Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Tax - London (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
Gray's Inn Tax Chambers is known for its extensive work acting for taxpayers and HMRC in both a litigation and advisory capacity. It has also represented foreign governments, including those of Bermuda, Mauritius, Singapore and Hong Kong. Members have appeared in matters at all level of the court system, including cases at the CJEU. They frequently appear in cases concerning employment and payroll taxation, capital allowances, VAT and stamp duty. The set is able to provide extensive advice to clients on cross-border and international issues. It is praised for its "rapid response, commercial awareness and top-notch legal appraisals". Recent cases include UK Care No 1 v HMRC, which discussed anti-avoidance tax provisions that have not yet been the subject of detailed judicial consideration following allegations of large-scale cross-border tax avoidance by a household name.
Strengths
The set has a super mix of people and clerks. The clerks, particularly the head clerk Ben Stern, always ensure that the right person within the chambers is recommended.
The clerks get stuff done and will push your things through if you need them to. They find time in counsel's diary and they're helpful and proactive when needed.
The accommodating Ben Stern is the easiest person on earth to do business with. He understands tax issues and which barrister is best for which matter. First junior clerk Jamie Hall is also brilliant.
The lawyers and clerks are very responsive.
Ben Stern will make sure I get calls sorted with counsel. He is easy to deal with and helpful.
Notable practitioners
Nicola Shaw KC is an eminent KC who is experienced in representing both the taxpayer and the Revenue in cases involving residence and domicile issues, the transfer of assets abroad and transfer pricing. She has represented clients at all levels of domestic courts and tribunals, including the Supreme Court, and has also taken cases to the ECJ. She has a broad practice that encompasses both direct and indirect tax expertise.
She's brilliant - a very creative advocate.
Nicola is an incredible advocate; she's a joy to watch in court.
Nicola is an absolute fighter when it comes to litigation. She's really user-friendly and accessible, but also very pragmatic in how she reviews what points to focus on.
Nicola is a fantastic lawyer who displays great technical knowledge and attention to detail. She just has a great way about her and is an excellent advocate who is great to work with.
David Goldberg KC is a hugely well-respected figure at the Tax Bar, held in high regard for his innovative arguments and technical acumen. He has incredible experience handling the most complex tax cases.
David has mastery of the technical elements of a case and forceful advocacy skills.
Michael Jones KC is a highly respected new silk experienced in a broad range of tax issues, who has a focus on corporate and commercial matters, including shareholder taxation and employment tax issues. He is regularly instructed in high-value litigation both for the taxpayer and for HMRC.
Michael's style, which I like, is that he thinks about the case from the first moment you engage him on it through to the hearing. Michael can hold all the detail of numerous cases at once.
Michael is very, very clever and extremely pragmatic as well. He's really good at cutting through and seeing the easiest issues to present to the court.
Conrad McDonnell concentrates his practice on corporate tax issues and is an expert in tax schemes, double tax treaties, and income and corporation tax. He is usually instructed on the taxpayer side.
Conrad is an immensely clever junior who can be relied upon to try his utmost in every case. He has tenacity and drive, and is someone who absolutely understands what clients want to achieve.
Laurent Sykes KC is a corporate and employment tax litigation expert who is active predominantly on the taxpayer side. He has a solid advisory practice that caters to a number of leading corporate clients. Sykes is admired for his knowledge of corporation tax and income tax.
Laurent is very clear and insightful in relation to the technical analysis of a case, and very practical and measured in his approach. He makes himself available and engages with the issues well.
Laurent works the evidence like no other and is realistic in apprising clients of their chances of success. He applies the law in a sophisticated and cerebral manner.
Laurent is a formidable adviser. He's highly intelligent and thorough, but also practical and responsive.
Michael Firth KC is sought after for his advice and representation in challenging tax matters. His practice takes in cases relating to business tax, personal tax and indirect tax.
Michael has an incisive mind and gets to the roots of the case. Truly, he's a champion in what he does.
Michael is phenomenally clever and hard-working. He's user-friendly, has great judgement and is a fine technical tax lawyer.
Michael is approachable, down to earth and someone you can have an ad hoc discussion with. He's also very on the ball with developments in case law.
Nicholas Macklam has a growing reputation for his representation of clients involved in tax disputes. He has especially notable expertise in tax disputes involving limited liability partnership issues.
Nicholas is very personable, thorough and careful, and also up to date on procedural rules and legal arguments. You know he'll do a very good job and raise points that you wouldn't have thought of.
Nicholas is very detail-oriented and is very familiar with all aspects of the case. He's easy to deal with; you can call him up and go over points with him.
Nicholas is a great junior in a crowded field of successful and high-quality people. He really does stand out. He writes as clearly as you can possibly write; it's crisp, clear and logical.
I've not come across any junior who's as impressive as him in terms of prepping witnesses and turning around written content at an unimaginable pace. He is also collaborative and open to ideas.
Nikhil Mehta is an experienced practitioner who previously worked as a solicitor in London and as a barrister in Mumbai. He carries out contentious and advisory work on behalf of corporate and private clients on matters as diverse as loss relief and corporate reorganisations. He continues to practise as an Indian tax advocate alongside his UK practice.
Nikhil is always available as a listening post when we do complicated stuff. He really is a good solid tax adviser and a good presenter who knows the correct approach to adopt.
Harry Winter tackles complex tax disputes, many of which are cross-border and involve anti-avoidance provisions. He appears both led and unled, and has been appointed to the government panel to do HMRC work.
Harry Winter is really bright, enthusiastic and responsive. He has a particular skill in being able to unravel complex tax problems.