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Deloitte is viewed by its peers as at the top of the Belgian tax market. "I personally view them as the strongest tax practice in town" said one adviser. The group is led by Piet Vandendriessche, who is singled out for his indirect tax work. Other professionals ... [more]

Deloitte is viewed by its peers as at the top of the Belgian tax market. "I personally view them as the strongest tax practice in town" said one adviser. The group is led by Piet Vandendriessche, who is singled out for his indirect tax work. Other professionals that are mentioned include Andre Claes, Johan Van der Paal and Tom Van Cauwenbergh.

The tax team at Deloitte has expanded hugely this year and now includes around 400 fee-earners among its ranks. The group is structured across five main service lines: global business tax, cross-border tax, global employer services, indirect tax and R&D tax incentives. The practice also benefits from its association with law firm Laga.

The practice has worked on a number of deals that require cooperation with other Deloitte teams. Patrick Brauns and other tax professionals worked alongside engineers for one client to determine the scope of its R&D activities so that they could take advantage of professional withholding tax exemptions. The transfer pricing team also worked alongside Deloitte Consulting for a multinational client.

Other work this year includes the optimisation of its EMEA business for a multinational client headquartered in Asia, which involved international tax and transfer pricing work. The practice also regularly advises on matters of policy. Fernand Rutten is working with the European Commission on the mid-term strategy for customs taxation.

Deloitte's tax practice is recognised by the market as a growing force in Cyprus. Revenue increased by 5% last year after a smaller rise the year before in difficult conditions. Head of tax Pieris Markou leads a team of about 45 professionals across ... [more]

Deloitte's tax practice is recognised by the market as a growing force in Cyprus. Revenue increased by 5% last year after a smaller rise the year before in difficult conditions. Head of tax Pieris Markou leads a team of about 45 professionals across the firm's three offices in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca. He is the subject of a lot of praise and is described by one partner as a "genius on tax".

The practice serves its clients with a range of tax services including corporate tax, R&D, cross-border structuring, M&A, transfer pricing and VAT. It is singled out by its competitors as being strong in the areas of cross-border structuring and indirect tax work. Chrysilios Papamarkides, who is frequently mentioned by his peers as being a prominent professional in the Cypriot market, heads the indirect tax team.

This year partner Paul Mallis advised a large mobile satellite company on the reorganisation of the group after their acquisition of a well-known company in the telecommunications industry. Other work this year included advising a large financial services group on their expansion into the Middle East and India, and a large brewer in eastern Europe on the tax migration of their holding structure from Jersey to Cyprus.

Other clients they have worked for this year include a large private Russian bank, a global leader in the healthcare industry, a technology company and a company in the shipping industry.

Lars Loftager Joergensen leads the tax practice of Deloitte in Denmark which comprises 34 partners and another 174 fee earners. The firm is recognised for its transfer pricing and indirect tax expertise in particular but has ability across a full range ... [more]

Lars Loftager Joergensen leads the tax practice of Deloitte in Denmark which comprises 34 partners and another 174 fee earners. The firm is recognised for its transfer pricing and indirect tax expertise in particular but has ability across a full range of tax issues. Søren Reinholdt is respected by competitors for his corporate tax capabilities and is commended for aligning his extensive knowledge to the commercial requirements of clients. Deloitte's Danish operations are coordinated from Copenhagen, but it has tax professionals in most of their offices around the country. Clients include multinational engineering groups, biotech companies, and food producers. A number of financial institutions also rely on the firm for tax advice in Denmark. The firm has a good reputation for tax advice in financial services matters, with Kjeld Bergenfeldt noted by peers for his capital markets expertise in particular.

Deloitte has developed its tax practice significantly in Finland with 23 new fee earners joining during the year. Notable additions include directors from Ernst and Young. The majority of the new personnel have been recruited into the VAT service line ... [more]

Deloitte has developed its tax practice significantly in Finland with 23 new fee earners joining during the year. Notable additions include directors from Ernst and Young. The majority of the new personnel have been recruited into the VAT service line as part of an effort to solidify the firm's ability there. Partner Outi Ukkola comments that the Finnish tax authorities have been especially vigilant this year on push-down transactions, which has made the use of leveraged acquisition vehicles very difficult. This has meant that the majority of the practice's work this year has involved tax planning and structuring, both of which require close liaison with the authorities. As in other Nordic countries, transfer pricing has also been a significant area of work for the firm this year. The transfer pricing team at Deloitte is now led by Jukka Karjalainen who is held in high regard by his peers. One competitor said: "He is very well known in the Finnish tax market and rightly the most famous transfer pricing expert." The practice head is still Petri Salomaa who coordinates the tax practice from Helsinki.

Deloitte's tax practice in Germany is led by Heinz-Klaus Kroppen and consists of around 700 fee earners. The size of the practice means it is able to provide a broad range of services including transfer pricing, VAT, corporate tax, international tax ... [more]

Deloitte's tax practice in Germany is led by Heinz-Klaus Kroppen and consists of around 700 fee earners. The size of the practice means it is able to provide a broad range of services including transfer pricing, VAT, corporate tax, international tax planning and M&A.

The transfer pricing team is viewed by the market as particularly strong. Kroppen, a professor of international tax law at the Ruhr University in Bochum, is viewed by the market as a leading figure in Germany and is described by one practitioner as "one of the best in transfer pricing in Germany". Christian Ehlermann and Markus Roth are both mentioned for their M&A work.

Deloitte is possibly the fastest growing tax practice in Greece. Last year the turnover was more than double the previous year's figure. Maria Trakadi heads the group of about 35 fee earners.The group is structured along six main service lines: transfer ... [more]

Deloitte is possibly the fastest growing tax practice in Greece. Last year the turnover was more than double the previous year's figure. Maria Trakadi heads the group of about 35 fee earners.

The group is structured along six main service lines: transfer pricing, global employment services, VAT, business tax, international tax and bookkeeping, which is a new service line this year. Business tax, international tax and transfer pricing form the bulk of their business.

This year Trakadki, Thomas Leventis, Eleftheria Ignatidou and Aliki Niskopoulou worked on the restructuring of the business model of a large pharmaceutical company. This involved regular adjustment of the design to keep up with changes in legislation in Greece. Leventis also worked alongside Trakadi and Kostas Roumpis on the group restructuring of a large telecommunications company, which resulted in savings of €20 million a year.

Other work this year includes structuring of an efficient investment route for an energy company into Turkey. Clients that the practice has worked for include Sara Lee and Janssen.

The tax team at Deloitte has been involved in a number of big transactions this year. The team led by Pádraic Cronin has stayed relatively stable numerically despite the downturn in the economy. Joan O'Connor who leads their transfer pricing group is ... [more]

The tax team at Deloitte has been involved in a number of big transactions this year. The team led by Pádraic Cronin has stayed relatively stable numerically despite the downturn in the economy. Joan O'Connor who leads their transfer pricing group is regularly cited in the market as a leading tax professional.

As well as transfer pricing, the practice has strength across nearly all areas of tax including VAT, corporate tax and R&D. Of those areas corporate tax, which includes international and business tax, makes up more than 50% of the firm's activity.

The M&A group has worked on some of the largest big-ticket deals in Ireland over the last year. Cronin and Declan Butler advised Greencore on their proposed merger with Northern Foods last year under the EU Cross-Border Merger Directive, though the board of Northern Foods eventually accepted a rival bid. The practice also advised on the Irish tax aspects of the Kraft-Cadbury merger after the European group won a tender bid.

The real estate and infrastructure group has been busy this year too, advising Indaver on the financing of the State's first waste-to-energy incinerator. The deal was important because of what it means for infrastructure development, but beyond that it raised a number of important tax considerations such as tax depreciation allowances and debt-equity ratios. Other work this year includes advising Electronics Arts on the establishment of a European customer service and operations centre for its bioware studio, and advising on the $350m construction of the new Aviva stadium in Dublin. Clients they have worked also include Doosan Infracore International and Kellogg Europe Trading.

Studio Tributario e Societario Deloitte's tax practice consists of around 300 fee earners. Carlo Bindella heads the tax practice.As part of the Deloitte network the group can offer a full range of tax services acrosss the different service lines. Of ... [more]

Studio Tributario e Societario Deloitte's tax practice consists of around 300 fee earners. Carlo Bindella heads the tax practice.

As part of the Deloitte network the group can offer a full range of tax services acrosss the different service lines. Of these international corporate tax work makes up the bulk of their work with 250 advisers in the business tax and international tax service lines.

Work this year includes advising an Italian company on the restructuring of its international operations and advising a global group on the VAT implications of its supply chain structure. Transfer pricing work has increased this year and the team, headed by Aldo Castoldi obtained the first advance pricing agreement in Italy for a pharmaceutical company.

The group has a number of clients from most of the major global industries such as real estate, energy, aviation, manufacturing and consumer businesses. The group also has a large number of Italian clients as well as those referred from the network.

Deloitte's tax practice in Luxembourg is led by Georges Deitz and consists of around 250 fee-earners. The practice has been growing this year, adding 30 fee earners over the 12 months. Revenue has also increased by 10% from the previous year. Karine ... [more]

Deloitte's tax practice in Luxembourg is led by Georges Deitz and consists of around 250 fee-earners. The practice has been growing this year, adding 30 fee earners over the 12 months. Revenue has also increased by 10% from the previous year. Karine Thil, Yves Knel and Stephan Tilquin have all been promoted to partner this year.

The practice offers a broad range of tax services across its different sub-service lines including international tax services, corporate tax, financial services, VAT and M&A, which has the biggest team in the practice. The group has worked on the structuring of a number of acquisitions for private equity houses over the last year.

Transfer pricing work has also increased; Five full-time professionals are part of that team. This is an area which is expected to carry on growing over the next few years. The practice has seen an increase in work from Asia over the last few years with Luxembourg used to investment in the rest of Europe. This is partly because the firm launched a Luxembourg desk in Hong Kong.

Deloitte is undoubtedly one of the strongest tax practices in Malta. With more than 60 tax professionals the practice is the largest of the big-four in Malta. The group is led by Andrew Manduca. A number of their practitioners are singled out as leaders ... [more]

Deloitte is undoubtedly one of the strongest tax practices in Malta. With more than 60 tax professionals the practice is the largest of the big-four in Malta. The group is led by Andrew Manduca. A number of their practitioners are singled out as leaders and advise regularly on policy. For example, Chris Curmi advises the Maltese government on the negotiation of double tax treaties.

The group has an impressive breadth of experience. It has perhaps the strongest indirect tax team of the big-four with a dedicated VAT team led by Sarah Aquilina. The biggest source of work for the practice is transactions.

The group typically advises on inbound work. Last year Malcolm Booker advised on one of the largest real estate acquisitions in Malta by a non-resident for some time. This was an complex transaction since it involved the balancing of different shareholder interests and also had to consider a viable exit route for the investors. Conrad Cassar Torregiani and Marc Alden oversaw the establishment in Malta of a significant private equity fund.

Other work this year includes advice to a multinational group wanting to use Malta as a holding jurisdiction for its intangible assets and the first significant aircraft leasing since the Aircraft Registration Act came into force in October 2010.

Deloitte's tax practice is led by Piet-Hein Meeter and employs more than 800 professionals, the fourth largest tax practice among Deloitte member firms after the US, Canada and the UK. Marije Staman is mentioned for M&A work, while Pascal Schrijver is ... [more]

Deloitte's tax practice is led by Piet-Hein Meeter and employs more than 800 professionals, the fourth largest tax practice among Deloitte member firms after the US, Canada and the UK. Marije Staman is mentioned for M&A work, while Pascal Schrijver is also singled out for praise as an indirect tax practitioner.

The practice covers every tax service that a business could require including M&A, R&D, compliance, tax controversy, transfer pricing, international tax and indirect tax. The practice also offers a number of innovative services to clients such as Move Tax Forward, a compliance and reporting service to help companies manage tax risks at lower costs.

This year Harm Prinsen and Willem Wille advised on the setting-up of a new European pension vehicle in the Netherlands for a large financial company. This involved the creation of a Pension Premium Institution, after their introduction in the Netherlands in January 2011.

Sander Kloosterhof advised a leading international chemical firm on a tax accounting project. The practice noted that there were incorrect margins due to insufficient SAP data and therefore restructured the existing SAP. After negotiations with the authorities this resulted in a refund of €2.5 million.

Deloitte has bolstered its tax practice this year with the addition of three partners and a director from other major tax practices including Steenstrup Stordrange, Thommessen and Haavind. The department is led by Tore Paulshus and has many well regarded ... [more]

Deloitte has bolstered its tax practice this year with the addition of three partners and a director from other major tax practices including Steenstrup Stordrange, Thommessen and Haavind. The department is led by Tore Paulshus and has many well regarded tax advisers among its partners and fee earners. Indirect tax is an area where the practice is particularly distinguished, as fellow tax professionals highlight both Lars Erik Norborg and Aleksander With for their ability in that area. The firm has a number of multinational clients as well as Norwegian companies which rely on the firm for tax advice. Notable examples include Aker Solutions, FMC Technologies and Altor Equity Partners. The team's work this year has included the cross-border restructuring of an American oil and gas company active in the Nordic region to streamline its tax liabilities. Norborg was one of the advisors which helped a private-equity firm in its acquisition of an environmental services provider. The transaction required the firm to pay close attention to the structures used and the VAT implications of each to achieve a tax-efficient result for the buyer. The firm is confident in its ability to capitalise on the surge in M&A in Norway with this year's recruits adding strength and capacity to that service line.

The tax team at Deloitte contains many practitioners who are highly rated by their peers in the market. The firm provides a full range of tax services to multinationals and Portuguese companies, but indirect tax stands out as a particularly strong area ... [more]

The tax team at Deloitte contains many practitioners who are highly rated by their peers in the market. The firm provides a full range of tax services to multinationals and Portuguese companies, but indirect tax stands out as a particularly strong area for the firm. Both António Beja Neves and Afonso Arnaldo are recommended for their indirect tax work. Competitors regard Neves as the leading figure in indirect tax in Portugal and comment that he is a highly skilled practitioner. The firm handles a range of corporate and cross-border structuring work for its clients in Portugal and in these areas Luís Belo and Carlos Loureiro respectively are very well regarded. Though capital markets work has been less common than in previous years, Deloitte's team has still been visible in that arena. Cláudia Bernardo and Miguel Rocha are praised for their ability and approach to the tax issues involved in financial products and the financial services sector generally.

Deloitte has expanded its Spanish tax practice with 93 professionals joining in the past year. The majority of these advisers have joined the firm's corporate tax and international tax service lines. The department now has 27 partners after promotions ... [more]

Deloitte has expanded its Spanish tax practice with 93 professionals joining in the past year. The majority of these advisers have joined the firm's corporate tax and international tax service lines. The department now has 27 partners after promotions and three external additions from major Spanish tax practices. Competitors note that the firm has improved its transfer pricing service line under Ignacio Longarte. One contemporary said that, "he has done well at Deloitte in developing their transfer pricing practice. He has done particularly well there." The work of the department, led by Luis Fernando Guerra, has this year included the sale and restructuring of some of the Spanish savings banks. The practice advised former savings bank Ibercaja on the tax implications of its conversion to a pure bank as it would have been unable to meet capital ratio requirements that the savings banks will be expected to satisfy. The firm is advising another Spanish savings bank on making the conversion and the tax issues which are involved. Partner Pablo Sanz coordinated the tax issues of the merger of the three Basque savings banks BBK, Kutxa and Vital. Other work this year saw David Gómez Aragón lead the team advising a Spanish infrastructure, construction and services group on the best structure to use in the construction of a gas storage facility on the Spanish sea floor and a gas pipeline connected to a land platform for customs and VAT purposes. The firm's clients include Spanish and international companies and financial institutions and it emphasises that their international network ensures clients a high quality of service in cross-border matters.

Deloitte has made substantial additions to their tax team this year, bringing the number of partners to 14 and other fee earners to 155. Lars Franck is recommended by competitors for his cross-border structuring work. His expertise was put to use in ... [more]

Deloitte has made substantial additions to their tax team this year, bringing the number of partners to 14 and other fee earners to 155. Lars Franck is recommended by competitors for his cross-border structuring work. His expertise was put to use in a restructuring for a listed foreign company in Sweden. The firm has handled many restructuring matters this year; tax leader Magnus Larsson advised on the restructuring of finance operations for a medical technology company. This involved obtaining rulings from tax authorities in more than one country to ensure all elements of the restructuring were compliant. The firm is also noted for its transfer pricing expertise, with Mats Emanuelsson singled out by competitors as being particularly capable in that practice area.

Deloitte's tax team in Switzerland consists of 19 partners and 190 other fee earners under department head Reto Savoia. Clients of the firm are mainly multinationals who are either active or headquartered in Switzerland. Work for the firm this year has ... [more]

Deloitte's UK tax team provides services to clients across a full range of tax matters, including tax controversy. The tax dispute resolution practice that was created after Fiona Walkinshaw's arrival in 2009 has been improved this year by the firm's ... [more]

Deloitte's UK tax team provides services to clients across a full range of tax matters, including tax controversy. The tax dispute resolution practice that was created after Fiona Walkinshaw's arrival in 2009 has been improved this year by the firm's transaction implementation check (TIC) system. This service assists clients by using technology to streamline and catalogue the documentation involved in transactions. The idea is to enable companies to provide a full response and eliminate any gaps in documentation if the tax treatment of a transaction is challenged by HMRC after the event. Recent highlights for the firm's tax controversy practice include a case concerning VAT refunds for a client in the gambling sector which went to the Court of Appeal. At first instance, the court ruled that HMRC's differing VAT charges for certain games run by the company were incompatible with ECJ case law on VAT. This decision was upheld in the Court of Appeal in late 2010 and is expected to mark an important precedent for the betting and gaming industry. Anbreen Khan, who is identified by peers for his indirect tax expertise, coordinated the technical VAT elements of the case. Deloitte also advised on the IPO of a private equity backed group and substantially restructured the group before the offering so as maximise the group's value on floatation. Before Deloitte's involvement, the majority of the group's debt was held by its Luxembourg entity despite an absence of provisions allowing company to offset debt against taxable gains. Profits relating to its most lucrative intellectual property rights were also taxed in Japan, which had a 41% tax rate on such income. By restructuring the group's operation, the firm was able to significantly reduce the rate of effective tax for the company prior to its IPO.