The Legal 500

Capital gains tax, GST and stamp duty are core areas of expertise for Allens Arthur Robinson, and the team advises large banks and major resource companies on IPOs, mergers, audits, company restructuring and tax disputes. Charles Armitage recently handled the sale of Westpac Office Trust to Mirvac, and Larry Magid provided key tax advice to Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. Cameron Rider and Grant Cathro are highly regarded.

Greenwoods & Freehills is ‘second to none for its combination of technical expertise, responsiveness and knowledge’, and is ‘excellent in all respects’. Stamp duty matters and tax litigation for major insurers, energy and resources companies and large banks are key sources of work. The team acted as lead tax adviser to BHP Billiton on its proposed joint venture with Rio Tinto. Cameron Hanson represented Citigroup in anti-avoidance litigation in the Federal Court. Andrew Mills and Geoff McClellan provide ‘timely and concise’ legal advice.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques’ Sydney office had a quiet year for transactional tax work, but the Melbourne team was busy due to a surge in M&A activity. Phillip Davies led advice to AXA on its merger with AMP, and Frank Brody - who has a ‘very deep knowledge of stamp duty in all Australian states and territories’- advised Westfield on certain matters. Michael Clough and newly appointed head of tax Justin Cherrington are also recommended.

‘Excellent all round’, Arnold Bloch Leibler’s forte is advising high-net-worth individuals on their tax needs such as audits, GST and Division 7a tax disputes. Paul Sokolowski is highly regarded for his ‘technical strength’ and ‘commercial approach’, and practice head Mark Leibler is another leading tax lawyer.

Baker & McKenzie has a good reputation for its advice on transfer pricing, structured finance transactions and REITs. Tim Sherman recently handled tax issues for KKR, arising from the sale of its stake in Seven Media Group. John Walker is ‘astute and savvy’, with Amrit MacIntyre also recommended.

Blake Dawson represents three of the “Big Four” banks, and is excellent for both direct and indirect tax matters. The firm has recently advised on a number infrastructure projects including on NBNco’s financing agreement with Telstra. Ian Kellock (‘the grandfather of stamp duty’) and Len Hertzman led advice to BHP Billiton on its proposed merger with Rio Tinto. Duncan Baxter and Paul O’Donnell are also key figures in the practice.

Clayton Utz’s ‘impressive’ tax group works closely alongside its corporate team to advise private equity funds, ASX-listed companies and multinationals on complex tax matters arising from investments and M&A. Mark Friezer recently acted as Australian counsel for mining giant Barrick Gold on its $7.1bn takeover bid for Equinox Minerals. Allan Blaikie and Sue Williamson have ‘excellent technical skills’.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth lost capital gains tax specialist David Pratley to Minter Ellison, but the group continues to compete effectively with much larger teams for the most significant M&A instructions. The firm is a leading adviser to several clients in the energy and resources sector, and Jonathon Leek recently acted as tax counsel to Shell on the sale of its $3.3bn stake in Woodside. Reynah Tang led on advice to Fosters Group on the divestment of its wine business.

Minter Ellison combines ‘excellent technical knowledge’ with ‘practical implementation’. Stamp duty and advice on divestments, M&A, stamp duty and capital raising transactions are the key strengths for this ‘high-quality’ team, which includes Mark Green. Karen Payne is recommended for her ‘in-depth knowledge of tax issues’, and Rhys Guild- an authority on PAYG/GST - heads the practice. Capital gains tax expert David Pratley joined from Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

Tax litigator Richard Dukes heads the small team at Atanaskovic Hartnell, which recently acted for Kohler Co and IEL Group in two disputes with the Australian Tax Office (ATO). Transactional tax advice is also an area of focus, handling GST, stamp duty and tax structuring.

Corporate tax is the main focus for DLA Piper Australia’s team, which recently assisted Harvard University on its first Australian investment. Other highlights included Jock McCormack advising Public Infrastructure Partners LP and HRL Morrison & Co on purchasing a large interest in the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. James Newnham joined the team from BDO as the firm filled the gap left by Phillip Byrnes’ retirement in April 2011.

Richard Gelski heads Johnson Winter & Slattery’s tax practice, which advises corporate clients on the tax aspects of restructuring and fund investments for private equity firms. Rod Cox recently acted for Macquarie Bank in a GST dispute with the ATO. Other clients include Société Généralé and Unilever.

Norton Rose Australia represents international banks and ASX-listed companies on tax matters arising from cross-border M&A and other corporate transactions. David Coombes is the key adviser on restructuring. He and Andrew Spalding are recommended. Paul Humphreys joined the firm from Clayton Utz in August 2011.

Gadens Lawyers acts as corporate tax adviser to ASX-listed entities and large companies. Charles Cowper heads the team, which recently recruited energy specialist Damian O’Connor from Hopgood Ganim Lawyers.

Kelly & Co has ‘extremely high legal and commercial acumen’, coupled with a ‘deep insight into the key issues’. Tax ‘grandmaster’ Gary Winter represents clients such as Westpac and Home Support Services.

Maddocks represents the ATO in litigation, and advises private sector clients on tax audits and foreign investments. Carmen McElwain heads the practice, in which Peter Poulos has the valuable ability to ‘simplify complex tax matters’, and Angela Wood is a tax controversy specialist.

McCullough Robertson has an ‘excellent understanding of policy issues relating to stamp duty’, and primarily advises clients in the property and mining sectors. Mark West and Hayden Bentley are recommended.