Providing both advice and advocacy in contentious matters, Pump Court Tax Chambers covers a wide range of indirect tax issues including VAT issues relating to school fees, health care tax exemptions and input tax recovery. Andrew Hitchmough KC has led 2025 silk, Laura Poots KC, in JP Morgan Chase Bank v HMRC, a case concerning the finance exemption as applied to investment banks. Kevin Prosser KC led Quinlan Windle in Wakefield College v HMRC, a case determining if the construction costs of a new college on the basis that it would be used for purposes of a "business". Rupert Baldry KC appeared before the Court of Appeal in Jazztel v HMRC, a test concerning a number of companies who had paid stamp duty reserve tax contrary to EU law. Zizhen Yang is instructed by a recycling company in a case concerning the application of landfill tax to a "valley feature" - required by regulation - sited above a geographical fault, at issue is if a material is disposed "with the intention to discard it".
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Profile
Position
Possessing a depth of experience across the spectrum of tax issues, in addition to experience in commercial matters, Zizhen is particularly well noted for her extensive experience in indirect tax. Her practice has spanned a number of high-profile cases, most recently in VAT, landfill tax and SDLT, in addition to other areas.
As well as a wide-ranging advisory practice, Zizhen has a wealth of litigation experience in both trial and appellate advocacy, having appeared as the advocate in the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Upper Tribunal, and the First-tier Tribunal, as well as having appeared in the European Court of Justice.
Zizhen is happy to accept instructions under the Joint Advisory Scheme and Special Advocacy Scheme. She is also qualified to accept Public Access instructions
Career
2009
Called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn).
2009-2010
Pupillage: Pump Court Tax Chambers (July – October 2010); Serle Court (October 2009 – July 2010).
2010 – date
Tenant (Pump Court Tax Chambers).
2011
6-month secondment at Slaughter and May (tax department).
Languages
Chinese (Mandarin) (bilingual)
French (basic)
French (basic)
Memberships
Revenue Bar Association.
Education
2009
Called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn).
2008-2009
Bar Vocational Course, City Law School — Outstanding
Lord Mansfield Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn); Buchanan Prize (Lincoln’s Inn); Barstow Scholarship (City Law School); Busfield Prize (ICLR).
2007-2008
CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law, City University London — Distinction
Lord Bowen Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn); Hardwicke Entrance Award (Lincoln’s Inn); Serle Court Essay Prize for Equity and Trusts.
2003-2007
PhD and Post-doctoral work in molecular immunology, Trinity College, Cambridge and MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
MRC Pre-doctoral Fellowship; Trinity College Research Scholarship.
MA (Cantab)
2000-2003
BA (Hons) Natural Sciences, Trinity College, Cambridge — First Class
Trinity College Examination Prize (2001–2003); Trinity College Senior Scholarship (2001–2003); Percy Pemberton Prize (Trinity College); De Lancey Scholarship (Trinity College).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are always helpful and available. Mark Rushton is very professional. John Poyser is hugely experienced.'
- 'Clerks are very responsive. Luke Sawyer in particular is very helpful.'
- 'The clerks are very responsive and very personable.'
- 'Pump Court Tax Chambers are the go-to set for VAT matters.'
- 'Top tax set.'
- 'Very happy with Chambers.'