Australia

World Tax Reviews

Tax

Ashurst Australia

The tax team led by Vivian Chang at Ashurst Australia has a strong strength in indirect tax, providing stamp duty, GST, payroll tax, and land tax services. Direct tax services include income tax, international tax, and withholding taxes. Most of its tax professionals have experience working in the Big Four accounting firms. In addition, it has a strong tax disputes team.

One recent work highlight showed the team advised a local real estate client as a lead counsel. Partner Vivian Chang led the team to support the client by advising on the tax and duty aspects of the project. Other key clients include the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), Oxford Properties Group, and Ivanhoé Cambridge.

Baker McKenzie

The team at Baker McKenzie is led by John Walker. Other key practitioners are Miles Hurst and Simone Bridges. Miles Hurst specializes in income tax and focuses on major projects, M&A, and financing arrangements. The team regularly advises on complex M&A transactions, restructures, and fund formations. Their proficiency extends to representing clients in tax controversies and disputes with Australian tax and revenue authorities.

The team recently showcased their expertise by serving as the tax advisor for Kao Corporation during its strategic acquisition of the Australian skincare brand Bondi Sands. It provided comprehensive tax advice on tax due diligence issues, acquisition structuring considerations, negotiation and drafting of the tax aspects of the transaction legal documents, and advice on post-acquisition tax.

Clayton Utz

Clayton Utz provides full-service taxation practice, covering comprehensive tax law from international tax and tax disputes to indirect tax issues. It offers integrated advisory services, covering areas such as M&A, cross-border, and transfer pricing for both Australian and international businesses. Partner Angela Wood leads the national group practice. She is supported by another key partner Andrew Sommer. They are both specializing in general tax advisory and tax controversy.

One of the recent work highlights demonstrated the team’s expertise in real estate tax. It assisted Plenary and Mirvac with the bid for the Waterloo Renewal Project in Sydney, which is one of the largest social housing renewals in Australia. It delivered a tax-efficient bid structure that met all types of housing requirements while balancing the commercial needs of two consortium members.

The Melbourne team welcomed Ben Furner in 2022 as a special counsel. He has strong knowledge of the US tax system, also experienced in advising on cross-border investing, financing, and capital raising matters.

Deloitte Australia

Deloitte Australia’s Tax & Legal business team is led by Brett Greig. The transfer pricing team is supported by partners Geoff Gill and Paul Riley. In addition to tax advice and compliance services, the team is able to resolve Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Advance Pricing Arrangements (APAs) and disputes.

Details of the firm’s work and clients remain confidential.

The team welcomed four new tax partners, including Aaron Khoury, Matthew Gould, Noni Shannon, and Richard Buchanan in 2023 to further strengthen the team's capabilities in navigating complex tax landscapes in Australia.

DLA Piper Australia

The team at DLA Piper Australia is led by Jock McCormack. Other key professionals include Eddie Ahn and Adam Smith. It has a strong capability in international tax practice as it is supported by its global team of more than 440 tax lawyers and economists. It also offers services including corporate tax law, business-related matters, and corporate transactions. It serves clients covering the real estate, technology, insurance, and funds sectors.

Adam Smith recently led the team and assisted Fargher Aither Family Trust and the Olszak Aither Family Trust with respect to the sale of shares in Aither. It advised on the Australian tax aspects of the transaction documentation and associated negotiations.

Partner Paul McNab who specialized in tax controversy departed from DLA Piper during the research period and founded McNab Tax Lawyers.

Herbert Smith Freehills

The tax practice in Herbert Smith Freehills is led by partners Toby Eggleston, Nick Heggart, and Ryan Leslie. They are the leading tax experts in Australia with extensive experience in M&A, venture capital, energy, and other sectors. The team has full-service capability across all tax advisory, investigatory, and dispute work. It is notable for providing advisory services for tax controversy and large transactions.

One case study showed the team led by Jinny Chaimungkalanont and Toby Eggleston advised Origin Energy on tax and stamp duty aspects of the acquisition proposal. The proposal values Origin at $18.4 billion on an enterprise value basis. The team also assisted other clients including Black Gold Corporation, Iluka, and South 32.

KPMG Australia

KPMG Australia has maintained its leading position in the tax market. The tax team expanded to over 1200 professionals. Kristie Schubert and Sophie Lewis are the key partners for the tax controversy practice and transfer pricing practice respectively. In addition to providing high-standard general tax services, it offered external seminars and events for raising awareness of the OECD's Two-Pillar Solution (BEPS 2.0) to the clients.

The team recently assisted Atlas Arteria in an acquisition of a majority stake in the Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge in the US. It provided comprehensive multi-jurisdictional advice on complex commercial, taxation, legal and regulatory matters to the client in the deal.

Director Nikol Davies left the team in 2022. She previously worked in the Deals, Tax, and Legal Practice of KPMG Melbourne.

New Chambers

Transfer Pricing Solutions is a recommended boutique transfer pricing firm in Australia. It is a member of Altus Alliance, which is a global network of independent transfer pricing advisors. The team is led by the founding director Shannon Smit. It delivers high standards of transfer pricing services including documentation and implementation, benchmarking, economic analysis, and financial modeling.

One of the case studies showed that the team assisted a high-technology instrumentation company in transfer pricing compliance, risk management, audit, and dispute resolution. It worked closely with local consultants and in-house finance and accounting teams in this multi-jurisdictional project.