Mr Etienne Wong > Chambers of James Kessler KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Chambers of James Kessler KC
Old Square Tax Chambers
15 OLD SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3UE
England

Work Department

Barrister

Position

He advises on all indirect taxes (e.g. SDLT, IPT, excise duties, plastic packaging tax), and is particularly expert in VAT, having advised on both contentious and non-contentious VAT issues across sectors ranging from:

  • finance (e.g. FinTech)
  • funds
  • charities and other non-profit organisations
  • real estate
  • healthcare
  • insurance
  • private equity
  • food
  • outsourcing
  • transport (e.g. aircraft, vessels, trains and automobiles)
  • crypto assets (e.g. DeFi, NFTs)

Etienne has appeared in the First-tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal and the High Court without being led. His experience includes advising on European law and administrative law (i.e. legitimate expectation) in the context of VAT.

Etienne has a strategic, commercial approach and often works with professional advisers not only to establish the proper tax treatment of a project, but also to ensure that the end client achieves their business objectives.

Career

Etienne has been a tax lawyer since 1990. He was an equity partner, and head of the International VAT Unit, at Clifford Chance LLP before being called to the Bar in 2014.

His experience includes advising on all direct and indirect tax matters relating to:

  • real estate property development
  • real estate property investment
  • cryptoassets (e.g. DeFi, NFTs, ICOs)
  • transfer pricing
  • outsourcing
  • power generation (e.g. solar, wind, biofuel)

Languages

Cantonese.

Memberships

Revenue Bar Association.

Chancery Bar Association.

Chartered Institute of Taxation.

VAT Practitioners Group.

Qualified as a solicitor in 1990.

Education

University of Bristol (LLP).

Lawyer Rankings

London Bar > Tax: VAT and excise

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 1

Etienne Wong – Old Square Tax Chambers ‘Etienne is excellent to work with and very user friendly and knowledgeable. He is very good with clients.’