Speakers

Alison is the partner in charge of Akin's Houston office. She advises clients on the federal income tax aspects of business transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other partnership arrangements; recapitalizations; restructuring (in- and out-of-court); and other financing transactions, with a focus primarily in the energy sector. She also frequently serves as tax counsel in capital markets transactions, advising public companies (including MLPs) and underwriters in connection with initial public offerings (IPOs), follow-on equity and debt offerings, public mergers, and spin-offs. She represents clients in the energy industry, including master limited partnerships (MLP). Alison is a member of the firm's partnership admission committee and firmwide diversity & inclusion council and chair of the Houston office women's professional development initiatives. Alison received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, her Juris Doctor and the University of Houston Law Center (cum laude), and her LL.M from New York University School of Law.

Sejal Chunchu is a Managing Partner at Vaco. Sejal has led Vaco’s finance and accounting practice in the market, joined Vaco in 2012 as a partner in Houston. She specializes in placing accounting, finance, audit and tax professionals in the energy, manufacturing, construction, real estate, financial services, health care and technology sectors. Sejal Chunchu graduated from Louisiana State University and spent six years with Deloitte as a senior consultant. She is also a mother of 2 toddlers and loves to travel, dance, and experience different cuisines that Houston has to offer! 

Toby is a Principal at KPMG, a Big 4 Audit, Tax, and Advisory professional services firm, where he specializes in helping clients with digital transformation in the areas of procurement and supply chain.  He is a proud native of Houston / Sugar Land and a second generation Chinese American.  He is also the father of two teenagers and loves to travel, fish, and run.