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Mayer Brown's tax group is led by Astrid Pieron. This year it advised the Brussels Branch of a Japanese credit institution on the structuring of new activities, which involved dealing with tax and regulatory constraints in both Belgium and Russia. The ... [more]

Mayer Brown's tax group is led by Astrid Pieron.

This year it advised the Brussels Branch of a Japanese credit institution on the structuring of new activities, which involved dealing with tax and regulatory constraints in both Belgium and Russia. The team is advising long-standing client Numericable on the disposal of its Benelux operations.

The group also has a significant transfer pricing practice owing to the location in Belgium of the firm's European transfer pricing centre for Mayer Brown. Pieron advised Tetra Pak on its existing transfer pricing policy, especially in the context of advanced pricing agreements.

Finally, both Pieron and senior associate Charles-Albert Helleputte are involved in policy initiatives at both an EU and OECD level. The firm has contributed comments to the OECD's project on the transfer pricing aspects of intangibles.

Mayer Brown has a strong reputation in private equity and leveraged buyout work. The group has also seen an expansion in restructuring work this year.The team is led by Laurent Borey, who is also one of the five practice leaders, heading Mayer Brown's ... [more]

Mayer Brown has a strong reputation in private equity and leveraged buyout work. The group has also seen an expansion in restructuring work this year.

The team is led by Laurent Borey, who is also one of the five practice leaders, heading Mayer Brown's global tax practice. He manages a large team of 16, representing a sizeable number of the total lawyers in the Paris office.

Partner Benjamin Homo advised the Carlyle Group on its acquisition of a controlling share in a holding company which purchased shares in the Giannoni group for $600 million. This was one of the first substantial leveraged buy-outs in France since the financial turmoil. The deal also involved a number of complicated restructurings and negotiations with the French authorities which were important in obtaining bank funding.

The firm has continued its fund formation activity, advising a number of private-equity houses on new international structures. Borey is working on a new type of structure for two big funds. This is intended to balance the reluctance of investors to put up money since the financial turmoil and the interests of the fund managers also.

The group also advised Molex on the disposal of its assets in France in a highly publicised case. Other clients include Montefiore Investment, EMI Group, General Motors, Rothschild Group, Zodiac and Consolis.

Mayer Brown's tax department has been developing its standalone tax services to compliment its abilities in M&A and capital markets matters. Much of this standalone work involves structuring, which is often international, and the firm is also capable ... [more]

Mayer Brown's tax department has been developing its standalone tax services to compliment its abilities in M&A and capital markets matters. Much of this standalone work involves structuring, which is often international, and the firm is also capable in tax dispute resolution and employee incentives. A recent example was designing a bespoke structure for British Land that enabled the group to change how some of its portfolio properties were held to facilitate external investment and sales in a tax efficient manner via partnership structures. Partner James Hill this year advised on the reverse takeover of the gas transporter and connections company Fulcrum Group from National Grid. Funds for the takeover were raised by a conditional placing with Cenkos Securities adding an additional layer of complexity to a matter where tax structuring was paramount.

Practice leader Peter Steiner specialises in real estate, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations which often have cross border elements. A number of high profile clients such as JP Morgan Chase, Ally Financial and GMAC UK rely on the firm for tax advice. Though the firm has developed its standalone tax practice, it is particularly capable in M&A matters and the tax department is often engaged in matters generated by the corporate department.