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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Herwig Joosten is Ernst & Young's tax managing partner in Belgium, overseeing 20 partners and 260 other professionals. Two partners, Frank Cambie and Geert Vandenplas, joined from Deloitte in September 2011 and January 2012 respectively. The team saw ... [more]

Herwig Joosten is Ernst & Young's tax managing partner in Belgium, overseeing 20 partners and 260 other professionals. Two partners, Frank Cambie and Geert Vandenplas, joined from Deloitte in September 2011 and January 2012 respectively. The team saw only one departure this year.

Work for the firm this year has been steady, including securing more than 80 rulings from the Belgian tax commission for its largest client and working on matters arising from IP migration and hybrid instruments as well as advising on a cross-border merger for a major European bank.

The Ernst & Young team has also been advising many of the parties now in government on a confidential basis on new legislative changes, and its 20-strong transfer pricing group has been working on planning and supply chain restructurings, for example, this year.

Ernst & Young has a 35-strong tax practice in its two offices in Limassol and Nicosia. The team is led by Neophytus Neophytou. Maarten Koper is also a respected figure in the market. Helga Csenki left to join PwC in October 2011. This year the firm has ... [more]

Ernst & Young has a 35-strong tax practice in its two offices in Limassol and Nicosia. The team is led by Neophytus Neophytou. Maarten Koper is also a respected figure in the market. Helga Csenki left to join PwC in October 2011. This year the firm has worked on a number of international group restructurings, with a particular focus on clients from Eastern Europe and Russia as well as energy concerns from Norway and Sweden.

The corporate team is advising another Scandinavian client on a potential cross-border merger into Cyprus.

Ernst & Young's tax team experienced something of a rocky period after some departures in the past few years, but things have steadied over the past 12 months. Led by Kari Pasanen, it is viewed as particularly strong in both corporate and indirect tax ... [more]

Ernst & Young's tax team experienced something of a rocky period after some departures in the past few years, but things have steadied over the past 12 months. Led by Kari Pasanen, it is viewed as particularly strong in both corporate and indirect tax matters, with Markku Järyenoja and Leena Äärilä both highly thought of by peers in the market.

It has been a busy period too, with a number of important cases worked on. One standout mandate came with Kennet Pettersson winning a landmark transfer pricing valuation case to do with the transfer of trade names from a Finnish group to a related party in a lower tax jurisdiction. If the case had gone against the client, it would have led to double taxation in the millions of dollars. Another sizeable piece of work involved Raimo Hietala in the corporate team, who advised a client in connection with the establishment of a NewCo that would then acquire both shares and business assets from another company within the same sector, with the seller becoming a minority shareholder in the new entity. The team carried out due diligence and transaction structuring on the companies, coordinating similar local work in Brazil and Italy. This €120 million deal is still not complete.

Ernst & Young's 1,600-strong team of tax professionals in Germany is well respected in the market. "Ernst & Young is the best of the big four I would say," said one partner. "There are excellent tax people at Ernst & Young," another added.York Zöllkau ... [more]

Ernst & Young's 1,600-strong team of tax professionals in Germany is well respected in the market. "Ernst & Young is the best of the big four I would say," said one partner. "There are excellent tax people at Ernst & Young," another added.

York Zöllkau is managing partner of the tax practices in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Ernst & Young is a key component of the Greek tax market. It remains a highly respected practice, able to support clients across a diverse range of tax issues. Its work covers the entire transaction life cycle, spanning from tax due diligence on potential ... [more]

Ernst & Young is a key component of the Greek tax market. It remains a highly respected practice, able to support clients across a diverse range of tax issues. Its work covers the entire transaction life cycle, spanning from tax due diligence on potential targets and structuring the deal to post-closing transaction implementation.

The practice is led by Stefanos Mitsios, Anastasia Papadelli and Kostas Stergiou. It includes five partners and 145 fee earners.

Based on its strong reputation, the firm is often requested to work with the tax authorities on draft bills. The firm made recommendations on new tax residence rules for individuals, the introduction of the participation exemption system about dividends Greek corporations receive from other EU companies, and the tax certification provided by certified auditors.

Work over the past year includes representing a leading consumer goods group in the first transfer pricing controversy case in Greece. The Ministry of Finance was contemplating a transfer pricing adjustment of several million Euros, the firm was able to change this direction increasing the probability of a ruling of no adjustment.

The transfer pricing group is among the largest in the country and includes professionals with experience gained from big four practices in Germany, UK and Switzerland. The firm's transfer pricing revenue has more than doubled with a 120% increase, mainly driven by transfer pricing documentation and compliance work.

Roberto Lazzarone leads the tax department at Studio Legale Tributario Ernst & Young. The firm is a full-service practice focused on domestic and international tax law.The tax team now totals 31 partners and 334 fee earners after three new hires over ... [more]

Roberto Lazzarone leads the tax department at Studio Legale Tributario Ernst & Young. The firm is a full-service practice focused on domestic and international tax law.

The tax team now totals 31 partners and 334 fee earners after three new hires over the past 12 months. Nicoletta Mazzitelli joined from Camozzi & Bonissoni in February 2012, Giacomo Albana joined from Deloitte in July 2011 and Alessandro Pacieri from SCGT in the same month.

The firm has a strong focus on tax controversy work and has been active across a range of deals in this area of work.

The practice also focuses on developing capabilities of staff by putting new recruits on an internal rotation program during their first years at the firm. This ensures that staff are trained in each tax function, in turn increasing capabilities and service capacity.

Ernst & Young has a large tax presence in Luxembourg, with a team of 25 partners and 220 other fee earners led by national director Marc Schmitz, head of financial tax Dietmar Klos and international tax head Frank Muntendam. Like others in the market, ... [more]

Ernst & Young has a large tax presence in Luxembourg, with a team of 25 partners and 220 other fee earners led by national director Marc Schmitz, head of financial tax Dietmar Klos and international tax head Frank Muntendam. Like others in the market, the firm has extended its network this year with the opening of a Luxembourg tax desk in Hong Kong.

Clients are keen on the firm, as one said: "I am very happy with the services provided. This is not just about quality; the people involved do a very good job for the client and help in due time with good support."

"Elmar Schwickerat, who gives a very client-oriented service with a very high quality and personal involvement, impressed me," commented another client.

The firm has also benefitted from a number of fee earners returning to the fold after absences for a variety of reasons.

"Ernst & Young have had people returning and have regained presence in the market," observed one peer.

The firm's indirect service line has been busy this year, including advising an American e-commerce client which is establishing its European headquarters in Luxembourg. Yannick Zeippen is still working on this transaction.

Another notable matter was the advising of a global technology group in restructuring to produce a centralised business model, work that included New York partner Jurian Wouda Kuipers.

In corporate matters, the practice has been advising a Polish group on an acquisition of a copper mining company in Canada and also worked for a large Belgian group on the €1 billion acquisition of a retail group.

Ernst & Young is led by Kees van Boxel in the Netherlands, who also acts as managing partner for the firm's Belgian practice. The team numbers more than 800, with 70 partners, and has seen a steady year in terms of recruitment, with internal promotions ... [more]

Ernst & Young is led by Kees van Boxel in the Netherlands, who also acts as managing partner for the firm's Belgian practice. The team numbers more than 800, with 70 partners, and has seen a steady year in terms of recruitment, with internal promotions making up for the departures of Richard Cornelisse, Eric Westerburgen and Ard Groot.

Described as a "great" firm by a competitor, Ernst & Young is a full service tax practice, and though much of its work remains confidential, there is one disclosable deal that gives a good idea of the scale of the work it carries out.

The cross-border deal took in professionals from the firm's US, Luxembourg and UK offices, with Hans Grimbergen, Jan Hein Wagemans, Sanne Verhage and Bart Rebel making up the Netherlands contingent. This team provided tax support for Ziggo, the largest cable company in the Netherlands, as it undertook an €3.7 billion ($4.8 billion) initial public offering (IPO), one of the largest since the economic downturn began, as the last stage of an acquisition by Warburg Pincus and Cinven.

Ernst & Young is one of the leading tax practices in Norway, with 170 professionals in its tax department led by country managing partner Christin Bøsterud. The firm works across five main tax service lines: transactional, business, international, indirect ... [more]

Ernst & Young is one of the leading tax practices in Norway, with 170 professionals in its tax department led by country managing partner Christin Bøsterud. The firm works across five main tax service lines: transactional, business, international, indirect and human capital, with legal services offered through Ernst & Young law, an affiliated firm.

Peers acknowledge the firm's lofty standing in the market, as one comments: "Ernst & Young stand out as the premier firm in Norway."

"I am more impressed, more often, by firms like Ernst & Young. They are more active in academic circles and visible on the quality work," says another competitor.

Transfer pricing was one of Ernst & Young's most active areas this year, including value based pricing and bare boat pricing, which deals with a form of boat chartering agreement that does not include crew or provisions.The firm has devised a new method for these deals that is now seen as best practice.

In corporate work, the team has advised on a Norwegian acquisition of a UK business, in addition to establishing an intra-group Dutch bank for the financing of group companies and potential new acquisitions.

With a large team of 25 partners and 380 fee earners, Ernst & Young has strong capabilities and holds a good position in the market.Under the leadership of Federico Linares Ernst & Young's tax department expanded this year with the addition of include ... [more]

With a large team of 25 partners and 380 fee earners, Ernst & Young has strong capabilities and holds a good position in the market.

Under the leadership of Federico Linares Ernst & Young's tax department expanded this year with the addition of include five new recruits.

Maximino Linares joined from the tax administration in March 2012 and Eva Lasunción arrived as a partner from Cuatrecasas. Two advisers joined as executive directors, one from Garrigues the other from Cuatrecasas; and a KPMG practitioner joined as a senior manager. As well as 10 offices nationally, the practice runs Spanish tax desks at Ernst & Young in New York and Beijing.

The firm's work includes representing many of the 35 public companies in the Ibex stock exchange's key index, other leading Spanish multinationals and foreign company subsidiaries in Spain. Key sectors for the practice are oil and gas, utilities, construction, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and retail.

In notable work, the team advised a Spanish oil and gas multinational on its international tax operations and internal tax structure.

Ernst & Young's 21 partners cover all tax service lines. The 170-strong team is led by Mats Andersson Lohi. In the last 12 months or so, it has hired four new partners, including Annika Amström, a real-estate specialist, from BDO, Lars Jernkrok from ... [more]

Ernst & Young's 21 partners cover all tax service lines. The 170-strong team is led by Mats Andersson Lohi. In the last 12 months or so, it has hired four new partners, including Annika Amström, a real-estate specialist, from BDO, Lars Jernkrok from Taxand and Magnus Pantzar from PwC, who was brought in for his transactional experience.

The firm is one that is gaining in visibility in the market. "Ernst & Young is aggressive on the market," one peer said. "We meet them a lot. Very entrepreneurial. It is a good practice that is gaining respect."

Advisers that have done varied client work include Mikael Hall, who has been carrying out restructurings, as well as a valuation of intangible property and negotiating an advance pricing agreement (APA) for a large Swedish multinational. He has also been in court for another Swedish multinational concerning the arm's-length nature of interest rates.

Olof Persson advised on the restructuring of the operating model and transfer pricing work on behalf of a multinational that relocated its headquarters within the EU.

Ernst & Young's Swiss practice changed leaders in July 2012 when Philip Robinson took over after Dominik Bürgy transferred internally to deal with client demand. The transfer pricing practice has teams in Zurich and Geneva. Within the last year, the ... [more]

Ernst & Young's Swiss practice changed leaders in July 2012 when Philip Robinson took over after Dominik Bürgy transferred internally to deal with client demand. The transfer pricing practice has teams in Zurich and Geneva. Within the last year, the transfer pricing team, led by Jean-Marc Girard, worked closely with multiple offices of Ernst & Young and teams from various disciplines to provide customised advice on three simultaneous, multijurisdictional business restructuring projects.

Other services include Swiss and global transfer pricing documentation, transfer pricing policy design, audit defence, controversy, planning and business reorganisation projects and implementation, advance pricing agreements, principal rulings, and tax effective supply chain management (TESCM) structure maintenance.

Ernst & Young is one of the biggest and best of the tax practices in the UK. John Dixon is the head of the practices in both the UK and Ireland, with financial services specialist Christopher Price also taking a prominent role. The team has 166 partners."I ... [more]

Ernst & Young is one of the biggest and best of the tax practices in the UK. John Dixon is the head of the practices in both the UK and Ireland, with financial services specialist Christopher Price also taking a prominent role. The team has 166 partners.

"I had a good experience working with Ernst & Young, very capable," said an adviser from another firm. The well thought-of Matthew Mealey is head of international tax, the transactional tax leader is Jonathan Anderson, the business services head is Helen Carruthers and Kevin MacAuley runs indirect tax, with Nino Di Vito responsible for human capital.