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The ‘innovative’ team at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP provides a very broad range of contentious tax services and is noted for its capabilities on complex multi-jurisdictional matters. It acted for ITV in a multimillion-pound dispute with HMRC which will have wide ramifications for many individuals working in the media, and also represented PokerStrategy in tax disputes and related issues arising in a multitude of jurisdictions. Key longstanding clients include the Aegis Group and the Football Association. ‘Excellent’ group head Liesl Fichardt is highly regarded and praised by clients and peers alike.

The ‘excellent’, three-partner team at Dorsey & Whitney provides ‘comprehensive, all-round’ advice to a variety of high-profile clients including Pirelli, Marks & Spencer, and Siemens. Areas of expertise include Group Litigation Orders and EU tax matters. The team has acted in numerous big-ticket cases, including ongoing advice to test claimants following a case against HMRC contending that the UK’s legislation on thinly capitalised companies was in breach of the EC treaty; and is also acting for 24 multinationals in a challenge to the UK’s CFC and dividend taxation rules. Head of the group Simon Whitehead has an ‘excellent grasp of the subject’; EU expert Paul Farmer ‘really listens to the client’s input’; and Michael Anderson gives ‘sound’ advice.

Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘superb’ tax litigation offering is impressively broad, drawing on a large pool of highly capable lawyers, and is praised for its ‘flexible and innovative’ approach. It acted for the Law Society of England and Wales in a Court of Appeal case which ruled that legal professional privilege should not be extended to cover legal advice given by accountants. Other clients include BAA, Barclays Capital, Maersk, and O2. Recommended practice head Heather Gething provides ‘a calm clarity of analysis and a strong feeling of support’ to clients. Rupert Shiers joined the team from McGrigors LLP.

McGrigors LLP’s three-partner team is praised for its ‘thoroughly professional approach, delivery and client care’ and its commitment to client relationships. It acted for Philips in a corporation tax dispute referred to the ECJ, and for Legal & General in a complex and high-value corporate tax matter. GLOs have also proved an area of success for the team. Group head James Bullock and Jason Collins are ‘top class’ and ‘full of practical ideas and insights’. Rupert Shiers left in April 2011.

Slaughter and May’s ‘seamless’ practice is valued for its ‘high levels of technical expertise’, and excellent multi-jurisdictional capabilities. The team acted for Morgan Stanley in relation to an appeal by HMRC following a dispute arising from the inter-relationship between the US and UK tax regimes; and it also acted for Nationwide in a substantial dispute with HMRC regarding the tax treatment of a structured finance transaction. Other clients include Bank of Ireland, and Ford. Practice head Sarah Lee is recommended.

DLA Piper UK LLP has a ‘very knowledgeable team’, and acts on the full range of investigations and direct and indirect tax disputes for clients including Commerzbank, HSBC, and Universal Studios. Recent areas of success include representing banks in relation to compulsory disclosure notices from HMRC. Simon Airey is ‘good on niche matters’; and Les Allen is ‘approachable and helpful’, and has ‘excellent litigation skills’.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has ‘strength in depth’ and the ‘toughness to deal with the stresses of litigation’, with its ability in corporate tax matters a large component of the strength of its contentious offering. It was recently instructed by a multinational banking group in nine separate disputes involving a leasing transaction. Other clients include AstraZeneca, and Eclipse Film Partners. Team head Helen Buchanan has ‘considerable tactical and strategic skills’.

Hogan Lovells International LLP is praised for its ‘practical advice’ and ‘excellent response times’, and acts in a diverse range of disputes, with the firm’s extremely strong VAT capabilities contributing to its strength in contentious indirect tax matters. The team acted for The ECU Group in a dispute with HMRC relating to the VAT liability of the management of foreign currency exposure of multi-currency loans, and for Weight Watchers UK in a VAT appeal relating to an assessment time limit extension. Greg Sinfield and Kevin Ashman are the key figures.

Linklaters LLP acted for BP in relation to the reclaiming of SDRT charged by HMRC in alleged breach of the EC Capital Directive, and also acted in an appeal to the tax tribunal concerning a joint venture which made a number of property investments. Michael Sanders is a key figure in contentious tax and EU matters, and Dominic Winter is also recommended.

The team at PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP has grown substantially in recent years, and benefits from the firm’s close relationship with its sister accounting firm. It has strong capabilities in GLOs and contentious indirect tax matters, and recently acted for a group of claimants in an SDRT GLO brought to recover funds allegedly paid in breach of EU law. It also acted for Prudential in a significant case over the issue of adviser privilege. Mark Whitehouse and Nick Skerrett are names to note.

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s team combines ‘first-rate legal knowledge’ with ‘practical experience of HMRC’s internal workings’. It has notable expertise in GLOs, and is led by recommended figures Jonathan Levy and Adam Craggs, who is noted for his ‘commercial acumen, and focus on the desired result’.

Ian Hyde is recommended at Pinsent Masons.

Hartley Foster at Olswang is noted for his ‘rare ability to balance commercial tactics within the litigation process’.

Maryanna Sharrock and Sanjay Mehta are recommended at Stephenson Harwood.

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