The Legal 500

Allen & Overy Luxembourg’s three-partner tax team has an excellent standing in the market and benefits from strong ties with the regulatory authorities and industry groups. Patrick Mischo provides tax structuring advice on corporate and private equity transactions, and is co-chairman of the tax committee of the nascent Luxembourg Private Equity Association. The team also handles litigation and recently successfully represented the Luxembourg Indirect Tax Administration in a €5m capital duty dispute. Jean Schaffner and Jean-Luc Fisch are ‘both good at finding commercial and practical solutions to complex issues’.

As befits a firm that benefits from very strong corporate and finance practices, a substantial amount of Arendt & Medernach’s tax work relates to the structuring of transactions, new money financings and restructurings. The team is also integral to the firm’s investment funds structuring work. Thierry Lesage and Eric Fort both have a prominent reputation in the market.

Bonn Steichen & Partners provides related tax structuring advice pursuant to major corporate and finance transactions. The team is also well versed at representing clients before the national tax authorities. The ‘truly excellent’ Alain Steichen has a superb reputation in the market.

Tax is one of the central tenets of Loyens & Loeff’s ethos and, with over 30 tax professionals within the group, it has the critical mass to handle a tremendous range and volume of mandates. Team head Jean-Pierre Winandy and Simon Paul are well regarded in the market, particularly in relation to cross-border structuring. The team is well known for structured finance, funds, M&A, VAT and tax litigation.

Led by former Ernst & Young partner André Pesch, Baker & McKenzie’s six-strong tax team is a pivotal resource within the nascent Luxembourg offering. Able to tap into the firm’s huge international network, the group advises corporates, financial institutions and asset managers across a broad spectrum of matters including international tax planning, fund structuring, M&A mandates, private banking and wealth management.

Elvinger, Hoss & Prussen’s Dirk Richter is the main tax contact and recently advised on the listing of Russian food retailer O’Key, in what was one of the first London listings of a Russian group’s Luxembourg holding company since the financial crisis. Richter also provides tax structuring expertise regarding the establishment of funds.

Headed by François-Xavier Dujardin, Kremer Associés & Clifford Chance’s tax team provides ‘clear and accurate’ advice to clients engaged in domestic and cross-border capital markets, M&A and funds work. Dujardin recently advised Altarea Cogedin on tax aspects of the establishment of a €600m real estate investment fund.

Linklaters LLP’s small tax team is regularly called upon to advise on private equity and corporate transactions, as well as tax-based structured finance projects. Corporate partner Laurent Schummer is heading the group on an interim basis, following the recent departure of Paul Tulcinsky to Stibbe.

Jointly headed by Christophe Joosen and Jean-Marc Groelly, NautaDutilh’s tax team is regularly called upon to provide structuring advice on domestic and cross-border private equity and corporate transactions. Recent highlights include providing the tax input in relation to Apollo and CVC’s £883m acquisition of Brit Insurance Holdings.

Headed by managing partner Frédéric Feyten, OPF Partners’ tax team has a good reputation for structuring funds and private equity transactions. The team is also well regarded for its general tax compliance and VAT work and was recently strengthened in those areas by the arrival of senior associates Christine Ntumba and Charlène-Adline Herbain.

At CMS DeBacker Leclère Walry, team head Diogo Duarte de Oliveira has ‘excellent international experience’ and provides ‘solutions-oriented advice’ to corporate and private equity firms engaged in major cross-border deals.

At M Partners, Herman Troskie has particular expertise on international tax planning.

Stibbe now has significant tax capability following the recruitment of Paul Tulcinsky from Linklaters LLP in June 2011; he specialises in international tax matters.

At Vandenbulke, the ‘business-minded’ Denis Van den Bulke has an excellent reputation for handling international tax structuring.

Wagener, Rukavina & Kettenmeyer’s Jean Wagener is well regarded for cross-border tax structuring.

Wildgen, Partners in Law’s David Maria has a strong reputation for handling corporate tax issues.