Ben Webster > Macfarlanes LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Macfarlanes LLP Offices
20 CURSITOR STREET
LONDON
EC4A 1LT
England
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Ben Webster
Work Department
Litigation and dispute resolution
Position
Ben advises on a wide range of contentious tax matters for individuals, partnerships, funds, multi-nationals and FTSE-listed companies.
Ben is senior counsel within the tax investigations and disputes team, and his varied practice includes advising clients on HMRC powers and enquiries, disputes before the Tax Tribunals, High Court disputes that involve tax, and the mitigation of tax risk on commercial transactions.
Ben regularly advises on the technical, tactical and procedural aspects of tax investigations and disputes across the full range of direct and indirect taxes, and has been involved with cases at all levels of the UK tax tribunal and civil court system. Ben also acts in High Court litigation and judicial reviews, with a particular focus on cases involving the alleged negligence of advisors, the conduct of HMRC and claims involving mistake and rectification.
Ben has experience utilising different forms of ADR to settle disputes with HMRC and commercial counterparties, and also advises on wider international and European tax issues, including the residence and domicile status of HNW individuals, the cross-border exchange of information and transfer pricing disputes. Ben is also a qualified Solicitor Advocate.
Career
Qualified 2013
Lawyer Rankings
London > Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
‘One of the most professional and respected tax litigation teams in the market’, the Macfarlanes LLP team provides comprehensive support, with expertise in both direct and indirect tax disputes. Lead partner Gideon Sanitt has experience at all levels of the UK and European Courts and acts for both high-profile individuals and corporate clients. Sanitt is supported by senior counsel Ben Webster, who is a solicitor advocate with experience in disputes with HMRC, judicial review cases, and disputes between taxpayers. Senior associate Sophie Rhind joined the department from HMRC in 2021 and brings key expertise in judicial review matters.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Investment fund formation and management > Hedge funds
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £250m)
- Investment fund formation and management > Retail funds
Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Employment > Employee share schemes
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Investment fund formation and management > Fund finance
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Finance > Acquisition finance
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Finance > Derivatives and structured products
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
- Real estate > Property finance
- Investment fund formation and management > Real estate funds
- Real estate > Residential property
- Corporate and commercial > VAT and indirect tax
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Employment > Employers
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- Corporate and commercial > Partnership
- Investment fund formation and management > Private funds
- Finance > Securitisation
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Real estate > Environment
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+)
- Employment > Immigration
- Private client > Court of protection