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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Ernst & Young had a good year and provided tax services to nearly three-quarters of the top 100 companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, including eight out of the top 10.Ian Scott, senior tax partner at the firm, and his team were the leading ... [more]

Ernst & Young had a good year and provided tax services to nearly three-quarters of the top 100 companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, including eight out of the top 10.

Ian Scott, senior tax partner at the firm, and his team were the leading tax advisers in the takeover of MYOB (a software firm with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia) by funds managed by Archer Capital, a leading Australian private equity firm, and Harbourvest Partners. The A$600 ($505 million) transaction was the biggest private equity deal in Australia in the 2009 financial year.

The firm's transfer pricing department is headed by the well-respected Paul Balkus and the Howard Adams-led tax controversy department has also grown. This expansion came after the acquisition of Queensland-based law firm Damien Bourke & Associates in August 2008.

Three new partners joined the firm. Craig Saunders and Paul Korganow joined from Deloitte and will work in the international tax team. Martin Caplice joined from DLA Piper and is a tax controversy specialist. Don Green has been recommended by his peers for his transaction tax work. The firm also prepared a joint submission with the Corporate Tax Association for the Henry Review.

After Greenwoods & Freehills - Taxand's incorporation of Shaddick & Spence during 2008, the firm has developed a well-respected reputation in the Australian tax market. The firm is also a member of Taxand, a global network of independent tax firms. The ... [more]

After Greenwoods & Freehills - Taxand's incorporation of Shaddick & Spence during 2008, the firm has developed a well-respected reputation in the Australian tax market. The firm is also a member of Taxand, a global network of independent tax firms. The firm advises all types of entities including corporations, trusts, financial institutions and privately-owned organisations. Taxation services to entities include corporate restructuring, both domestically and internationally, M&A, transfer pricing issues and tax effective methods for financing property developments, business acquisitions and capital assets.

Despite the global economic downturn affecting all tax firms in Australia, KPMG has managed to maintain a strong reputation in the market. Many clients are listed in the top 100 companies on the Australian stock market. The firm, along with the other ... [more]

Despite the global economic downturn affecting all tax firms in Australia, KPMG has managed to maintain a strong reputation in the market. Many clients are listed in the top 100 companies on the Australian stock market. The firm, along with the other leading Australian tax advisers, saw its M&A tax revenues reduce as the liquidity crisis flattened the transaction market during 2008/2009. However, the practice has now started to see increased activity as cash-rich foreign investors look to the Australian market for bargains in the financial services, infrastructure and commodities sectors. Other areas of the tax practice, particularly the indirect taxes, transfer pricing and the R&D incentives practices, continued to experience strong growth during 2008/2009 as clients focused on cash-flow management and dealt with increasing audit activity by the ATO. Appointed on October 1 2009, Rosheen Garnon is the firm's tax practice national managing partner.

The firm's employment-related tax offerings have also proved resilient, and this team expects to be busier still following a raft of Australian government reforms affecting executive remuneration and equity-based payments being pushed through in part in response to the downturn. Partner Martin Morrow has been particularly active in this area, including advising the Business Council of Australia on these issues.

Lachlan Wolfers, Geoff Girvan and Adam Gibbs all recently assisted Metlife Insurance Limited in relation to a dispute with the ATO concerning its liability for capital gains tax arising from the sale of its Taiwanese branch. The firm argued that the decision of the Full Federal Court affirmed that the commissioner of taxation had issued his assessment out of time. As a result, the assessment was overturned without the need for the client to conduct costly (and lengthy) proceedings in relation to the substantive tax issues.

Louise Lovering in the corporate tax practice and Keith Polkinghorne in the indirect tax practice were both promoted to partner in the past year.

At a time when tax practices are content just to survive, PricewaterhouseCoopers have decided to adapt the focus of their firm. The firm acquired Clarendene, a specialist law firm, to help offer a full range of tax services, including a more law-focused ... [more]

At a time when tax practices are content just to survive, PricewaterhouseCoopers have decided to adapt the focus of their firm. The firm acquired Clarendene, a specialist law firm, to help offer a full range of tax services, including a more law-focused practice. This gives the firm an advantage over its big-four rivals.

The international tax practice now consists of 80 advisers and 70 work in transfer pricing.

Former UK leader of indirect tax, Patrick Walker, clearly enjoyed his secondment with the firm last year and decided to make the move permanent in March 2009. Seven new partners were appointed over the past 12 months, including Dino Farronato, who became an international tax partner at the firm.

Anthony Klein and James Strong represented Jiangsu Shagang in its merger, worth around $400 million, with Grange Resources. This was the first significant Chinese investment in Australian resource assets. David Pallier and Gavin Majoram had to work quickly in Commonwealth Bank's takeover of Bank West. The deal was worth around A$2 billion ($1.7 billion) and the team had to identify and manage the tax risks involved in the acquisition in a short time-frame.

Clients have recommended the practice for their professionalism and their willingness to go "that one step further".

Allens Arthur Robinson has been active in the market despite the downturn. Just like other law firms, it has been involved in increasing amounts of insolvency and restructuring work. With cash flowing in the market, the firm has been helping clients ... [more]

Allens Arthur Robinson has been active in the market despite the downturn. Just like other law firms, it has been involved in increasing amounts of insolvency and restructuring work. With cash flowing in the market, the firm has been helping clients pounce and take advantage of reduced prices. Mergers and acquisitions work has featured heavily in the firm's plans and it has regularly advised clients looking to snap up bargains during the downturn. Many clients have benefited from the firm's innovation and excellence through seeking changes to the Income Tax Assessment Act, and new types of structures, including dual listed companies.

Baker & McKenzie~ has traditionally focused on transfer pricing. With the appointment of two dedicated specialists, Stephen Breckenridge and Angela Davenport, the firm has established the largest transfer pricing department of any law firm in the country. ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie~ has traditionally focused on transfer pricing. With the appointment of two dedicated specialists, Stephen Breckenridge and Angela Davenport, the firm has established the largest transfer pricing department of any law firm in the country. Breckenridge led the firm's transfer pricing group between 2004 and 2007, but left to start up his own accounting practice.

Costa Koutsis and John Walker acted for Bangkok-based TCC Hotels Group in the purchase of several major hotel properties across Australia. This was complex work as it involved providing income tax, GST and stamp duty advice for the proposed acquisitions.

Clients of Clayton Utz represent a who's who of leading multinational corporations. ABN AMRO, AIG, Coca-Cola and Morgan Stanley are just four clients that regularly request advice from the firm across the whole range of taxation matters. Allan Blaikie ... [more]

Clients of Clayton Utz represent a who's who of leading multinational corporations. ABN AMRO, AIG, Coca-Cola and Morgan Stanley are just four clients that regularly request advice from the firm across the whole range of taxation matters. Allan Blaikie leads the tax practice, which has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Blaikie, alongside Paul Humphreys and Andrew Sommer, advised Origin Energy, a leading Australasian integrated energy company, on the $8.1 billion deal with US liquefied natural gas operator ConocoPhillips to jointly develop Origin's vast coal seam gas resources in Queensland. Their role included advising on the deal structure, undertaking due diligence on the assets, preparing sale documents for review by the bidders and negotiating with the preferred bidders.

Robyn Schofield was promoted to partner on January 1 2009 having worked within the Clayton Utz tax team since 1999. She predominantly acts for large corporate clients in all areas of Australian tax, including corporate tax, capital gains tax, treaties, taxation of financial instruments and transactions and tax audits.

Despite the global financial crisis, revenue for the Deloitte tax practice grew by more than 14% during the 2009 financial year, while profits jumped by almost a quarter.Over the past 12 months the firm has advised 75% of the top 50 Australian companies.Two ... [more]

Despite the global financial crisis, revenue for the Deloitte tax practice grew by more than 14% during the 2009 financial year, while profits jumped by almost a quarter.

Over the past 12 months the firm has advised 75% of the top 50 Australian companies.

Two practice groups have achieved considerable growth given tough market conditions: global transfer pricing and indirect taxes.

The transfer pricing group is led by Paul Riley, who was recently promoted to Asia-Pacific transfer pricing leader. During the past year, the group was strengthened by the appointment of Arthur Mills, former senior tax official with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) with expertise in transfer pricing audits and advance pricing agreements (APAs). Mills joins an already experienced group which also boasts Dave Grecian, the former ATO transfer pricing practice leader and former chair of OECD working paper No 6 on transfer pricing, and Dave Lewis, a former competent authority for the ATO.

The firm's M&A team is led by Mark Goldsmith. Deloitte now has dedicated M&A tax teams in both Sydney and Melbourne with experience and depth.

The firm's global employer services achieved a growth of 20% during FY09 under the leadership of Sarah Lane.

Last year proved another successful year for Serg Duchini and the firm's R&D team. The group now provides R&D advice to top 50 Australian stock exchange clients, for example, Rio Tinto, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group and The Pratt Group.

Deloitte has also embraced technology as a method for reaching the tax market and regularly broadcast updates on the country's budget via the micro-blogging site, Twitter. This proved to be a big success.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques is one of Australia's largest tax law firms. The tax practice consists of 16 partners and 35 lawyers. Mallesons handles some of the country's largest tax work. None came bigger than Australia's biggest ever tax dispute. The firm ... [more]

Mallesons Stephen Jaques is one of Australia's largest tax law firms. The tax practice consists of 16 partners and 35 lawyers. Mallesons handles some of the country's largest tax work. None came bigger than Australia's biggest ever tax dispute. The firm represented BHP Billiton over its multi-faceted litigation with the ATO over the deductibility of expenditure and the financing costs of multi-billion dollar investments from 2000. Michael Clough led an eight-person team from the firm on the case. The litigation took two years and BHP's victory was confirmed in March 2009. Despite their victory, Clough and the team are bracing themselves for the upcoming appeal from the tax office.

Philip Davies and Andrew Clements advised National Australia Bank in one of the most significant and successful capital raising exercises in the Australian market when it raised $2.5 billion.

Arnold Bloch Leibler's reputation among the business community for tax advice is unrivalled. For a boutique practice, it acts in the tax affairs of a number of Australian senior corporate leaders and major companies. The firm actively participates in ... [more]

Arnold Bloch Leibler's reputation among the business community for tax advice is unrivalled. For a boutique practice, it acts in the tax affairs of a number of Australian senior corporate leaders and major companies. The firm actively participates in taxation law reform advocacy. Mark Leibler, head of the practice, is the only lawyer appointed to the Australian Taxation Office's High Wealth Individuals Taskforce consultancy group.

Blake Dawson Waldron were the Australian law advisers to BHP Billiton on its all-share offer for Rio Tinto in the world's second largest takeover bid ever and the largest takeover offer for, or by, an Australian company. The offer valued Rio Tinto at ... [more]

Blake Dawson Waldron were the Australian law advisers to BHP Billiton on its all-share offer for Rio Tinto in the world's second largest takeover bid ever and the largest takeover offer for, or by, an Australian company. The offer valued Rio Tinto at about $150 billion. It was to proceed by separate, interconditional offers for each of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited. The dispatch of offer documents was subject to satisfaction of certain preconditions, including anti-trust and other regulatory clearances. Lead partner Duncan Baxter was joined by Geoff Mann, Vivian Chang and Teresa Dyson on this transaction. BHP later withdrew its offer.

Since joining in 2008, Baxter has been busy generating work for the firm. He also has been extensively involved in commenting on draft rulings from the ATO on issues such as the treatment of payments for the acquisition of copyrights, and the tax implications of acquiring goods and services in exchange for the issue of shares.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has extensive experience in dispute resolution for all types of taxes including income tax, GST, stamp duty and payroll tax. Its experience ranges from assisting and guiding clients through tax audits and other forms of regulatory ... [more]

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has extensive experience in dispute resolution for all types of taxes including income tax, GST, stamp duty and payroll tax. Its experience ranges from assisting and guiding clients through tax audits and other forms of regulatory investigations, through to litigation and settlement or resolution through the courts at all levels, from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to the High Court. The firm's tax team, which consists of seven partners, includes lawyers who have previously acted for the ATO in various high profile cases and has been described as "practical and diligent" by clients.

Richard Dukes is the head of tax at Atanaskovic Hartnell and is recognised nationally and internationally as a leading tax expert in Australia and has been involved in providing tax advice on some significant M&A transactions undertaken in Australia. ... [more]

Richard Dukes is the head of tax at Atanaskovic Hartnell and is recognised nationally and internationally as a leading tax expert in Australia and has been involved in providing tax advice on some significant M&A transactions undertaken in Australia. The firm also has experience in resolving large case tax audits, which are now carried out as a routine matter by the ATO. Advice given is not only in relation to income and capital gains tax, but also in regard to the various transaction taxes, for example, stamp duties, sales taxes and goods and services tax.

DLA Phillips Fox has worked hard over the past year to enhance its already-growing reputation by bringing in two new tax specialists. Louise Boyce joined from Ernst & Young and will be based in the Sydney office. Boyce is principally an income tax specialist, ... [more]

DLA Phillips Fox has worked hard over the past year to enhance its already-growing reputation by bringing in two new tax specialists. Louise Boyce joined from Ernst & Young and will be based in the Sydney office. Boyce is principally an income tax specialist, having considerable expertise and experience in the property, infrastructure and high technology sectors. Roger Gibson also joined as a senior lawyer after leaving his executive management role in the mining sector. The tax dispute and resolution practices continued to expand and develop, despite the downturn, with the highest quality matters and regular successes in settling difficult tax audits with the ATO. The team also recently enjoyed a significant win in the High Court with the unanimous decision in Spriggs and Riddell v Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia.

As part of a wider international network, Grant Thornton is gradually growing its presence in Australia. The firm was boosted in 2008 by the mergers with Bentleys MRI and William Buck. Peter Godber heads the tax practice and Chris Bowman heads up the ... [more]

As part of a wider international network, Grant Thornton is gradually growing its presence in Australia. The firm was boosted in 2008 by the mergers with Bentleys MRI and William Buck. Peter Godber heads the tax practice and Chris Bowman heads up the firm's growing transfer pricing department.

Henry Davis York is a specialist provider of tax law advice to the financial services industry and it regularly draws on the expertise of such experts across the firm. Over the last 12 months it has provided tax advice on some of the most high profile ... [more]

Henry Davis York is a specialist provider of tax law advice to the financial services industry and it regularly draws on the expertise of such experts across the firm. Over the last 12 months it has provided tax advice on some of the most high profile insolvencies and restructurings in the Australian market, such as advising the banking syndicate to Babcock & Brown and the receivers of the ABC Learning Group.

Pitcher Partners has an active role in the Asian-Pacific market through its significant involvement in the Baker Tilly international network. With offices across the country, the firm is active in providing advice for business structures, business acquisitions ... [more]

Pitcher Partners has an active role in the Asian-Pacific market through its significant involvement in the Baker Tilly international network. With offices across the country, the firm is active in providing advice for business structures, business acquisitions and disposals, transfer pricing, residency, controlled foreign companies, foreign investment funds and tax efficient financing.