My practice is focused on helping clients prevent tax disputes, and resolving them effectively where they have arisen.
Past clients include corporates in construction, technology, natural resources, food, pharma & healthcare, and charities, as well as HNW and UHNW individuals, and trustees and beneficiaries of trusts. I commonly advise on complex employment tax disputes, customs classification, domicile enquiries, CGT, IHT, BIR, film schemes, pension charges and surcharges, and double tax treaties. I am a member of Fieldfisher's specialist IR35 team.
My work at the firm involves helping clients pursue a number of solutions at different points during the tax-dispute lifecycle, including:
- specialist dispute-prevention advice, such IR35 tax- and commercial risk management;
- remediation through disclosures where issues have arisen;
- advice and representation during HMRC enquiries, investigations, reclaims or clearance applications;
- tax litigation through the tribunals and courts, from the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber), to the Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court;
- a broad range of strategic tax dispute solutions such as group litigation, tax judicial review, restitution claims, other commercial claims, influencing at policy level, advice on confidentiality and privilege including cross-border matters, and strategic advice and coordination of international proceedings and procedures (EU Court of Justice, Mutual Assistance Procedure, foreign litigation etc.).
Lasting and wholistic solutions will often require a broad approach and driving clients' interests through a number of these pathways to a satisfactory conclusion.
Beside this core UK work, I have also been involved with international UNCITRAL, SCC and LCIA state-investor disputes, including applications for emergency relief against a state, and confiscatory taxes. As a native-level German speaker I often act in complex cross-border matters.
I am listed as a 'name to note' in the Legal 500 directory for Contentious Tax, and I have written book chapters and articles in the specialist press - e.g. on professional legal privilege, HMRC information powers, and other topical tax issues.
In my spare time I paint, draw, carve, swim, take an interest in cars, and aspire to kayak.
