Old Square Tax Chambers > London, England > Set Profile
Old Square Tax Chambers Offices
Chambers of James Kessler KC
Old Square Tax Chambers
15 OLD SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3UE
England
Old Square Tax Chambers
15 OLD SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3UE
England
Old Square Tax Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Tax: personal Tier 2
Old Square Tax Chambers members advise extensively within the UK and offshore, and take a key place in thought leadership in the practice area. James Kessler KC, who is head of chambers, is a leading expert in offshore taxation and charity law. Robert Venables KC, who is a former chair of the Revenue Bar Association, handles offshore tax planning and residence and domicile issues. Rory Mullan KC represented the Fisher Family before the Supreme Court in Fisher v HMRC, regarding offshore tax planning issues related to the sale of the Stan James betting business in 2000. Harriet Brown is dual-qualified in England and Jersey, and is active in matters straddling the jurisdictions.Leading Silks
James Kessler KC –Old Square Tax Chambers ‘An amazing intellect, lovely man, and the stand-out authority on international private client tax matters such as the remittance basis. For many issues, there is no-one who is remotely comparable in technical terms.’
Rory Mullan KC – Old Square Tax Chambers ‘Can run a case from start to finish by himself. Constructs intelligent arguments and presents them forcefully.’
Leading Juniors
Ross Birkbeck  – Old Square Tax Chambers ‘Excellent advocacy skills. He is patient with judges to ensure that they eventually appreciate the significance of the point he is making, and he does not annoy them with pointless or irrelevant points.’
Patrick Boch – Old Square Tax Chambers ‘He explains his findings in a clear and concise manner that clients find very helpful. His track record of work for HMRC is also of great value.’
Testimonials
‘Efficient, pleasant to deal with, instructions always get to counsel, especially when urgent.’
‘Very good, pragmatic and user-friendly clerks.’
‘Compared to other clerks I have worked with at other Chambers, the service here is slick and particularly easy to use. Communication is available by phone or email and responses are almost instantaneous. What more could we ask for?’
‘ I have always found the clerks (as a team) to be very efficient and helpful, especially when considering the issues that might be experienced by advisers outside of central London.’
‘Superb specialist tax Chambers.’
‘A very strong set with some excellent juniors and silks – one of the usual suspects when considering the top tax sets out there.’
‘We have always found them to be knowledgeable, reliable and able to offer their advice in a timely manner.’
London Bar > Tax: corporate
Leading Juniors
Harriet Brown - Old Square Tax Chambers 'Responsive and thorough. Able to combine a forensic knowledge of Jersey law with appropriate English precedent, which is fairly unique in the market.'
London Bar > Tax: VAT and excise
Leading Juniors
Etienne Wong – Old Square Tax Chambers 'Etienne is excellent to work with and very user friendly and knowledgeable. He is very good with clients.'
Old Square Tax Chambers > Set Profile
Old Square Tax Chambers is an elite set whose members are among the best regarded tax barristers in practice. Members of chambers advise and litigate on tax and trusts matters of all types.
The set: Chambers was founded in 1968. Members are supported by senior clerk, Cliff Holland, who will discuss the likely level of fees before work is done, and will happily advise as to the most suitable member to deal with any particular matter. Chambers’ approach is based on the experience that it is seldom sufficient to advise on a discrete tax question in isolation. All relevant tax considerations must be taken into account, in addition to any other legal constraints and business or personal considerations which may influence a client’s course of action. Members of chambers also write and speak prolifically, including addressing large audiences at its own quarterly seminars on topical issues, including new legislation and important recent cases.
Types of work undertaken
Private client taxation: Members counsel clients ranging from long-established families to the best-known entrepreneurs and advise at the high end for both UK and foreign domiciliaries. The team has played a lead role on a number of major matters of first importance over the past year both as regards tax planning and dispute resolution including litigation. The barristers provide coherent and comprehensible advice to private clients in all aspects of their tax affairs. The ability to combine tax advice with trust, succession and charity law expertise makes this a unique resource in the UK market.
Corporate taxation: Members provide advice on a variety of corporate and business tax matters, both in relation to owner-managed businesses as well as to larger corporate groups. This includes advising on corporate M&A and reorganisations, financing transactions and corporate real estate investment, as well as employee remuneration strategies.
VAT: Many members of Old Square Tax Chambers provide VAT advice and undertake VAT litigation, including on complex cross-border issues, in respect of structured finance products and for the charitable sector.
International: Â Cross-border tax offering is a key factor which sets chambers apart from the majority of tax specialists at the UK Bar. As well as advising and litigating international issues in the UK, members of chambers appears in front of Scots and Jersey courts and foreign courts and tribunals including the Court of Justice of the European Union. Recent cases include a landmark decision on the application of double tax treaties to trust taxation.
Criminal and civil tax investigations: Members advise clients caught up in HMRC investigations including COP 9 cases, attendance with clients at interviews under caution, bringing judicial reviews against HMRC concerning APNs and Follower Notices, search and seizure warrants, information notices etc
Stamp duty land tax and property taxes: Members advise on SDLT and litigate stamp taxes appeals in the tax tribunals and advise on all aspects of the taxation of real estate including capital allowances and VAT
Publications: Members are sought out as thought leaders and have written a significant number of leading textbooks, including the following: Drafting Trusts & Will Trusts; The GAAR: A Practical Approach; Individual Tax Residence; The Interaction of EU Treaty Freedoms and the UK Tax Code; The Jersey Law of Trusts; Taxation of Charities and Nonprofit Organisations; Taxation of Foundations; Taxation of Non-Residents and Foreign Domiciliaries; Taxation of Trusts and Tolley’s Stamp Taxes. .
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior clerk | Cliff Holland | ||
| Members of Chambers | Robert Venables KC (1973) | ||
| Members of Chambers | James Kessler KC (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Philip Simpson KC (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Rory Mullan KC (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Etienne Wong (Solictor 1991, Bar 2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Sarah Squires (Solictor 1991, Bar 2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Setu Kamal (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Harriet Brown (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Patrick Boch (Solictor 2014, Bar 2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Ben Symons (2011_ | ||
| Members of Chambers | Mary Ashley (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Ross Birkbeck (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Rebecca Sheldon (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | Jon-Selous Borlace (2016) | ||
| Member of Chambers | Shane O'Driscoll (2010) 2005 Ireland |
Meet The Clerk(s)
Barrister Profiles
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Mrs Mary Ashley | Mary has developed a thriving practice advising on all issues which can… | View Profile |
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Mr Ross Birkbeck | Ross advises on a range of diverse tax matters. Some issues which… | View Profile |
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Mrs Harriet Brown | Harriet is qualified to practice in England and Wales and Jersey. She… | View Profile |
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Mr Setu Kamal | Barrister practising in all areas of private client taxation. Areas of interest… | View Profile |
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Mr James Kessler | Private client tax, particularly foreign domicile tax and charities. Cases include: Revenue… | View Profile |
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Mr James Kessler | Private client tax, particularly foreign domicile tax and charities. Cases include: Revenue… | View Profile |
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Mr Rory Mullan | Rory advises on a range of diverse tax matters. Some issues which… | View Profile |
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Mr Rory Mullan | Rory advises on a range of diverse tax matters. Some issues which… | View Profile |
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Mr Robert Venables | All aspects of revenue law, including VAT and tax-related judicial review. Specialities… | View Profile |
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Mr Robert Venables | All aspects of revenue law, including VAT and tax-related judicial review. Specialities… | View Profile |
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Mr Etienne Wong | He advises on all indirect taxes (e.g. SDLT, IPT, excise duties, plastic… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
: :- Tax: personal