Tax: Contentious
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 1
Email address
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Provided by Freshfields
Please visit the Freshfields website for more details about our work in this category:
Chambers Review
Freshfields provides a full-service contentious tax offering with noted experience advising on high-value disputes involving issues such as transfer pricing. Its impressive clientele includes notable global companies, and it is well known for its handling of complex matters in international markets. The team has additional sector expertise within the energy sector and for financial institutions.
Work Highlights
- Freshfields is acting for various clients who are seeking to annul the European Commission’s 2019 state aid decision in relation to the UK CFC rules.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The lawyers at Freshfields have very rapidly got a grasp of the complexities of the facts and have provided sophisticated and nuanced advice."
"They have a clear understanding of relevant tax legislation and deliver a technical and practical review."
"A real strength is their ability to share deep insights born out of experience in a frank and helpful way."
"One of the best teams in this space within London."
"I am very impressed with all individuals we’ve worked with at the firm, both at the partner and associate level. The firm is peerless in UK contentious tax matters."
"The lawyers at Freshfields have very rapidly got a grasp of the complexities of the facts and have provided sophisticated and nuanced advice."
"They have a clear understanding of relevant tax legislation and deliver a technical and practical review."
"A real strength is their ability to share deep insights born out of experience in a frank and helpful way."
"One of the best teams in this space within London."
"I am very impressed with all individuals we’ve worked with at the firm, both at the partner and associate level. The firm is peerless in UK contentious tax matters."
Notable Practitioners
Helen Buchanan is head of Freshfields' global tax dispute practice. She is widely seen as one of the leading contentious tax practitioners in the market. She is highly regarded for her experience advising corporates on disputes including transfer pricing and CFC-related disputes.
"Helen is very good at presenting client positions to HMRC in an effective way."
"Helen gives crisp and helpful legal advice informed by experience and a good understanding of commercial context and implications."
"She is one of the people I rate the highest. She is smart, incisive, thoughtful and presentable."
"Helen has deep subject matter expertise and a practical approach, and is very well regarded."
Sarah Bond acts for a range of corporate clients in disputes with HMRC. Her areas of work include Diverted Profits Tax disputes and transfer pricing issues.
"Sarah is very insightful and cuts straight to the heart of the issue, providing very cogent advice and often offering different points of view or approaches."
"Sarah has solid subject matter expertise and a strong reputation, and is client service oriented."
"Sarah is a superstar."
David Haughey is a senior associate who has experience advising clients on a range of tax disputes including tax treatment of offshore assets before the First-tier Tribunal.
"David is an excellent adviser who we have really valued being on our team."
"David is absolutely outstanding. I've never met someone like him with his ability to compress information."
"David is a valuable member of the team. He is technically strong and is able to distil complex matters into understandable arguments."
Ranked Lawyers at
Freshfields
UK-wide