The tax team at Shearn Delamore & Co is led by Anand Raj and has a strong reputation in advising on the full range of direct and indirect tax matters, on issues involving structuring, planning, pricing, transfer and dispute resolution. Key areas of expertise include goods and services, corporate and income, as well as audits and investigations. Many of its cases are international in nature, a high proportion of which are prevalent in the oil and gas industry. Irene Yong is a standout member in the practice, ‘experienced and well-versed’ in the provision of advice across the full spectrum of tax mandates. The team successfully acted for the Malaysian Bar on a landmark High Court case regarding the Tax Revenue’s powers to undertake audits on law firm clients’ accounts, and the appeal of this matter was dismissed in 2021.
Tax in Malaysia
Shearn Delamore & Co
Practice head(s):
Anand Raj
Other key lawyers:
Irene Yong; Foong Pui Chui
Testimonials
‘The lawyers in the team are highly intelligent, experienced and always make themselves available to support us. The advice and support received is always comprehensive, practical and commercially effective. The team was able to hold our hand throughout the process.’
‘Irene Yong is clearly experienced and well-versed in her area of expertise, but is also quick to identify issues and understand the business concerns. She and her team provide clear and practical advice, formulated practical strategies and recommendations which are easy to understand. We receive extremely effective and responsive support from her.’
Key clients
CIMB Bank Berhad
Diebold Nixdorf Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Wincor Nixdorf (M) Sdn Bhd)
United Malacca Berhad
Maximum Vista Sdn Bhd
Altera Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd
ExxonMobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Shell Refining Company (FOM) Berhad
Petronas Penapisan (Terengganu) Sdn Bhd
Boston Consulting Group Sdn Bhd
United Plantations Berhad
Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd
Vijaya Lakshmi Devi d/o Nadchatiram
Kompleks Tanjong Malim Sdn Bhd
Bridgestone Chemical Products (M) Sdn Bhd
Agro-Mod Industries Sdn Bhd
Shell People Services Asia Sdn Bhd
Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd
Wong & Partners
Wong & Partners’ team is collectively led by the following practitioners: head of the tax, trade and wealth department of the Joint Asian Offices across the firm, Adeline Wong, indirect tax partner Yvonne Beh, who has particular expertise in corporate and commercial matters, transfer pricing partner Krystal Ng, ‘excellent’ tax controversy specialist Jason Liang and wealth management expert Istee Cheah. These areas of expertise account for a large portion of the team’s workload. It advises international clients on matters involving transactional tax, price control, anti-profiteering, private wealth and indirect tax and is noted for its ability ‘to provide seamless advice across various jurisdictions’. Anlynn Ng is praised for going ‘above and beyond’.
Practice head(s):
Adeline Wong
Other key lawyers:
Yvonne Beh; Krystal Ng; Jason Liang; Istee Cheah; Kellie Allison Yap; Anlynn Ng
Testimonials
‘Their international reach and familiarity with cross-border tax matters is very valuable to clients looking for tax advice on cross-border transactions or international structures, as they are able to provide seamless advice across various jurisdictions.’
‘Excellent services provided. The knowledgeable team is willing to go the extra mile to achieve targets. They also update clients promptly and strategize moves effectively in accordance with the situation. They work closely with clients and are very accommodative to clients’ ideas and request. The firm delivers excellent quality work.’
‘Anlynn Ng is very hardworking and approachable. She goes above and beyond to achieve desired outcomes, keeping clients updated with case development. She is a very organised person who reliably adheres to all key deadlines. She works smartly to assist clients to achieve the desired outcomes. Overall, we feel very comfortable dealing with Anlynn and we feel assured that our case will be handled in a professional and effective manner by both Jason Liang and Anlynn.’
Key clients
Procter & Gamble
Uniqlo
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill
Nitin Nadkarni and ‘solid tax adviser’ Jason Tan Jia Xin co-lead the team at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, which is noted for its ‘remarkable tax expertise’. The practice advises international clients on major audits and tax transactions, and has demonstrable experience handling tax-related disputes, whilst regularly dealing with appeals and judicial review applications at the High Court. A recent highlight for the team is its successful representation in a landmark case against the Special Commissioners of Income Tax in Malaysia regarding the taxability on gains arising from a joint venture development. Noteworthy promotions in the team include that of Ivy Yieng Ping Ling to partner and of Chris Toh Pei Roo to senior associate.
Practice head(s):
Nitin Nadkarni; Jason Tan Jia Xin
Other key lawyers:
Chris Toh Pei Roo; Ivy Ling Yieng Ping
Testimonials
‘Jason is a solid tax adviser with strong commercial acumen, ready to support us on very short notice.’
‘The team work very well together. They make an effort to understand matters thoroughly from the first meeting.’
‘Jason and his team are very technical and knowledgeable; they are specialists in tax matters.’
‘Jason Tan is able to give quick responses on the latest trade law updates, and give proactive suggestions to find solutions for the issues at hand.’
‘The tax team is very responsive and inspire confidence with their tax expertise. Partners Nitin Nadkarni and Jason Tan are known in the market as effective tax counsels, whilst senior associate Chris Toh is able to provide relevant and solid practical advice with a quick turnaround time.’
‘Nitin Nadkarni, Jason Tan and Chris Toh have shown remarkable tax expertise and effective turnaround with favourable results.’
‘Jason Tan and Chris Toh provide practical and relevant advice. They are able to render their service within tight deadlines.’
‘Jason Tan has been providing a valid and independent legal opinion for us to proceed the legal case and the team are managing our case unselfishly and intelligently; client interest is clearly their main priority.’
Key clients
Deloitte Corporate Solutions Sdn Bhd (as professional liquidators) and City Centre Sdn Bhd (in liquidation)
HICOM Automotive Manufacturers Sdn Bhd (part of the DRB-HICOM Group)
Cash Band (M) Berhad
Dyson Manufacturing Sdn Bhd
SAP Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Tower REIT (part of the Hong Leong group)
IOI Properties Group Berhad
Multicode Electronics Industries (M) Berhad
Mycron Steel Berhad
CSC Steel Sdn Bhd
Work highlights
- Acting for the professional liquidators in a RM100m tax dispute at the High Court.
- Acting for a subsidiary of the Selangor State Government in a tax dispute concerning taxability of gains arising from a joint venture agreement.
- Acting for HICOM Automotive Manufacturers Malaysia Sdn Bhd in a dispute involving excise duties against the Director General of Customs at the High Court.
Raja, Darryl & Loh
Vijey Mohana Krishnan leads the team at Raja, Darryl & Loh and advises clients on tax matters arising out of the oil and gas and infrastructure sectors. With demonstrable experience before the High Court and the Appeal Court, the practice counts income tax, real property gains, customs duties, sales and service tax, as well as entertainments duty and stamp duty, in its workload. William Wong is noted for his ‘in-depth understanding in the field of tax law’ and is praised as ‘outstanding’. The team has also been bolstered by the return of tax specialist Chang Ee Leen.
Practice head(s):
Vijey Mohana Krishnan
Other key lawyers:
William Wong; Chang Ee Leen
Testimonials
‘The team members display high levels of respect and trust towards one another. The level of professionalism, accuracy and clarity in their advice is highly commendable.’
‘William Wong has great composure and clarity in explaining the technical aspects of cases, making it fluid for non-tax personnel to understand the case at hand as well as in explaining the various court processes to non-legal personnel.’
‘William Wong has in-depth understanding in the field of tax law and is able to put up defences and strategies that are best for the company’s commercial standing and financials. His focus in managing the case, as well as managing court processes and settlement, is simply outstanding.’
Work highlights
- Successfully procured the dismissal of an appeal by the Director General of Inland Revenue against our client Asia Energy Services Sdn Bhd.
- Defended George Kent (Malaysia) Berhad in appeal proceedings before the High Court.
- Succeeded in Judicial Review proceedings in the High Court, obtaining a decision in favour of our client Metrogold Commercial Sdn Bhd.
Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership
The offering at Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership is led by ‘expert’ Saravana Kumar. The team regularly offers advisory support to its clients and is well-equipped to act in dispute resolution cases. Its main areas of focus include income, international, sales and service, customs, real property gains, petroleum income and stamp duty tax matters. The practice advises a broad range of high-profile clients, including government-linked companies, international corporations and regional companies, on general tax issues, namely arising from cross-border transactions. D.P. Naban, who specialises in litigation, regularly works on the team’s most significant cases.
Practice head(s):
Saravana Kumar
Other key lawyers:
D.P Naban; Kar Ngai
Testimonials
‘Mr Kumar is an expert in tax law, and he and Kar Ngai are both very professional to work with.’
‘Mr Kumar is highly knowledgeable and one of the most brilliant Malaysian lawyers. His knowledge of taxation, transfer pricing, and international taxation is highly commendable.’
‘The response from the team is very fast. They are always ready to provide legal advice and support to our company. They have an excellent knowledge of tax law. We also note that the firm clearly focuses on developing young talent and sets the benchmark on employee remuneration.’
‘D.P Naban and Saravana Kumar are our best tax lawyers. We know that our interests are well-protected when they represent our company.’
‘The team shows client-specific strategy and has expertise in the area of taxation.’
‘Experts in taxation, they provide a fast and easy process.’
Key clients
Tenaga Nasional Berhad
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS)
Sarawak Energy Berhad (only disclose the HC matter)
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Petron Oil (M) Sdn Bhd
Tan Chong Motor Assemblies Sdn Bhd
Thomson Reuters Malaysia Sdn Bhd
PETRONAS Penapisan (Terengganu) Sdn Bhd
KLCC Property Holdings Berhad
IOI Loders Croklaan Procurement Company Sdn Bhd
Executive Offshore Shipping Sdn Bhd
Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd
Panasonic Homes Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Lendlease Development Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Koito Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad
Malayan Banking Berhad
Sunway Berhad
Work highlights
- Represented Tenaga Nasional Berhad in respect to a contested claim for reinvestment allowance on power plants built by the client involving notices of additional assessment amounting to MYR9bn.
- Represented Fortune 500 ranked company PETRONAS in respect to allegations of tax avoidance following an audit.
- Represented Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd (“Mercedes-Benz”) in on a dispute over the allowance of a tax exemption.
Skrine
Skrine’s tax team is led by Preetha Pillai and is well-equipped to handle litigious cases relating to the full spectrum of tax matters, including corporate, real property, employment and anti-dumping. In addition, the team supports its roster of clients in navigating complex tax audits and investigations. A work highlight includes the cross-jurisdictional civil matter brought against multiple Malaysian entities by the Danish government in respect of a significant tax fraud. Vijay Raj has demonstrable experience acting for oil and gas company clients, and has done so in cases involving the imposition of rates by local governments on pipelines and refineries.
Practice head(s):
Preetha Pillai
Other key lawyers:
Lim Koon Huan; Vijay Raj; Tan Hui Wen; Manshan Singh; Desmond Liew
Key clients
The Customs and Tax Administration of The Kingdom of Denmark
Malayan Banking Berhad
Natsteel Holdings Pte Ltd
Unistar Industries Sdn Bhd
Work highlights
- Representing the Customs and Tax Administration of the Kingdom of Denmark in a civil suit against multiple Malaysian entities and its officers.
- Defending a negligent suit in relation to whether a disposal of an auctioned land is subject to GST.