Tax | Asia-Pacific

Allens advises both domestic businesses and global corporations on a broad range of tax issues. It is home to a number of market-leading practitioners with specialised expertise in the banking, resources and infrastructure sectors. The firm members are recognised as experts on the full range of tax issues, from income tax and GST to inbound and outbound investment and exit tax issues. The firm also possesses a leading tax disputes practice, regularly engaged to advise on audit and litigation matters. It frequently assists clients on tax issues relating to major M&A transactions and restructures. Its key clients include Shell, Rio Tinto and Australian Tower Network.

MinterEllison's full-service tax offering spans direct, indirect, and federal and state taxes and operates on behalf of a broad client base, ranging from global corporations to high net worth individuals and public bodies. Its team consists of both tax lawyers and accountants, giving it the capabilities of a multidisciplinary practice. It has a large tax controversy team with experience acting on significant disputes on behalf of both taxpayers and the ATO. It acts regularly on cross-border tax mandates for international clients, offering focused expertise concerning transfer pricing issues encountered by multinational corporates. The firm's key clients include Mylan Australia, Commissioner of Taxation and Landcom.

Baker McKenzie acts for domestic businesses and global corporations on the tax and duty elements of corporate and financial transactions. The firm also advises on tax strategy and offers impressive global reach for multi-jurisdictional mandates. The technical expertise of the firm spans income tax, stamp duty, land tax, GST and employment-related taxes. The team also possesses expertise in transfer pricing and wealth management. It is well placed to resolve disputes, with extensive experience defending proceedings initiated by the Australian Taxation Office. It is active in advising clients on the tax implications of inbound investments and acquisitions. The team's key clients include Real Asset Management, Origin Energy and DoorDash.

Clayton Utz offers the complete spectrum of tax law advice, with noteworthy expertise in advising on international tax, indirect tax, petroleum tax and disputes. Its client base includes ASX 200 corporations, major industrial organisations, private equity firms, state and Commonwealth governments, and high net worth individuals. It offers considerable expertise in tax issues relating to cross-border transactions. The firm has an equally strong expertise in the tax implications of domestic mergers and acquisitions. Its key clients include Pallion Group, AMP and Blackstone.

A&O Shearman operates a flexible practice, providing access to a global network and noted expertise in matters related to covered bonds. The firm has a deep experience in advising on the tax aspects of M&A, asset and equity transactions, reorganisations and restructurings, capital markets issuances and more. It is also able to handle contentious tax mandates. The team provides further tax advisory assistance to clients by way of its alternative resourcing platform, Peerpoint. Its key clients include Asahi, Animal Logic Entertainment and Optus Singtel. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth offers noteworthy strength in the representation of clients in the energy and natural resources sector and specialist expertise in advising on the taxation aspects of M&A and restructuring transactions, and of real estate and housing development projects. The firm advises government entities and a broad range of private sector clients, including both ASX-listed domestic businesses and global corporations, and has growing presence in contentious matters, with experience acting on a range of tax disputes. Its key clients include Accenture, OMERS and Aurizon.

DLA Piper provides a solid offering in transactional tax law for domestic and multinational companies from a wide range of sectors including financial services, technology, natural resources and private equity. The firm is experienced in acting for clients on such matters as R&D tax incentives and ATO reviews as well as the tax elements of restructures, property acquisitions and divestments, and joint ventures. It offers notable expertise in advising multinational businesses on anti-avoidance legislation and developing its presence in the tax controversy space, acting for taxpayers on disputes with the ATO. Its key clients include Ares Management, Reinventure and Flare HR.

Gilbert + Tobin fields a robust team of practitioners who are well placed to assist clients on a variety of taxation issues. The team frequently acts for clients on the tax aspects of major corporate transactions, complementing the firm's leading M&A and private equity practices. The firm also offers a strong tax controversy practice, being able to assist clients on tax litigation before courts at both the state and federal levels, as well as on audits by the ATO. Notable clients include KKR, Telstra and Vulcan Steel.

Hall & Wilcox's established mid-market tax practice acts regularly on tax transactional, due diligence and Australian Taxation Office audit mandates. The firm represents both corporate and individual high net worth clients, frequently being engaged by clients from, among others, the financial services, insurance and property sectors, and on the panels of a number of tax authorities at both Commonwealth and state levels. It also fields a robust tax controversy offering, with experience of tax-related litigation before courts and relevant tribunals at all levels up to and including the High Court. Its key clients include Australian Taxation Office and Dandy Premix Concrete.

Jones Day fields a highly experienced team with an excellent offering in tax controversy. It frequently represents multinational businesses, including high-profile names in the natural resources, energy and infrastructure industries, on a broad spectrum of matters involving the ATO. The firm demonstrates expertise in a wide range of issues, including disputes over such issues as global restructures, deductibility of significant costs, multinational anti-avoidance laws, transfer pricing and the disposal of significant assets.

K&L Gates maintains a predominantly transaction-focused tax practice which covers both direct and indirect taxation. The firm acts for a range of clients from investment funds and multinational corporates to high net worth individuals. It offers additional capabilities in handling tax disputes and is valued for its international network and ability to advise on the taxation implications of cross-border transactions. Its key clients include Bridge Housing, Magnis Energy Technologies and Five Elms Capital.

The Norton Rose Fulbright practice offers both direct and indirect tax advice and is particularly active on both domestic and international transactional tax matters and the provision of tax advisory services to charitable and not-for-profit institutions. The team acts for a range of clients, including energy and insurance sector corporates. It is also active across a broad range of domestic tax advisory issues, including income tax, GST and state taxes. The firm's major clients include the Chappell Foundation, Braemac and NSW Rural Fire Service.

White & Case's tax team is well-versed in advising on the tax elements of large M&A, particularly in the energy and infrastructure arenas. The team is capable of drawing on its impressive international network to provide holistic tax advice on cross-border transactions. The firm also handles a range of tax controversy and audit matters. In addition, the tax team assist across regulatory compliance, tax planning and structuring. Key clients of the firm include AusNet Services, Transurban and NorthConnex.