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  1. VAT and indirect tax
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Clifford Chance’s two-partner team ‘sets the standard’ in the area, and is highly visible in the market. It has expertise in areas such as securitisation, renewables, charities and the growing area of Islamic finance, and acts for clients such as Barclays, Morgan Stanley and RBS. Etienne Wong is a ‘hugely influential market pace-setter’, and David Saleh is also recommended.

Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘proactive, innovative and very hardworking’ team has a transactional focus and expertise in areas including insurance, energy, outsourcing, Islamic finance and real estate. It acted for BAA on its successful appeal against HMRC’s decision to deny recovery of VAT; and advised British Aggregates Association on the legality of the UK’s Aggregates Levy under EU state aid law. Neil Warriner is recommended, and real estate tax expert William Arrenberg was promoted to partner in 2012.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s ‘heavy-hitting’ team acts on a variety of matters with contentious indirect tax matters being key, alongside financial services, insurance, property, funds and outsourcing transactions. It advised longstanding client Aimia on the VAT treatment of loyalty awards, and RBS on the VAT treatment of commissions. Kevin Ashman and Philip Gershuny are recommended. Greg Sinfield’s move to the judiciary was a significant loss, but was offset by the arrival of Michael Conlon QC.

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘able and greatly experienced’ group acts for blue-chip clients such as Goldman Sachs International, Thames River Capital, BNP Paribas Fortis and Misys. Areas of expertise include real estate funds, hedge funds, and sovereign funds. Christopher Harrison is ‘extremely helpful’, and Peter Mendham ‘gets the job done’.

Baker & McKenzie LLP is ‘technically excellent’ and offers a ‘very good level of client service’. The firm has expertise in international restructuring, IT and outsourcing, securitisation and IP. It acted for AXA Private Equity on the indirect tax aspects of a series of complex secondary market private equity acquisitions totalling $2.5bn. Mark Delaney is ‘technical strong and a good communicator, and is sympathetic to commercial realities’, and Mark Agnew is ‘responsive and diligent’.

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP provides ‘well-attuned’ advice that ‘meets the client’s expectations’, and acts for Expedia, Balfour Beatty and Tesco, among others. Areas of expertise include real estate and built environment related taxes, and SDLT planning and minimisation. Alan Sinyor is a well-respected figure in the field, but the team saw the departure of high-profile partner Linda Adelson.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s team acts for a range of high-profile clients including Ferrovial, Bank of England, EMI and British Land. It acted for Rolls-Royce on the restructuring and sale of its 32.5% share in the International Aero Engines joint venture to Pratt & Whitney; and for UK Financial Investments and Northern Rock on HM Treasury’s disposal of the bank to Virgin Money. Richard Ballard is active in the sector, but Robert Kent retired from the partnership.

Linklaters LLP’s team is able to draw on the strength of the firm’s wider corporate offering, and advises a number of high-profile, blue-chip clients. It has notable expertise in transactional, corporate and real estate related indirect tax matters. Martin Lynchehan is recommended.

Macfarlanes LLP’s ‘helpful, commercial and responsive’ team acts for clients including Alchemy Partners, Virgin and Silverfleet. It has expertise in areas such as contentious VAT, private equity, real estate, and the structuring of investments to offset VAT exposure. Mark Baldwin is ‘first class’.

Olswang delivers an ‘excellent all-round service, with up-to-date technical knowledge’, and is ‘very good at finding innovative solutions’ to clients’ problems. The team has strength in real estate, SDLT and gaming matters, and has also seen an increase in M&A-related work. It advised F&C Reit Asset Management on the sale of St Katherine’s Dock. Team head Mark Joscelyne and Graham Chase are recommended.

Eversheds LLP handles real estate and investment funds matters and SDLT litigation. It advised Schroders on the conversion of a real estate fund into a new property authorised unit trust, while other clients include Legal & General, Barclays Bank and BAE. Practice head Clive Jones and indirect tax expert Damian Shirley are recommended.

Simmons & Simmons LLP provides advice on VAT, stamp taxes and other indirect taxes to a wide range of clients, with a sector focus on financial institutions, asset management, TMT, energy and infrastructure, and life sciences. It recently acted for SRI in obtaining a favourable judgement from the Upper Tribunal. Paul Hale is recommended.

Slaughter and May’s team provides a ‘dependable, well-tailored service’, and acts for BHP Billiton, Santander, Cadbury, United Utilities, Standard Life, and Vodafone, leveraging strength from the firm’s wider tax capabilities.

Stephenson Harwood has great expertise in the tonnage tax sector, where it advises on leasing arrangements for numerous tonnage tax companies. It regularly provides advice to clients such as Pacific Carriers, CMA and Toisa. Aircraft, general transportation and real estate matters are other specialisms. Hugo Jenney is the name to note.

Peter Mason is recommended at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP.

Richard Woolich is recommended at DLA Piper UK LLP.

Real estate expert David Gubbay is recommended at Dechert LLP.

Paul Farmer is recommended at Dorsey & Whitney.

Sandy Bhogal is recommended at Mayer Brown International LLP.

At Nabarro LLP, SDLT expert Michael Cant is a ‘strong asset’ , and Simon Rose is also recommended.

Monty Raphael QC is recommended at Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP.

James Bullock is recommended at Pinsent Masons LLP.

Real estate expert Heather Corben is recommended at SJ Berwin LLP.

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