(Chicago) – Akin announced today that Christopher “Chris” Odell has joined the firm as a tax partner in Chicago, bolstering the firm’s global market‑leading tax and funds capabilities and advancing its strategic expansion in the Chicago market. Chris brings more than a decade of experience across M&A and fund formation, handling sophisticated tax matters. His practice primarily focuses on the tax aspects of planning and structuring business transactions, including private fund formation, M&A and joint ventures, as well as GP stakes transactions and secondaries transactions, including sponsor‑led continuation fund transactions.