Maintaining eight national locations – and working with the firm’s offices in London and throughout the Asia Pacific region – the experienced tax group at Minter Ellison is a premier choice for government bodies, multinational corporates and organisations on high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions, tax disputes and indirect tax matters, including GST and stamp duty. The team is jointly chaired by Melbourne-based corporate tax head Adrian Varrasso; tax controversy and transfer pricing head Carmen McElwain, who brings over 25 years acting for and against the ATO; and Syndey-based Rhys Guild, who heads the indirect tax team. Other key figures include Rimma Miller in Sydney, who provides tax litigation expertise at both the federal and state levels; Nathan Deveson, Sydney-based chair of the team’s indirect tax and stamp duty practice group; corporate tax structuring expert Elissa Romanin in Melbourne; and special counsel and emission trading expert Craig Bowie, based in Brisbane. The team’s active client base spans the sports, energy and resources, government, financial services, and tech sectors. Stephen Chen in Melbourne was promoted from special counsel to partner in July 2022.

Praised for its ‘considered and commercial approach‘, the tax group at Corrs Chambers Westgarth works across multiple offices, advising household-name corporates and financial institutions on a wide spectrum of matters. Headed by experienced cross-border advisor Rhys Jewell in Melbourne, the group’s capabilities include tax controversy and disputes, private equity investments, corporate restructures, and all manner of direct and indirect taxes. The group’s diverse client base – ranging from real estate companies to energy providers – is supported by indirect tax expert Jennee Chan, transaction planning advisor Mark Payne, employment incentive option specialist Simon Mifsud (all of whom are based in Melbourne), and senior associate Michael Carroll in Sydney. Partner Cameron Rider departed in August 2022.

Drawing on a sizeable bench spanning multiple national offices, the tax team at Johnson Winter Slattery advises household-name multinationals involved in major infrastructure projects and high-stakes tax litigation. Led by Melbourne-base Stewart Grieve, an authority in tax audits and disputes, the group’s active client base spans the manufacturing, transport, food and beverages, mining and agri-business sectors. The team is supported in Sydney by M&A and infrastructure expert Matthew Shanahan, who arrived from Deloitte in February 2022; Annemarie Wilmore, a tax and revenue disputes specialist who arrived from KPMG Law in January 2022; and Prashanth Kainthaje, who brings experience in international tax (inbound and outbound) and private equity. Other key figures include Andy Milidoni, a specialist in the structuring of managed funds and financial products, and consultant Richard Gelski, who provides expertise in corporate structuring and cross-border investment. At senior associate level, Jess Tsai, who joined from Deloitte in February 2022, is particularly recommended. In Melbourne, Kathryn Bertram is recommended for her expertise in income tax, land tax, payroll tax, and stamp duty.

The Melbourne-based tax team at White & Case continues to grow, advising major multinational corporates involved in high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions, with a specialisation in large-scale infrastructure projects in the transport and energy sectors. The practice is led by Aldrin De Zilva, a tax advisor with over 25 years of experience representing clients throughout complex tax dispute processes, and supported by Tim Neilson, who assists with major acquisitions, along with experienced counsel Igor Golshtein. Recent changes in the team include the February 2022 hiring of Joanne Emerson Taqi as partner from Norton Rose Fulbright, and the promotions to partner of Mai Kuroda and Andrea Reeves in January 2022. Veteran tax litigator Cameron Rider joined as counsel in August 2022.

Powered by offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, the tax team at DLA Piper utilises its global footprint to advise a diverse roster of household-name multinationals involved in high-value, cross-border transactions and complex tax litigation. Headed by veteran practitioner Jock McCormack, the team’s comprehensive service extends to debt and equity structuring, divestments, transfer pricing, and tax aspects of major projects. The team is supported by Eddie Ahn, an expert in tax structuring acquisitions and internal corporate reorganisations, and Paul McNab , who specialises in tax controversy matters and managing audits by the ATO. At senior associate level, Jun Au and Kenny Mui are among the key names to note. The practice’s active client base spans the tech, oil and gas, financial services, real estate and infrastructure sectors. Partner Adam Smith in Melbourne, known for his work advising on insurance tax matters, arrived from Norton Rose Fulbright in June 2022. All the lawyers mentioned work in Sydney unless noted otherwise.

Backed by the combined bench strength of 8 offices across the nation, the team at Hall & Wilcox provide a comprehensive service in the tax space to advise corporate and institutional clients, privately-owned businesses, and high-wealth family groups. Led by Frank Hinoporos, an expert in succession and trust-related matters, the group assists with major cross-border transactions (M&A, corporate restructuring, domestic, inbound and outbound investment), disputes with the revenue authorities and targeted strategies for clients involved such sectors as media, construction, telecoms, government, real estate, not-for-profit and financial services. Anthony Bradica, in Melbourne, brings over 20 years of experience to tax planning and structuring for corporate clients and Jim Koutsokostas in Sydney (promoted to partner in July 2021, with a thorough skills set not limited to income tax, GST, FBT and state taxes). Other key team members include special counsel Jacqueline McGrath, who joined from HWL Ebsworth in April 2022, and senior associate Adam Dimac (both in Melbourne). Former practice head Peter Murray departed in March 2022.

The tax team at global firm Jones Day leverages the bench strength of offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, to advise major multinational corporates involved in high-value cross-border M&A and tax disputes involving the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The team is led by expert tax litigator Niv Tadmore, who counsels on other such matters as transfer pricing, integrity measures, business restructures and private equity investments. The team is supported by Simon Bowden, (who manages complex cross-borders financing tax disputes), Steven Small (who has 20 years’ experience in the practice area), transfer pricing specialist Benjamin Lancaster, Lauren Moses (who brings a combined taxpayer, commissioner and judiciary work background) and senior associate Alexandra Frazer. All lawyers mentioned are at the Melbourne office.

Harnessing its deep bench strength (working across locations in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney), the tax group at global firm K&L Gates regularly works in collaboration with the corporate, environmental planning, and real estate teams to advise multinational corporates, accountants, private and public capital firms, HNWIs, and family offices on all manner of contentious and non-contentious work. Headed by cross-border tax expert Betsy-Ann Howe, the team’s client portfolio spans the real estate, financial services, digital services and agricultural sectors. Other names to note include Matthew Cridland, a specialist in indirect tax issues such as stamp duty, payroll tax, land tax; and special counsel Leslie Petro, whose practice focuses on inbound and outbound investment. All the lawyers mentioned are based in the Sydney office.

The tax team at KPMG Law in Australia brings an integrated approach to the practice space, working alongside the tax consultancy team to provide all manner of multinational corporates and high-net-worth individuals alike with a one-stop-shop for tax controversy matters. Led in Melbourne by Angelina Lagana, who has over 22 years of experience in the practice space, the group assists clients at every stage of the tax dispute life cycle, from risk planning and regulator readiness to settlement negotiation and litigation. Supported by Keith Swan in Sydney, who previously worked on the ATO internal litigation team, and tax dispute resolution expert Alexandra Patrick in Melbourne, the group’s full services range from employment taxes and transfer pricing to tax governance and data analytics.

Sought out by a mix of real estate, agriculture, tech, financial services, and insurance sector players, the Melbourne-based tax team at Mills Oakley works closely with its Sydney office to assist various corporates, family businesses, charities, and HNWIs on a broad range of matters across the practice area. Andrew Spalding leads the team, bringing experience to advise insurers on tax risk and private and listed companies on tax structuring, tax concessions, and employee incentive plans. Marina Raulings, an expert in the taxation of intellectual property and digital assets, supports the team alongside Craig Gibson, an indirect tax specialist who arrived from Macpherson Kelley in April 2022. Partner Harry Giannakidis departed in May 2022.

The Sydney-based team at global firm Norton Rose Fulbright coordinates with its corporate and real estate teams across offices Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, and Perth, to advise major W&I insurers, corporates, charity groups, financial institutions, and government agencies on high-value domestic and cross-border transactions. Led by Greg Reinhardt, who brings over 20 years of experience in the practice space, the firm’s sizeable client portfolio spans the energy, financial services, government, automotive, real estate and tech sectors. The team is supported by special counsel Seema Mishra, who brings expertise to tax matters at both the federal and state levels.