Tax: Contentious | UK

Baker McKenzie has a respected disputes team that consists of lawyers and non-legal specialists such as accountants. The team has significant experience in transfer pricing and VAT disputes. The firm has additional strength in handling Diverted Profits Tax matters and European state aid investigations. International tax disputes are a particular area of strength, and the team is regularly sought out for advice on complex multi-jurisdictional matters.

Freshfields provides a full-service contentious tax offering with noted experience advising on high-value disputes involving issues such as transfer pricing. Its impressive clientele includes notable global companies, and it is well known for its handling of complex matters in international markets. The team has additional sector expertise within the energy sector and for financial institutions.

Joseph Hage Aaronson has high-quality expertise in UK and EU tax disputes. It has a dedicated team made up of highly regarded specialists in tax litigation, noted for their comprehensive grasp of tax issues, including regular work on group litigation orders. The firm services a number of key clients in the financial services, media, manufacturing and retail sectors. The team is proficient in acting for individuals, as well as high-profile multinational organisations, and has strong overseas expertise in acting for a variety of international companies on cross-border matters including fund disputes and tax fraud.

DLA Piper has a strong contentious tax team that is able to advise on a wide range of matters. VAT and transfer pricing are two key areas of strength; however, the group's expertise is broad and it is able to assist clients faced with most types of HMRC inquiries.

Fieldfisher has a versatile team that offers advice on all areas of contentious tax, including HMRC investigations relating to tax avoidance. The firm represents high-profile clients in courts, in tax tribunals and at a European level. The team advises clients from manufacturing, healthcare, retail and financial services sectors. Its lawyers are experienced in tax matters involving customs duty, VAT and cross-border trust structures.

Herbert Smith Freehills has a strong tax litigation group that is known for the wide range of issues it tackles for its clients, including cross-border and UK-focused tax disputes. Its lawyers are able to advise on private wealth-related tax disputes, in addition to VAT, SDLT and customs duty disputes. The firm offers clients in-depth commercial knowledge of tax law in the energy, finance and real estate sectors.

KPMG Law has a dedicated team of solicitors and barristers able to provide a full-service tax offering. The team frequently appears at all levels of the court system, from the First-tier Tribunal to the Supreme Court. VAT disputes are a key strength, and the team is equally comfortable advising on litigation touching on double taxation or group relief.

Pinsent Masons has a strong team that advises a number of large international clients on their disputes with HMRC. The firm has deep expertise in domestic and international tax legislation and is regarded highly for its ability to discreetly resolve conflicts before trial. Its lawyers frequently handle matters for clients within the financial, retail, energy and technology industries.

RPC has an experienced and skilful team known for its high-quality client service. The firm advises on complex judicial review, tax investigation and ADR proceedings, and boasts a large client base, including those within the retail, financial services, sports, and food and drink sectors. The team regularly advises on cross-border matters, with particular experience handling ECJ tax cases.

Slaughter and May works with a broad spectrum of high-profile corporates and individuals on UK and EU tax issues. The firm offers in-depth technical expertise in tax inquiries and investigations. Its lawyers are noted for their experience in obtaining confidential HMRC settlements for clients and are adept at advising on international tax disputes.

Macfarlanes has a robust team of litigators with broad knowledge and experience in a range of complex tax disputes. The firm regularly assists corporate and fund clients with cases concerning the tax treatment of transactions and transfers, tax deductions and reliefs, and the application of anti-avoidance rules. The team has further experience in providing advice on group claims.

PwC Legal Business Solutions has an experienced tax team that advises clients on a full range of tax disputes. The London team is able to leverage the firm's global footprint of offices when offering advice on international tax disputes.

Ashurst has a highly regarded tax practice with a commanding ability to defend clients in tax litigation. The team has a wealth of experience appearing before tax tribunals and European courts in cases concerning VAT, customs and duties, environmental taxes and state aid. Its clients include large corporates and asset management groups.

BCLP represents a range of corporate clients in complex tax disputes. The team is able to provide extensive guidance in cases concerning VAT and corporation tax, as well as international and cross-border taxes. Its lawyers regularly assist at all levels of the domestic courts system.

Deloitte Legal represented Bolt Services UK in its successful appeal against HMRC’s decision that its supply to passengers of private hire vehicle ride hailing services should not be accounted under the TOMS for VAT purposes.

Mishcon de Reya has an impressive team of tax disputes specialists known for their work with individuals and corporate clients. As well as its work on VAT disputes, the team also advises businesses and individuals on IR35.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises on a wide range of tax investigations and disputes, including high-profile cases before tax tribunals and courts. Its client list includes household-name companies that instruct the team for its ability to advise on complex and sensitive matters.

Quinn Emanuel is a litigation boutique with a strong tax disputes practice. The firm is known for its work for large international corporates on complex domestic and cross-border matters. The team is equally capable when advising on disputes relating to direct and indirect tax.

Simmons & Simmons advises financial institutions and blue-chip corporations on a full range of tax disputes, regularly handling complex and sensitive matters. The team is capable of advising on all types of litigation, including those involving both direct and indirect taxation. Its lawyers are particularly notable for their work on environment tax issues, as well as for their advice to leading asset managers.

Stewarts has a broad team of tax litigators supporting corporate and individual clients in both direct and indirect tax disputes. The firm's areas of expertise include litigation relating to tax avoidance schemes, the tax treatment of employee benefits, and VAT.