Simon Akozu > MinterEllisonRuddWatts > Auckland, New Zealand > Lawyer Profile
MinterEllisonRuddWatts Offices
PWC TOWER, 15 CUSTOMS STREET WEST
PO BOX 105 249
AUCKLAND 1143
New Zealand
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Simon Akozu
Work Department
Corporate and Commerical - Tax
Position
Partner
Career
Simon is a tax specialist, focused on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), infrastructure projects, financing arrangements, and crypto assets.
Simon has broad experience managing tax projects across a wide range of industries. His clients include leading New Zealand corporates, multinationals, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals. Simon is also working with a range of start-ups in the crypto asset space.
He works closely with clients to understand their objectives, and design and implement effective commercial solutions. He works with clients on all stages of projects, advising on structuring, financial modelling, and documentation. He regularly obtains favourable tax rulings for clients on complex arrangements, and he also advises clients on voluntary disclosures and tax disputes.
Tax is a complex area of law, and Simon prides himself on distilling complex issues into actionable choices. Simon partners with clients to workshop ideas and concepts, collaborating closely with them to deliver advice in forms that suit their needs.
Simon has a keen interest in tax policy. He regularly writes and presents on new developments in tax, including the taxation of crypto assets. He is a contributor to Bloomberg Tax and is a co-author of Bloomberg’s New Zealand country guide.
Languages
English
Education
Master of Taxation Studies (First Class Honours), BCom, LLB, University of Auckland
Lawyer Rankings
New Zealand > Tax
(Next Generation Partners)The tax practice at MinterEllisonRuddWatts possesses ‘extensive transaction and private equity experience‘ and is ‘commercial and responsive to timelines’. The team is regularly instructed to advise on the tax aspects of significant transactions, and also advises on infrastructure projects and tax controversy matters. Its expertise also covers transfer pricing, W&I insurance, private wealth, cryptocurrency and executive remuneration. The Auckland-based team is headed by Andrew Ryan, who is ‘excellent to work with on time-sensitive deals, especially involving cross-border structures‘ and is well regarded for his role in high-value transactions. Also in the team, Simon Akozu is a key name for his involvement in high-profile infrastructure projects and transactions. Phillip Chrisp leads on the team’s significant tax engagements and has become a specialist in M&A, directly advising large corporate clients, fund managers and global insurance companies.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance
- Competition law
- Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution
- Investment funds
- Labour and employment
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Transport (rail, road, air and sea)
- Projects and resources management (including environment)
- Real estate and construction
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax
- TMT