Pump Court Tax Chambers offers expertise in the full scope of private client tax matters, including succession planning, offshore advisory work, Chancery court work, and, increasingly, tax issues in the sports context. The set has further strength in contentious matters, and acts for both HMRC and private individuals. William Massey KC covers matters related to trusts, land, and landed estates, and is described as ‘the preeminent go-to capital taxes silk.’ Kevin Prosser KC is highly active in litigation, with notable cases including acting for the taxpayer in Euromoney v HMRC, a tax avoidance case before the First Tier Tribunal. James Rivett KC acts for high profile and high net worth individuals both in complex advisory matters and before the courts, including acting on behalf of Gary Lineker in proceedings relating to the tax treatment of his broadcasting roles at the BBC and BT Sport.
Tax: personal in
London Bar
Pump Court Tax Chambers
Testimonials
‘Excellent – always responsive and know the strengths of the large number of tenants available.’
‘The clerks are excellent, as is the venue.’
‘John Poyser is fabulous.’
‘Top level service.’
‘The chambers have an excellent set of barristers at all levels, who have strong technical knowledge. They look for solutions rather than merely presenting problems.’
‘Great strength in depth at all levels and across all taxes. My go-to tax set.’
‘The quality of the counsel at Pump Court Tax is very high.’
‘An excellent tax set with some noted practitioners.’
Work highlights
Devereux
Devereux‘s private client practice provides comprehensive service in both advisory and contentious matters. Felicity Cullen KC is noted for her ‘thorough, thoughtful, insightful analysis’, and is experienced in advising owner managed business, as well as high and ultra-high net worth individuals. Aparna Nathan KC‘s client base includes historic estates and foreign royalty, and covers a diverse range of matters including mixed member partnership issues. Marika Lemos appeared for the taxpayer in HMRC v Wilkes, a key case concerning the validity of discovery assessments issued by HMRC.
Testimonials
‘Good service.’
‘I have dealt largely with Glenn Billenness, and he is always friendly and approachable.’
‘Devereux Chambers is the pre-eminent set for barristers to advocate a case regarding personal taxation, whether that is taxation of income or the use of intermediaries (IR35) or cases involving personal residence and domicile.’
‘In recent years, Devereux has built one of the pre-eminent tax practices in London, which has considerable strength in depth. They now rank alongside the very best specialist tax sets.’
‘I have instructed a number of tax counsel at Devereux and have found the standard to be very high.’
‘Outstanding strength in depth at both silk and junior level.’
Work highlights
Old Square Tax Chambers
Old Square Tax Chambers
members advise extensively within the UK and offshore, and take a key place in thought leadership in the practice area. James Kessler KC, who is head of chambers, is a leading expert in offshore taxation and charity law. Robert Venables KC, who is a former chair of the Revenue Bar Association, handles offshore tax planning and residence and domicile issues. Rory Mullan KC represented the Fisher Family before the Supreme Court in Fisher v HMRC, regarding offshore tax planning issues related to the sale of the Stan James betting business in 2000. Harriet Brown is dual-qualified in England and Jersey, and is active in matters straddling the jurisdictions.
Testimonials
‘Efficient, pleasant to deal with, instructions always get to counsel, especially when urgent.’
‘Very good, pragmatic and user-friendly clerks.’
‘Compared to other clerks I have worked with at other Chambers, the service here is slick and particularly easy to use. Communication is available by phone or email and responses are almost instantaneous. What more could we ask for?’
‘ I have always found the clerks (as a team) to be very efficient and helpful, especially when considering the issues that might be experienced by advisers outside of central London.’
‘Superb specialist tax Chambers.’
‘A very strong set with some excellent juniors and silks – one of the usual suspects when considering the top tax sets out there.’
‘We have always found them to be knowledgeable, reliable and able to offer their advice in a timely manner.’
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers is well regarded for matters relating to the taxation of estates and trusts, and is praised by clients for having ‘excellent depth for pensions work.’ Jonathan Davey KC has a highly active disputes practice, including taking a leading role for HMRC in Ingenious Film Partners 2 LLP and others v HMRC, a £1.6bn tax dispute in the film and games industries.
Testimonials
‘Stewart Cameron is a pleasure to deal with. He ensures that enquiries are dealt with promptly, proactively updates instructing solicitors, and is helpful, transparent and realistic when providing fee quotes.’
‘The clerks are very efficient and pleasant to deal with.’
‘They are a strong set with an ever-growing presence in tax.’
‘Wilberforce Chambers have excellent depth for pensions work.’
Work highlights
11 New Square
11 New Square is a specialist tax set which draws a diverse range of private client matters. Hui Ling McCarthy KC acts on behalf of prominent and high net worth individuals, and in addition to expertise in both advisory matters and litigation, is a key name for alternative tax dispute resolution processes. John Brinsmead-Stockham KC is a key contact for inheritance tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax. Michael Ripley advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters, with experience appearing before courts and tribunals, both led and unled.
Field Court Tax Chambers
Field Court Tax Chambers boasts a highly international membership, and includes a diverse range of practitioners with expertise across the EU and beyond. Patrick Way KC, who is a co-founder of the chambers, is experienced at all levels of the UK tax system and Privy Council, with ‘a wide scope of expertise in the area of UK personal tax matters.’ Philip Baker KC has a long record as a lecturer in tax law, and has expertise in international matters. Head of chambers Patrick Soares advises on a broad range of matters, including the structuring of major land transactions. Imran S Afzal ‘excels in drafting clear, coherent pleadings and skeleton arguments’, and represented HMRC as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal in Candy v HMRC, which related to whether a claim for repayment of stamp duty land tax by the property developer and Convervative Party donor Christian Candy was made in time.
Testimonials
‘Stephanie Talbot has been an absolute gem of a clerk; always responsive and helpful.’
‘The clerks’ room is totally professional and efficient. Marie Burke and Stephanie Talbot are consummate professionals, and tremendously reassuring.’
‘The clerks are always available, polite and cooperative. They work efficiently to deliver the services offered by the chamber’s barristers.’
‘Marie Burke and Stephanie Talbot are first class. Very diligent and always go the extra mile.’
‘All of the members of the set are tax specialists, covering the entire field of tax and all subscribe to the same philosophy of practicality and approachability.’
Work highlights
Pump Court Tax Chambers
Testimonials
‘Excellent – always responsive and know the strengths of the large number of tenants available.’
‘The clerks are excellent, as is the venue.’
‘John Poyser is fabulous.’
‘Top level service.’
‘The chambers have an excellent set of barristers at all levels, who have strong technical knowledge. They look for solutions rather than merely presenting problems.’
‘Great strength in depth at all levels and across all taxes. My go-to tax set.’
‘The quality of the counsel at Pump Court Tax is very high.’
‘An excellent tax set with some noted practitioners.’
Work highlights
Devereux
Devereux‘s private client practice provides comprehensive service in both advisory and contentious matters. Felicity Cullen KC is noted for her ‘thorough, thoughtful, insightful analysis’, and is experienced in advising owner managed business, as well as high and ultra-high net worth individuals. Aparna Nathan KC‘s client base includes historic estates and foreign royalty, and covers a diverse range of matters including mixed member partnership issues. Marika Lemos appeared for the taxpayer in HMRC v Wilkes, a key case concerning the validity of discovery assessments issued by HMRC.
Testimonials
‘Good service.’
‘I have dealt largely with Glenn Billenness, and he is always friendly and approachable.’
‘Devereux Chambers is the pre-eminent set for barristers to advocate a case regarding personal taxation, whether that is taxation of income or the use of intermediaries (IR35) or cases involving personal residence and domicile.’
‘In recent years, Devereux has built one of the pre-eminent tax practices in London, which has considerable strength in depth. They now rank alongside the very best specialist tax sets.’
‘I have instructed a number of tax counsel at Devereux and have found the standard to be very high.’
‘Outstanding strength in depth at both silk and junior level.’
Work highlights
Old Square Tax Chambers
Old Square Tax Chambers
members advise extensively within the UK and offshore, and take a key place in thought leadership in the practice area. James Kessler KC, who is head of chambers, is a leading expert in offshore taxation and charity law. Robert Venables KC, who is a former chair of the Revenue Bar Association, handles offshore tax planning and residence and domicile issues. Rory Mullan KC represented the Fisher Family before the Supreme Court in Fisher v HMRC, regarding offshore tax planning issues related to the sale of the Stan James betting business in 2000. Harriet Brown is dual-qualified in England and Jersey, and is active in matters straddling the jurisdictions.
Testimonials
‘Efficient, pleasant to deal with, instructions always get to counsel, especially when urgent.’
‘Very good, pragmatic and user-friendly clerks.’
‘Compared to other clerks I have worked with at other Chambers, the service here is slick and particularly easy to use. Communication is available by phone or email and responses are almost instantaneous. What more could we ask for?’
‘ I have always found the clerks (as a team) to be very efficient and helpful, especially when considering the issues that might be experienced by advisers outside of central London.’
‘Superb specialist tax Chambers.’
‘A very strong set with some excellent juniors and silks – one of the usual suspects when considering the top tax sets out there.’
‘We have always found them to be knowledgeable, reliable and able to offer their advice in a timely manner.’
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers is well regarded for matters relating to the taxation of estates and trusts, and is praised by clients for having ‘excellent depth for pensions work.’ Jonathan Davey KC has a highly active disputes practice, including taking a leading role for HMRC in Ingenious Film Partners 2 LLP and others v HMRC, a £1.6bn tax dispute in the film and games industries.
Testimonials
‘Stewart Cameron is a pleasure to deal with. He ensures that enquiries are dealt with promptly, proactively updates instructing solicitors, and is helpful, transparent and realistic when providing fee quotes.’
‘The clerks are very efficient and pleasant to deal with.’
‘They are a strong set with an ever-growing presence in tax.’
‘Wilberforce Chambers have excellent depth for pensions work.’
Work highlights
11 New Square
11 New Square is a specialist tax set which draws a diverse range of private client matters. Hui Ling McCarthy KC acts on behalf of prominent and high net worth individuals, and in addition to expertise in both advisory matters and litigation, is a key name for alternative tax dispute resolution processes. John Brinsmead-Stockham KC is a key contact for inheritance tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax. Michael Ripley advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters, with experience appearing before courts and tribunals, both led and unled.
Field Court Tax Chambers
Field Court Tax Chambers boasts a highly international membership, and includes a diverse range of practitioners with expertise across the EU and beyond. Patrick Way KC, who is a co-founder of the chambers, is experienced at all levels of the UK tax system and Privy Council, with ‘a wide scope of expertise in the area of UK personal tax matters.’ Philip Baker KC has a long record as a lecturer in tax law, and has expertise in international matters. Head of chambers Patrick Soares advises on a broad range of matters, including the structuring of major land transactions. Imran S Afzal ‘excels in drafting clear, coherent pleadings and skeleton arguments’, and represented HMRC as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal in Candy v HMRC, which related to whether a claim for repayment of stamp duty land tax by the property developer and Convervative Party donor Christian Candy was made in time.
Testimonials
‘Stephanie Talbot has been an absolute gem of a clerk; always responsive and helpful.’
‘The clerks’ room is totally professional and efficient. Marie Burke and Stephanie Talbot are consummate professionals, and tremendously reassuring.’
‘The clerks are always available, polite and cooperative. They work efficiently to deliver the services offered by the chamber’s barristers.’
‘Marie Burke and Stephanie Talbot are first class. Very diligent and always go the extra mile.’
‘All of the members of the set are tax specialists, covering the entire field of tax and all subscribe to the same philosophy of practicality and approachability.’