About

Provided by Ashurst

The Ashurst Tax team in Australia is a market leading practice with a corroborative global reach having the knowledge, insight and commercial expertise to assist clients on all aspects of taxation including income tax, international tax structuring, capital gains tax, GST, stamp duty, human resources taxes and property taxes. The team provides advice across a wide range of industries including real estate, transport and infrastructure, energy, banking and finance, funds and technology.

The team is highly regarded technically and proud to have advised on many of Australia’s strategically important and high profile complex tax matters including in the areas of M&A, restructuring, capital raising, funds establishment and structured financial products.  We offer hands-on partner-led teams providing highly responsive and personalised service, ensuring our advice is current, clear and practical. Many of our partners are also dual qualified in the area of accounting.

Our Tax partners are highly experienced in dealing with the revenue authorities to obtain rulings and tax relief as well as in reviews, audits and disputes with the revenue authorities. Our skilled and highly regarded tax disputes team represents our valued clients in tax litigation matters at all levels of the courts.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Tax - Australia
1
Band 1
What the Team is Known For

Ashurst's versatile team acts for major banks, global corporations and public bodies across a broad range of tax advisory services. The law firm has a notable track record of advising on the tax structuring of major M&A and financial services transactions as well as cross-border transactions and national infrastructure projects. It is also equipped to handle tax litigation matters, representing multinational clients in a variety of tax disputes

Work Highlights

Provided by Ashurst
  • Ashurst advised ANZ Banking Group on the Australian tax aspects of its acquisition of Suncorp Bank for AUD4.9 billion.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
2
Ian Kellock
2
Band 2

Ian Kellock is a highly respected Melbourne-based practitioner, recognised for his expertise in direct tax and adept at advising clients on international and corporate tax matters, including mergers and acquisitions, investments and share trades.

2
Vivian Chang
2
Band 2

Vivian Chang regularly advises clients on taxation in transactional matters and ATO audits. She is based in Sydney.

"Vivian is a highly experienced practitioner with deep industry connectivity and knowledge."

3
Barbara Phair
3
Band 3

Barbara Phair is based in Sydney and advises clients on the tax aspects of various non-contentious matters, including mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings and development projects, particularly in the real estate and infrastructure sectors. She also has extensive experience of advising on stamp duty.

"Barbara has been a joy to work with. She is fantastic at conveying stamp duty technicalities and is respected by my other advisers and internal management."

4
Sanjay Wavde
4
Band 4

Sanjay Wavde focuses closely on the taxation implications of M&A and infrastructure transactions, and also advises extensively on funds management and international tax issues.

"Sanjay is a tax industry expert."

5
Costa Koutsis
5
Band 5

Costa Koutsis heads Ashurst’s Asia-Pacific tax practice. He is a trusted adviser on indirect tax matters and stamp duty in particular.

"Costa can communicate relevant stamp duty matters of technical and commercial importance, assist with structuring and understanding commercial drivers and determine when to escalate issues."

"Costa is an outstanding tax lawyer and trusted commercial adviser. He is adept at resolving disputes and pragmatic in his advice."

Ranked Lawyers at
Ashurst

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Australia

Tax

2
Ian Kellock
2
Band 2
2
Vivian Chang
2
Band 2
3
Barbara Phair
3
Band 3
4
Sanjay Wavde
4
Band 4
5
Costa Koutsis
5
Band 5