As one of the leading firms in Australia for complex tax advice and tax dispute resolution, our taxation team advises leading domestic and international corporations and financial intermediaries in all areas of revenue law.

We are known for our cutting edge corporate and international tax advice to Australian listed corporates and foreign multinationals, particularly for cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

Our practice covers the entire range of tax law at a federal, state and local level, and we often work together with leading independent firms in the US, Europe and Asia.

We have significant tax dispute expertise and capability which has included preparing a number of large multinationals in the pharmaceutical, technology, and fast moving consumable sectors in preparing for appearances before the Australian Senate Economic Committee’s inquiry into Corporate Tax Avoidance, and in representing those clients in their interactions with the Australian tax authorities.

Our expertise covers both disputes and advisory matters for many major multinationals, including Microsoft Corporation, McDonald’s Australia, Treasury Wine Estates, SABMiller, Unilever, and Blackmores.

Often working collaboratively with the corporate and dispute resolution teams within the firm, our tax team provides expertise on corporate structuring, cross border investment, tax effective financing, and the myriad of tax rules affecting general business operations.

Our client offering is distinguished with a low leverage model, which necessarily means a higher ratio of senior lawyers directly engaging with clients and their matters. This is all the more important in an area like tax – where experience, expertise, and judgment matter.

Experience

Recent matters

Battery Ventures

Advised on tax issues associated with the acquisition by Battery Ventures of 40% stake in Learnosity.

Energy Company

Advised Blackmores on the tax aspects of its agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Catalent Australia Holding Pty Ltd.

Blackmores

Acted in proceedings in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal regarding the availability of the R&D tax concession. Advising on the structuring and establishment of the employee share scheme.

Gazal Corporation

Advising on the tax implications of its proposed scheme of arrangement with PVH Corp.

Hogg Robinson

Advised as the Australian tax counsel on the sale by Hogg Robinson plc of its Fraedom fintech business to Visa International.

Institutional Venture Management and OpenView

Advised on the tax issues associated with their Series B investment in Deputy, the developer of an online employee management tool.

Korea Resources Corporation

Advised on stamp duty issues connected with the sale of Korea’s 4% interest in the Moolarben Coal Mine in New South Wales.

Milbank on behalf of Lending Consortium

Advised in relation to interest withholding tax on Senior and Bridge Facilities for EMR Capital’s acquisition of Kestrel coal mine from Rio Tinto.

Quanta Services

Advised on tax issues associated with acquisition of Mitchell Water Australia.

ZX Ventures

Advised on tax, stamp duty and GST issues on the acquisition by ZX Ventures of an innovative alcohol e–commerce platform, BoozeBud.

Godolphin Australia

Advising  in its litigation against the New South Wales Chief Commissioner of State Revenue in relation to the availability of the primary production exemption for two properties being used for the breeding of thoroughbred horses.

Johnson and Johnson

Advising on the entry into Advance Pricing Agreements for all business units operating in Australia.

Strike Energy

Represented Strike Energy in proceedings against Innovation and Science Australia in relation to Strike Energy’s entitlement to the R&D tax incentive.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

Advised Anheuser-Busch InBev on the A$16 billion sale of its Australian business (Carlton & United Breweries).

Recognition

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