The reputable tax group at Bell Gully is led by Willy Sussman and supported by strong partners in Niels Campbell and Mathew McKay. Clients commend the team for their "excellent service" and Sussman for his expertise in customs and excise tax. The trend ...
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The reputable tax group at Bell Gully is led by Willy Sussman and supported by strong partners in Niels Campbell and Mathew McKay. Clients commend the team for their "excellent service" and Sussman for his expertise in customs and excise tax. The trend of tax authorities becoming increasingly aggressive about challenging transactions on technical grounds has brought much more tax dispute work for the team over the past year. Campbell is considered by peers to be highly proficient in his understanding of capital markets and financial services industry.
McKay, Jarrod Walker, and Graham Murray advised subsidiaries of numerous Australian listed companies on a dispute with the IRD over the use of optional convertible notes (OCN) to fund investments. The trio is representing Alesco New Zealand in a dispute on this matter that will set a precedent for the treatment of OCNs. The team is challenging the IRD's assessment that the use of OCN does not constitute tax avoidance arrangements. The Court of Appeal hearing is set for October 2012. The case will have a significant effect on the application of New Zealand's anti avoidance law in addition to bringing greater clarity to operations in New Zealand following a trend in which there has been a conservative shift in favour of IRD.
Sussman assisted Smartfuel New Zealand in their national roll-out of the AA Smartfuel discount reward programme for consumers. Under the programme, individuals can redeem fuel discounts by purchasing goods and services from participating businesses. This deal required Sussman to come up with a tax solution that resolved difficulties with the associated GST.
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