Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Tax: Private Client - London (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
Pump Court Tax Chambers remains the pre-eminent set for private client tax work. The set's members handle some of the most significant and complex tax litigation. Instructing solicitors praise the set's "strength in depth and experience of revenue law on both sides of the fence".
Strengths
Pump Court's clerks are extremely responsive. John Poyser is a standout.
Pump Court Tax Chambers' clerks room is a joy to work with.
Pump Court Tax Chambers' clerks are very good. They always come straight back. We're very much guided by them as to who would be suitable, after telling them the level.
Pump Court Tax Chambers has some of the best clerks I have dealt with.
Notable practitioners
Emma Chamberlain is one of the best-known and most admired tax counsel at the Bar, known for her enormous intellectual ability in complex private client tax matters matched with strong client care skills.
Emma is my go-to barrister for complex matters with an offshore element.
Emma is a wizard on Inheritance Tax and works very carefully with the Revenue.
Emma Chamberlain is the expert in matters of UK tax residency as well as all things trust-related. She excels in complex matters and provides definitive advice that is never on the fence.
Emma is superbly clear on the most complex areas.
Kevin Prosser KC is experienced in representing affluent individuals in a range of tax matters. Prosser has a diverse and enormously successful tax practice, and is hugely well regarded for his tax litigation work.
Kevin is very user-friendly, quick and responsive.
Kevin Prosser is a very bright tax adviser.
Kevin has an incredibly sharp mind.
William Massey KC is a noted expert on Inheritance Tax, particularly Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief matters.
William is a master of the landed estate sector.
William speaks with exceptional gravitas.
William is one of my barristers of choice for complex matters involving land, especially Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies and land pooling.
Barbara Belgrano brings sharp, technical expertise to her private client practice. She is often instructed by high net worth individuals on complex tax avoidance scheme cases and other matters involving the anti-avoidance provisions.
Barbara is technically excellent and a passionate advocate.
Barbara has excellent analytical ability and has tackled complex tax issues, producing sound legal advice. She is experienced and has shown a solid understanding of a variety of taxes.
Barbara is very sensible and hard-working. She's at the top of her game. I hold her in very high regard.
David Ewart KC is a tax specialist with a broad practice, including private client tax work. He handles both advisory and advocacy work, and is a popular choice among taxpayer clients.
David Ewart is excellent.
David Ewart is an exceptional advocate and probably one of the most brilliant and experienced counsel currently at the tax Bar.
James Rivett KC is a well-regarded figure in the private client tax practice. His work encompasses corporate and personal taxes as well as indirect taxation.
James is the real deal. He has no weaknesses. His advocacy is just as strong as his advice.
James is an outstanding advocate.
James is exceptionally good.
As well as being technically excellent, James has the rare skill of being a tax lawyer who is extremely good with clients.
Richard Vallat KC acts for taxpayers and HMRC on a wide range of matters involving IHT, CGT and income tax. Vallat has broad expertise in tax work, handling both advisory and litigation matters.
Richard has clear opinions and is pragmatic in his decisions.
Ben Elliott is a well-regarded junior, frequently handling complex tax cases. Elliott appears, led and unled, in major private client tax litigation, and is developing expertise in the taxation of cryptocurrency assets.
Ben is able to give strategic and pragmatic advice.
Ben has a very strong, technical approach to complex tax matters, but at the same time he understands the need to translate these matters to clients and other stakeholders.
Ben provides exceptional advice on complex matters. He is definitely a silk in the making.
Ben is an outstanding lawyer and has exhibited the ability to absorb novel, technical and complex material and to engage with the core issues of a case covering sensitivities and cross-cutting issues.
David Yates KC has a broad tax practice, acting both for the Revenue and taxpayers. Yates has a strong advisory practice and has also appeared in many of the major tax litigation cases of recent years.
David is a standout UK tax adviser and advocate.
David is highly regarded and a good commercial thinker.
David doesn't beat around the bush. He is very strong in court.
David's knowledge of how the transfer pricing rules work is second to none.
Elizabeth Wilson KC is recognised as a go-to barrister for sophisticated tax matters. Wilson is a particular expert in Inheritance Tax reliefs and Capital Gains Tax planning.
Elizabeth is approachable and engenders a professional atmosphere in meetings where professionals feel free to raise their concerns and have frank discussions.
Elizabeth has a wonderful ability to distil tax law and analysis into a very persuasive way that lay clients and other solicitors can understand.
Charles Bradley represents clients facing significant tax issues in appellate courts as well as first-instance tribunals, and is particularly recognised for being experienced in dealing with HMRC.
Charles is a pleasure to work with. He is very approachable, quick to respond and helpful.
Charles is clever beyond his years.
Charles is outstanding and very good on a technical level.
Oliver Conolly wins frequent praise for his advisory work. Conolly acts for taxpayers and the Revenue in tax litigation, and also has a strong advisory practice.
Oliver is very thoughtful and considerate. He makes himself available to discuss ongoing strategy.
Oliver has a broad range of tax expertise, and his written opinions are clear.
Oliver Conolly is excellent and provides clear, thorough and decisive advice. He is willing to go the extra mile to meet tight deadlines.
Thomas Chacko advises on high-stakes personal tax cases. He has experience representing HMRC and high net worth clients. Chacko is notable for his expertise in the taxation of partnerships.
Thomas is very bright. He has an encyclopedic knowledge and is practical in putting it into practice.
Thomas was able to set out our client's case in a simple but comprehensive manner, ensuring the tribunal understood his submissions and the key points.
Laura Poots KC acts on a range of private client tax matters, covering direct and indirect taxation and both corporate and personal taxes.
Laura is excellent at providing detailed advice on complex matters that add value for the client.
Sadiya Choudhury KC has a broad tax practice, including private client taxation matters. Choudhury possesses strong experience in handling both advisory and tax litigation mandates.
Sadiya is very knowledgeable and great with clients.
Sadiya has outstanding intellectual ability and delivers robust analysis when advising on complex tax specialist matters.
Sadiya Choudhury is very helpful and clear.