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Our tax disputes and investigations team is dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for you, whether you're facing complex tax disputes or investigations. We specialise in crisis management and advise on the most significant and, in some cases, high profile tax risks. We are experts in technically complex tax issues, international and cross-border disputes, fraud cases, and high-profile tax issues. We cover all direct and indirect taxes.
With deep industry knowledge and a thorough understanding of how tax authorities operate, we guide you through every stage of the process—helping you to proactively manage risks, navigate audits, and resolve disputes efficiently.
Get in touch with a member of our global tax disputes and investigations team
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What we do
- Representation on HMRC enquiries and investigations
- Litigation in the Tax Tribunal and higher courts
- Voluntary disclosures to HMRC and global tax authorities, including under the contractual disclosure facility (“COP 9”)
- Advising on global tax risks and developing a specific strategy tailored to the client’s needs
- Criminal defence and Proceeds of Crime Act investigations and enforcement (for example, account freezing orders and detained cash)
- Management of local and global compliance obligations (including under the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations)
- Transfer pricing disputes
We work with clients across all sectors, offering tailored advice that spans the full lifecycle of a tax dispute. From early-stage risk management and pre-emptive counsel to handling information requests during audits and investigations, we are committed to protecting your interests. We defend clients in HMRC’s most serious criminal cases, including dawn raids, arrest and criminal investigations and the freezing or seizure of assets and goods. We also regularly assemble and manage multi-disciplinary project teams (drawing in IT specialists, forensic accountants and clients’ personnel) to undertake forensic internal investigations with a view to making a disclosure to the tax authority which maximises the chances of a settlement.
With a proven track record of successfully resolving disputes through settlement negotiations, alternative dispute resolution, and strategic litigation, we are focused on securing the best possible results for you.
Our work highlights
- Advising a multinational global leader in real time advertising technology and programmatic media trading on resolving its global tax risks with an estimated value of $111m.
- Advising a well-known provider of prize draws on a multi-million pound VAT reclaim as a result of certain services being considered as being VAT exempt.
- Advising a US artificial intelligence company on its UK market entry and broader international expansion including advising on its transfer pricing policy, VAT risks and permanent establishment risks.
- Acting for an international money transfer business in relation to challenging the imposition of a financial penalty for alleged breaches of the The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017. Also assisted the business with the settlement of its historic tax affairs following a cross-tax enquiry opened by HMRC.
- Advised a leading variety goods retailer on its appeals against multi-million pound excise duty assessments and related penalties.
- Conducting an internal investigation for the directors of a UK based IT business into potential bribery, tax irregularities and money laundering and advising on making disclosures to various law enforcement bodies.
- Advising a major global insurer, on the tax implications of restructuring of its transactions with intra-group companies and policyholders in order to streamline the debt recovery process and improve cashflow.
- Advising a leading steel stockholder in bringing tribunal proceedings and a judicial review against HMRC’s imposition of safeguarding duty and VAT on imports of steel products into the UK.
- Advising one of the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler, in relation to a claim for overpaid excise duty.
- Acting for a US-based animal conservation organisation, to provide tax advice in the UK, EU and Australia.
- Advising the senior management of a manufacturing business on the contractual disclosure facility for deliberate overclaiming monies under the coronavirus job retention scheme.
- Advising a national security and defence focused technology company on its transfer pricing position.
- Advising global insurer on the UK tax implications of setting up and operating a UK branch office with UK based employees.
