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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

The tax team at Baker & McKenzie, led by Alain Hughye, maintain their standing again among the second tier of Belgian tax practices.The practice separates itself from some of the other law firms by the strength of the Baker & McKenzie network which means ... [more]

The tax team at Baker & McKenzie, led by Alain Hughye, maintain their standing again among the second tier of Belgian tax practices.

The practice separates itself from some of the other law firms by the strength of the Baker & McKenzie network which means that is prominent in international tax work. This year Géry Bombeke and Philippe Lion advised Nyrstar on its €490 million ($405 million) rights offering. This involved a review of the group's entire tax structure. The two also worked on the acquisition of Avero Schadeverzekering by Baloise, in one of the few M&A deals in the insurance market over the last year.

The practice has also been busy in the field of tax disputes. This year Hughye and Charlotte Degadt represented a multinational client in the Court of Appeal on the issue of whether the imputation of tax refunds against disputed taxes interrupts the statute of limitation. The court sided with the firm in a case which is expected to have large implications for the authorities seeking to collect disputed old tax assessments.

Other clients they have represented this year include AG Insurance, Dexia, Holcim, Johnson Controls, Telenet and GIMV.

With a team of 30 lawyers Baker & McKenzie is one of the larger tax practices in the Paris market. The group is headed by Véronique Millischer and comprises a number of well-regarded practitioners. Eric Meier in particular is singled out for his tax ... [more]

With a team of 30 lawyers Baker & McKenzie is one of the larger tax practices in the Paris market. The group is headed by Véronique Millischer and comprises a number of well-regarded practitioners. Eric Meier in particular is singled out for his tax controversy expertise. Evelyne Bagdassarian has joined this year and, in a notable coup for the practice, Caroline Silberztein moved to the firm in September 2011 from her role as head of the transfer pricing unit at the OECD.

The group has worked on a lot of high-profile transactions. Guillaume Le Camus advised AXA Private Equity last year on the €543 million acquisition of Natixis' proprietary private equity activities in France. Le Camus also worked alongside Thierry Vialaneix, Alain Sauty de Chalon and Bruno Bertrand on the merger of Veolia Transport and Transdev to create the world's to create the first worldwide urban public transport group.

The tax litigation group has also been busy this year and has advised on a number of multi-million dollar disputes, including a case that is pending before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Clients that the practice has also represented this year include Club Mediteranee, Center Parcs, Morgan Stanley, Groupe Casino and Société Générale Securities Services.

Baker & McKenzie's tax team is led by Nicole Looks and comprises 20 fee earners. Looks is viewed as one of the leading individuals for indirect tax. "She is very knowledgeable, very client-focused and I think probably one of the best in Germany for indirect ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's tax team is led by Nicole Looks and comprises 20 fee earners. Looks is viewed as one of the leading individuals for indirect tax. "She is very knowledgeable, very client-focused and I think probably one of the best in Germany for indirect tax" said one practitioner. The team offers a breadth of services in its attempts to offer an alternative to the big-four. Ulrich Ränsch has set up a tax controversies team this year to strengthen the firm's presence in litigation.The group represents multinationals and DAX 30 companies in a number of important deals.

This year Looks worked alongside Christian Brodersen, Adrian Lohmann, Burkhard von Loeffelholz and Peter Wessels in advising a multinational company in the consumer electronics and entertainment industry on tax planning and legal implementation of a cross-border business lease during a pan-European restructuring. This was a complex project involving several European jurisdictions and involved the use of binding rulings safeguarding a tax neutral implementation of the business lease.

The Frankfurt team in led by Brodersen also advised a global communications company on the spin-off of a mobile devices and home network business unit into a separate listed company. The deal, which was finalised in January, was a complex project and involved more than 50 of the firm's offices throughout the world. Other work this year includes advising Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation on the compliance structuring issues in relation to maintenance and installation services on aircraft.

Other clients they have advised this year include Blyth, Tradition Financial Services, Dell Computer Corporation and Telecity Group.

Studio Professionale Associatio a Baker & McKenzie's tax practice is large relative to the rest of the market, comprising seven partners and 15 fee-earners. The group is led by Massimo Giaconia. Competitors view the practice as very strong in the field ... [more]

Studio Professionale Associatio a Baker & McKenzie's tax practice is large relative to the rest of the market, comprising seven partners and 15 fee-earners. The group is led by Massimo Giaconia. Competitors view the practice as very strong in the field of transfer pricing. Guiliana Polacco has a good reputation in the market in this area.

The team is advising Saipem, a subsidiary of Italian energy giant Eni, on a global transfer pricing project. Beyond transfer pricing Giaconia advised Amplifon on the €325 million acquisition of NHC Group in one of the most significant acquisitions by an Italian company of a foreign multinational in the last year..

Other work this year includes advising Nalco on its supply chain reorganisation which included a demerger of the existing company into three separate legal entities. Other clients they have worked for this year include Sony and Givaudan.

Baker & McKenzie opened a new office in Luxembourg in October last year. The office was co-founded by André Pesch who joined from Ernst & Young to head the tax practice. The practice has already developed a strong reputation in cross-border structuring, ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie opened a new office in Luxembourg in October last year. The office was co-founded by André Pesch who joined from Ernst & Young to head the tax practice. The practice has already developed a strong reputation in cross-border structuring, financial products and capital markets work.

The group advised a major manufacturing company on the restructuring of the group through a migration of a US corporation to Luxembourg. This deal required the use of different tax techniques such as the use of hybrid instruments, hybrid entities and intellectual property tax optimisation.

The group has also been involved in plenty of fund structuring work this year. Pesch and his team advised a major private equity group on the implementation of a new structure in view of their proposed investment in a large French company. The group also been advising large global banks on their structured finance transactions.

Baker & McKenzie's tax team consists of more than 65 individuals and is led by Herman Huidink. He is one of many professionals at the firm singled out for their expertise. Antonio Russo is cited frequently for his transfer pricing work. One professional ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's tax team consists of more than 65 individuals and is led by Herman Huidink. He is one of many professionals at the firm singled out for their expertise. Antonio Russo is cited frequently for his transfer pricing work. One professional described him as "very technically skilled and very aware of changes."

The group has remained stable for a number of years. Marco Van Bladel, the head of structured finance at ABN Amro joined this year as head of the structured solutions group.

The group provides comprehensive advice in all areas, but is well known for its transfer pricing, indirect tax, corporate tax and tax planning work. As part of the Baker & McKenzie international network, the firm regularly advises on matters across several jurisdictions.

Partner Jan Willem Gerritsen advised a large healthcare company on the acquisition of one of its rivals. He had to make sure that the target's interest deduction was still available to his client after the acquisition. A new supply chain model was set up after the acquisitionwith Gerritsen having to make sure that this did not trigger tax leakage.

Partner Willem van Wettum advised an NYSE-listed company last year, as part of three-jurisdiction team from Baker & McKenzie, on negotiations with the advance pricing agreement (APA) and competent authority groups of three different revenue authorities to reach a mutual agreement between the four parties.

Other deals this year include advising a multinational in the fast-moving consumer goods industryon the restructuring of their global business model, and the restructuring of another multinational group to optimize their tax position in locations ranging from Belgium to Mexico.

The tax team at Baker & McKenzie consists of 10 partners and 27 further fee earners and is led jointly by Pedro Aguarón in Barcelona and Rodrigo Ogea in Madrid. Tax partner Luis Briones was recently promoted to managing partner of the firm's Madrid office. ... [more]

The tax team at Baker & McKenzie consists of 10 partners and 27 further fee earners and is led jointly by Pedro Aguarón in Barcelona and Rodrigo Ogea in Madrid. Tax partner Luis Briones was recently promoted to managing partner of the firm's Madrid office. He is highly regarded by competitors for cross-border structuring and one contemporary noted: "The fact he is still visible in the tax market when he is also managing partner shows you how good he is. He really is a very good practitioner." The firm has a full service tax practice and their work is often linked to the firm's corporate, real estate and banking departments. However, the firm is also very well regarded in matters such as transfer pricing which is in high demand among its clients. The firm this year advised JC Flowers on its investment in Spanish savings banks Caja Sur and Banca Civica. It was the first non-Spanish entity to purchase a savings bank. There are no clear provisions on the tax implications of such a transaction in Spanish legislation and this transaction was further complicated by the cross border element. As such, the firm had to ensure that an efficient structure was used for the investment and that it would not later be challenged by the tax authorities. The firm also advised Spanish private equity house Torreal on its acquisition of logistics business Saba. The purchase was a joint investment with another private equity house and so the firm had to ensure that the tax issues were addressed for each party so they avoided any unnecessary tax liability. As their recent work suggests, the firm has a number of private equity houses as clients and also companies such as Marriott International, Foster Wheeler and financial institutions such as Banca March.

Baker & McKenzie's Swedish tax practice is located in Stockholm and is led by partner Bo Lindqvist, who is noted by his peers for his abilities as a tax litigator. The firm provides clients with tax advice across all areas of corporate tax, though its ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's Swedish tax practice is located in Stockholm and is led by partner Bo Lindqvist, who is noted by his peers for his abilities as a tax litigator. The firm provides clients with tax advice across all areas of corporate tax, though its M&A and cross-border structuring practices are particularly well regarded. Indirect tax is also a strength for the practice and associate Mika Punkki specialises in VAT matters, for which he is highly rated by his contemporaries . One competitor says: "He is very competent indeed when it comes to VAT, a real specialist in that area. He is knowledgeable and well known in the market."

Baker & McKenzie's Swiss tax team comprises nine partners and 14 fee earners divided between its Geneva and Zurich offices. The team advises clients on federal, cantonal and international tax matters. The practice is particularly well regarded for tax ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's Swiss tax team comprises nine partners and 14 fee earners divided between its Geneva and Zurich offices. The team advises clients on federal, cantonal and international tax matters. The practice is particularly well regarded for tax advice to the private equity sector where Martin Frey is noted by his peers for his ability. Thomas O'Donnell provides the firm with an ability to coordinate international tax matters since he specialises in international tax issues with a particular focus on planning.

Alex Chadwick acts as the head of Baker & McKenzie's corporate tax group in London and is also a member of the firm's Europe Tax Transactions Steering Committee. The firm is capable across all areas of tax, but is noted for its transfer pricing services ... [more]

Alex Chadwick acts as the head of Baker & McKenzie's corporate tax group in London and is also a member of the firm's Europe Tax Transactions Steering Committee. The firm is capable across all areas of tax, but is noted for its transfer pricing services in particular and the firm was one of the first to employ economists to help provide clients with transfer pricing advice. Recent work for the firm in that area includes both assisting companies challenged by HMRC in transfer pricing and advising companies on all aspects of transfer pricing strategy and compliance. The firm represented two global groups based in the UK in disputes with the tax authorities this year. One case has been included in HMRC's sizeable pilot dispute resolution scheme that involves external mediators in an effort to resolve such disputes more quickly. Counsel James Kennedy advised a multinational plastics company on a global review of its intellectual property ownership and development and its impact on transfer pricing. Since intellectual property carries significant value in the plastics industry, the tax treatment and transfer pricing affairs of the group's intellectual property has significant bearing on its profits. The firm has also been active in M&A this year and advised a New York Stock Exchange listed manufacturing and technology company on its acquisition of a secure power supplier in the UK. Partner Geoffrey Kay led the team that provided tax planning advice to the company to ensure that the most tax efficient structure was used for both the acquisition and the newly expanded group's tax affairs.