Martin O'Neill > Keystone Law > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Keystone Law Offices
48 CHANCERY LANE
LONDON
WC2A 1JF
England
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Martin O'Neill

Work Department
Tax, Dispute Resolution
Position
Martin is a specialist tax litigation and disputes practitioner who represents corporate clients across a variety of industry sectors and specialises in cases involving VAT, Excise Duties and Customs Duties.
He frequently advises on complex indirect tax cases and fraud cases, and particularly ”means of knowledge” (also known as ‘Kittel’) cases where HMRC attempt to recover lost tax from others who were not involved in fraud but nevertheless could have known of its existence.
Having previously worked as a special investigator for the law enforcement department of HMRC, Martin is very well placed to advise clients on best practices to maintain a good relationship and prevent litigation or disputes.
While Martin advises clients in all sectors, he works particularly closely with clients in the consumer electronics, wholesale, import/export, soft/alcoholic drinks, haulage, leisure and entertainment sectors, which are high on HMRC’s target lists and most likely to be on the receiving end of aggressive and disruptive action.
Career
2019–Present |
Keystone Law |
Consultant Tax Practitioner |
2017–2019 |
Cubism Law |
Partner |
2011–2017 |
Smith & Williamson LLP |
Partner |
2010–2011 |
BTG Tax Plc |
Director – Customs Investigation & Litigation |
2004–2010 |
Vantis Plc |
Senior Consultant – Customs Investigation & Litigation |
2003–2004 |
WJB Chiltren |
Tax Investigation Consultant |
2001–2003 |
KPMG UK |
Assistant Manager – Tax Investigations |
1992–2001 |
HM Custom & Excise |
Officer – National Investigation Service |
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Private client > Court of protection
- Corporate and commercial > International business reorganisations
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Licensing
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Real estate > Residential property
Firm Rankings
- Employment > Senior executives
- Private client > Agriculture and estates
- Private client > Family
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Gaming and betting
- Finance > Islamic finance
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- Insurance > Product liability: defendant
- Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
- Transport > Travel
- Private client > Art and cultural property
- Transport > Aviation
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: defendant
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech: corporate and commercial
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech: regulatory
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Employment > Immigration: personal
- Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- Insurance > Insurance litigation: for policyholders
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music
- Corporate and commercial > Partnership
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
- Insurance > Personal injury: defendant
- Transport > Shipping
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Employment > Employers
- Employment > Immigration
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate > Planning
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity and nuclear)
- Real estate > Property litigation
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- Private client > Court of protection