Department profile
Pump Court Tax Chambers

Tax

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Pump Court Tax Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Tax - London (Bar)

Band 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

  • The clerks are client-friendly. They're commercial and helpful and they call you back.

    Tax respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking at Pump Court Tax Chambers is a well-oiled machine. The clerks are easy to deal with and always available to talk. They give good recommendations.

    Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Clerks John Poyser and Mark Rushton are the best I've worked with. They're just very quick at cost estimates, helpful in sorting diaries, very friendly and flexible in terms of rates.

    Tax respondentUK Bar
  • John Poyser is very efficient and very helpful. I find him to be very good.

    Tax respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are efficient and have a good sense of what the different barristers are good at.

    Tax respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsDavid Ewart
    Star IndividualsDavid Ewart

    David Ewart

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • David is super clever.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Star IndividualsKevin Prosser KC
    Star IndividualsKevin Prosser KC

    Kevin Prosser KC

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • Kevin is very honest in telling us the merits of the case.

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

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Barbara Belgrano
    Band 1Barbara Belgrano

    Barbara Belgrano

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1David Yates
    Band 1David Yates

    David Yates

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1James Henderson
    Band 1James Henderson

    James Henderson

    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.

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

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1James Rivett
    Band 1James Rivett

    James Rivett

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • A first-rate operator with strong commercial vision.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Thomas Chacko
    Band 1Thomas Chacko

    Thomas Chacko

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Ben Elliott
    Band 2Ben Elliott

    Ben Elliott

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • Ben Elliott is very, very thoughtful and measured.

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

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Elizabeth Wilson
    Band 2Elizabeth Wilson

    Elizabeth Wilson

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • Elizabeth is very measured, very direct and very precise.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Giles W J Goodfellow
    Band 2Giles W J Goodfellow

    Giles W J Goodfellow

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Richard Vallat
    Band 2Richard Vallat

    Richard Vallat

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • Richard has a large breadth of work and undertakes high-profile cases.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Rupert Baldry
    Band 2Rupert Baldry

    Rupert Baldry

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Jeremy Woolf
    Band 3Jeremy Woolf

    Jeremy Woolf

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Laura Ruxandu
    Band 3Laura Ruxandu

    Laura Ruxandu

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
    • Laura Ruxandu is an excellent junior counsel. You want her on your team.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Zizhen Yang
    Band 3Zizhen Yang

    Zizhen Yang

    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.

      Tax respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksLaura Poots
    New SilksLaura Poots

    Laura Poots

    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.

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

      Tax respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Pump Court Tax Chambers (16)

London (Bar)

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