and an academic who has not only expertly navigated, but helped shape, the landscape of international taxation and policy for over fifty years.