Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Tax - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Pump Court Tax Chambers is a market-leading set specialising in all manner of complex tax cases. Chambers boasts a deep and broad bench of members who act for both the Revenue and the taxpayer. Individuals here are frequently involved in cases at all levels of the judiciary concerning issues such as corporate taxes, film schemes, employment and payroll taxes, diverted profits and transfer pricing, among others. The set continues to boast a number of barristers who have expertise in both UK and EU tax law which continues to be relevant to UK courts and tribunals. Clients note that "the chambers has a very strong set of barristers with a wide range of expertise". Pump Court Tax Chambers has recently been instructed in several standout cases such as Exchequer Solutions Ltd v HMRC. This was the first case to consider expenses as deductions by umbrella companies. It also handled Odfjell Drilling v HMRC, which concerns the application of national insurance legislation known as the Host Employer Regulations. The case raised difficult issues of statutory construction and necessitated presentation to the Tribunal of a large volume of technical and detailed evidence.

Mark Rushton is the director of clerking, while Bruno Antoniotti is the deputy senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

David Ewart
Star Individuals

David Ewart KC handles some of HMRC's most important test cases, and also regularly represents the Revenue in group litigation. He further acts for taxpayers on significant matters in an advisory capacity and in court. Clients include accountants and multinational corporations. Ewart has undertaken an interesting selection of matters, including those concerning film finance schemes, double tax treaties and corporate restructurings.

A barrister who presents great arguments and has real clarity of thought.

David is super clever.

Kevin Prosser KC
Star Individuals

Kevin Prosser KC is a pre-eminent silk who acts for the Revenue and taxpayers on a range of tax issues, including challenges to major schemes. He has appeared at all levels of court and also maintains a highly respected advisory practice covering such areas as the Diverted Profits Tax and transfer pricing.

Kevin is a very individualistic practitioner; he does his thing and he does it magnificently.

Kevin is very honest in telling us the merits of the case.

He's been at the top end of the Tax Bar for years for a reason.

1
Barbara Belgrano
1
Band 1

Barbara Belgrano is an accomplished junior experienced in a wide range of complex corporate tax cases. She acts for the taxpayer and HMRC in cases involving tax schemes, double tax treaties and group litigation relating to the taxation of dividends.

Barbara is extremely user-friendly and the clients also love her. A barrister who stands out in an impressive field of juniors, she's really practical, responsive and straight-talking.

1
David Yates
1
Band 1

David Yates KC is a highly regarded barrister who acts for the taxpayer and HMRC in a broad range of cases including significant group litigation orders. He advises on matters including cross-border dividends and double taxation agreements, and has niche expertise in advising insurers on tax-related professional negligence matters.

David is a very practical and experienced counsel whose manner and persuasive approach impress mightily.

David has a commercial background so he has a real tangible understanding of what matters to clients. He has particular experience of handling the most difficult tax dispute challenges.

David is technically excellent, but he delivers his advice to lay clients in a really understandable and accessible way. He's robust, and his written work is excellent.

1
James Henderson
1
Band 1

James Henderson is junior counsel on some of the most significant corporate tax cases of recent years. He also has a thriving advisory practice and receives regular instructions in cases regarding business reorganisations. Henderson has sound knowledge of transfer pricing and the Diverted Profits Tax rules.

James is very experienced and I am totally confident with him and all aspects of his work. He's very good at liaising with solicitors and discusses points well when he needs to.

James Henderson is very diligent, has quick turnaround and gives commercially aware and realistic answers. He's also very pleasant to deal with.

1
James Rivett
1
Band 1

James Rivett KC has a broad-based corporate tax practice and regularly appears in major cases relating to matters such as tax schemes, double tax treaties and manufactured overseas dividends. He represents both the Revenue and the taxpayer.

James is great at anticipating how things will land with the court.

A first-rate operator with strong commercial vision.

Thomas Chacko
1
Thomas Chacko
1
Band 1

Thomas Chacko has developed an impressive and broad-ranging corporate tax practice. He has a growing reputation in employment tax matters and has experience of cases involving partnership structures.

Thomas Chacko is so clever.

Thomas has a natural conversational style, so he's able to break down the complex concepts he's arguing in a relatable way. Often you don't get that with tax barristers. He's easy to follow and grasp.

Ben Elliott
2
Ben Elliott
2
Band 2

Ben Elliott is a junior with an extensive practice who acts led and unled in cases at all levels of the UK courts system. He has expertise in handling a vast array of cases including those relating to employment and payroll taxes, corporate tax and EU tax law.

Ben is incredibly enthusiastic and nice. He's just a great, forceful and joyous character who will persuade a tribunal to agree to something.

Ben has an exceptional grasp of strategy and deploys it with great effect. He's always courteous and ensures all members of the client team are fully briefed.

Ben Elliott is very, very thoughtful and measured.

Ben is a fierce litigator who is very sharp and really over the detail. He's a great advocate, orally and in writing.

Elizabeth Wilson
2
Elizabeth Wilson
2
Band 2

Elizabeth Wilson KC is a well-regarded silk who acts for both the taxpayer and the Revenue. Her corporate tax caseload spans a range of matters, from employment tax to capital gains tax. She is experienced in handling cases that touch on EU law.

Elizabeth is fiercely intelligent and able to deal with complex legal and factual issues in a very impressive manner. She is also a highly persuasive advocate.

Elizabeth is very measured, very direct and very precise.

2
Giles W J Goodfellow
2
Band 2

Giles Goodfellow KC is an expert on income tax and employee benefits matters, who regularly provides advice on corporate reorganisations, tax-related professional negligence and tax schemes. He acts for both the Revenue and taxpayers, and is noted for his knowledge of the Managed Service Company legislation.

Giles has a very good knowledge of the law and is experienced. He's always prepared to give the time to really understand matters.

Giles is excellent at not only breaking down and explaining complex matters, but also actively finding optimal solutions to problems and issues that can arise.

2
Richard Vallat
2
Band 2

Richard Vallat KC frequently acts for HMRC on challenges to avoidance schemes and is an expert on corporate tax and capital allowances issues. He takes instructions on the taxpayer side in cases concerning corporate tax schemes, employee benefit trusts and tax-related professional negligence. He also acts in contractual disputes.

Richard makes tax look easy, which is exceptionally difficult. He is also affable, responsive and collegiate in his approach, making it a pleasure to instruct him.

Richard has a large breadth of work and undertakes high-profile cases.

2
Rupert Baldry
2
Band 2

Rupert Baldry KC, although best known for HMRC work, has an impressive taxpayer practice and has handled a number of group litigations. Many of his cases involve transfers between international arms of multinational businesses and deal with issues such as loans to foreign subsidiaries, double taxation treaties and the taxation of foreign dividends.

Rupert provides really clear advice on specific tax questions. He's very good.

Jeremy Woolf
3
Jeremy Woolf
3
Band 3

Jeremy Woolf is a senior junior with extensive experience in a range of complex corporate tax litigation and advisory mandates. He is particularly strong on income tax, corporate restructuring and employee benefit trusts issues. Woolf is also knowledgeable about judicial reviews and tax-related human rights matters.

Having worked with Jeremy over many years, we can testify to his grounded nature, comfort in handling a wide range of tax work, his desire, his hard work and his joy at getting a positive result.

3
Laura Ruxandu
3
Band 3

Laura Ruxandu is a specialist tax barrister who accepts instructions across a wide range of areas including cases relating to corporation tax, landfill tax and double tax treaties.

Laura is extremely bright and has a grasp of key legal issues in really complicated cases. She has the ability to articulate issues very clearly.

Laura Ruxandu is an excellent junior counsel. You want her on your team.

3
Zizhen Yang
3
Band 3

Zizhen Yang appears with leading silks in major litigation and also handles her own cases unled. She has wide-ranging corporate tax expertise and has appeared in matters regarding tax schemes, business reorganisations, loan relationships and derivative contracts. She acts for both HMRC and the taxpayer.

Zizhen is really good - really sharp and very impressive. She delivers submissions in a very clear and measured way.

Laura Poots
Laura Poots
New Silks

Laura Poots KC acts for both the Revenue and the taxpayer on a range of corporate tax instructions. She has notable expertise in pension tax disputes and procedural cases.

Laura combines advocacy skill with integrity. Her mind is always concentrated and she's not prepared to argue points just for the sake of it.

Laura is a pleasure to work with and is incredibly quick to pick up and run with complex mandates. She is a star.

Ranked Barristers at
Pump Court Tax Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Tax

David Ewart KC
Star Individuals
Kevin Prosser KC
Star Individuals
1
David Yates KC
1
Band 1
1
James Rivett KC
1
Band 1
Elizabeth Wilson KC
2
Elizabeth Wilson KC
2
Band 2
2
Giles W J Goodfellow KC
2
Band 2
2
Richard Vallat KC
2
Band 2
2
Rupert Baldry KC
2
Band 2
Laura Poots KC
Laura Poots KC
New Silks

Juniors

London (Bar)

Tax

1
Barbara Belgrano
1
Band 1
1
James Henderson
1
Band 1
Thomas Chacko
1
Thomas Chacko
1
Band 1
Ben Elliott
2
Ben Elliott
2
Band 2
Jeremy Woolf
3
Jeremy Woolf
3
Band 3
3
Laura Ruxandu
3
Band 3
3
Zizhen Yang
3
Band 3