Luxembourg

The tax team at Allen & Overy provide advice on a wide range of matters, including tax structuring, tax disputes and litigation and tax work related to transactions. The Luxembourg office is highlighted as being an adviser to many of the world’s leading corporations, alternative investment funds managers (AIFMs) and financial institutions.

Jean Schaffner is head of the tax practice, while partner Patrick Mischo has led the team on a number of tax transactional matters. 

Senior associate Luis Munoz joined the firm during the research period from Arendt & Medernach, while Olivier Thill left the firm. 

Client feedback

“I find A&O to be knowledgeable and able to clearly articulate Lux tax concepts that I am not as familiar with. They raise additional issues I haven't considered and offer alternative approaches. I appreciate that they think through all aspects of a proposal when raising it.”

Arendt & Medernach provides advice across all the core areas of tax, including tax structuring, tax opinions, transactional tax and contentious and non-contentious matters before the Luxembourg tax authorities.

Thierry Lesage is the firm’s head of tax and has led many of the tax cases at the firm during the research period. In one example he led the team in providing corporate, regulatory and tax assistance in relation to the set-up and structuring of an investment fund.

Client feedback

“Great all-around firm, certainly one of the top three for tax advice in Luxembourg.”

Keith O'Donnell is the founder and managing partner of ATOZ, which is part of the Taxand global network. O’Donnell has 27 years of experience in advising international groups on the design and implementation of global tax strategies.

Work highlights from the research period include advice given by indirect tax specialist Thibaut Boulangé to a client in relation to a litigation case before the administrative court regarding a challenge brought by the Luxembourg tax authorities. 

Staffing changes during the research period include the addition of François-Paul Patin who joined the firm as director of international and corporate tax. Lionel Van Der Noot and Silvin Leibengut also joined the firm as directors of indirect tax. 

Client feedback

“Work was well coordinated and response was provided in a timely manner.”

“For corporate tax and legal services, excellent responsiveness, straight to the point advice, quick turnaround of the advice with time pressures of the deal.”

“ATOZ are very reactive and provide a high-quality service.”

International firm Baker McKenzie's tax team has partners experienced in handling international tax planning, transfer pricing and corporate restructuring matters for a clients in a range of industries.

The tax group works closely with Baker McKenzie's other departments in Luxembourg and benefits from the firm’s focus on banking and finance, corporate and asset management matters.

Staffing changes during the research period include the departure of tax principal André Pesch and senior tax managers Arnaud Lebrave and Emilie Mattos.

Deloitte in Luxembourg has 30 partners and over 460 professionals advising on the complete spectrum of tax services.

Highlight work from the research period includes advice given by VAT partner Raphaël Glohr on the impact of a recent CJEU case on a client. Tax partner Christian Bednarczyk meanwhile has advised a client on the structuring of leasing activities and financing activities. 

Staffing changes include the addition of cross-border tax partner Anne-Catherine.

International law firm Dentons’s tax practice has grown over the last year and the firm now has about 90 dedicated tax lawyers and professionals in 12 jurisdictions across Europe advising clients in a range of industry sectors. The tax team in Luxembourg focuses on cross-border transactional tax and litigation.

Frédéric Feyten is head of the tax practice in Luxembourg and last year advised on the tax aspects of the sale of a Dublin-based aircraft lessor. The firm has also advised on the tax aspects of a number of acquisitions over the last year. 

Client feedback

“The firm is able to quickly deliver solid advice and to implement it in an efficient way.”

DLA Piper's Luxembourg tax team is particularly known for its expertise in the alternative fund industry including work related to private equity, real estate and fund formation.

Over the last year partner Geoffrey Scardoni led the team in the structuring of a fund platform for a pan-European real estate company. The team also provided tax advice on the restructuring of multiple real estate acquisitions for a client.

The EMEIA Tax Center at EY is organised as a supranational entity covering the entire Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA) region, with its Intercompany Effectiveness and operational transfer pricing practice serving clients’ needs across all jurisdictions.

Led by Oslo-based partner Sveinung Baumann-Larsen, it brings together multi-disciplinary experience and resources focused on IT, accounting, and tax from the entire region in its work. This work covers some of the leading global companies in their respective fields and includes those involved in retail and consumer products, energy and pharmaceuticals, to name but a few.

IF Group is an independent member of Baker Tilly’s global network.

The firm has benefited from and developed a number of innovative tax products such as Baker Tilly Global Tax Solutions. The firm manages large portfolios of international groups investing in real estate properties through Luxembourg companies.   

During the research period the firm provided VAT analysis for a leading company in the import and export space. The firm also provided inheritance planning for a client that held a familial group of companies in Luxembourg.

The tax team at KPMG in Luxembourg is led by Georges Bock who focuses on the financial sector and provides ongoing tax advice to groups active in this sector, as well as providing corporate tax advice in the banking, insurance and investment fund sectors. 

During the research period the team provided tax advice for a client on a restructuring case. In the last 12 months the team has also provided advice on the Luxembourg tax aspects of the structuring and financing of an acquisition including Luxembourg tax due diligence.

The tax team at Loyens & Loeff is led by Frank van Kuijk and Jochem van der Wal. 

The team offers clients the full range of services, including advance tax rulings, compliance, transfer pricing and VAT. The tax practice focuses on areas including corporate tax, IP rights, holding structures, investment platforms and corporate reorganisations. 

During the research period Willem Bon re-joined the firm from EY four years after departing. 

Other changes saw senior tax adviser Rafaël Moll De Alba leave the firm for Charles Russell Speechlys. Senior tax adviser Anke Schrijer also left the firm.

The tax team at Simmons & Simmons advises on a full range of corporate tax matters, including M&A tax planning, international group structuring, financial transaction tax support, exchange of information (FATCA and CRS) for financial institutions and tax matters related to private equity and real estate funds.

During the research period tax partner Pierre-Regis Dukmedjian led the team advising on the constitution of a fund for the acquisition of insurance claims. The team also provided tax and corporate advice regarding the sale of a UK subsidiary.

Tiberghien is a boutique focusing on tax and family law. With more than 90 lawyers, the firm is one of the largest independent tax practices in Benelux and acts on a range of tax matters for corporate, private and institutional clients. 

During the research period partner Claudine Bodeux led the team advised on the tax elements of a due diligence exercise in both Belgium and the Netherlands for a client. The firm also acted as tax and accounting adviser to a consortium participating in the tender process for a large PPP project in the Walloon region in Belgium.

During the research period partner Bruno Cardoen from the Dauginet tax team. On the other side partner Robby Ackermans left the firm.

TS & P is a boutique law firm founded in early 2018 by Torsten Schmitt and André Pesch to provide bespoke high-quality corporate and tax advice. TS & P has in its team many former Baker McKenzie Luxembourg tax practitioners who joined along with André Pesch.

During the research period the team acted as adviser on a high-value transactional tax matter. The team is also providing Luxembourg tax advice relating to various real estate deals in Italy, UK and Austria.

Client feedback

“The firm is very responsive and very knowledgeable of the Luxembourg tax environment. The firm has its finger on the pulse of the law changes and the impact on our company.”

“Strong tax expertise and risk awareness.”

The tax team at Van Campen Liem is composed of three partners, one senior associate and two experienced associates with experience in international tax. The team specialises in structuring complex cross-border investments and tax due diligence procedures, covering both direct and indirect taxation.

During the research period partner Raffaele Gargiulo led a team in designing a full fund structure including tax elements and preparing all legal documents regarding the implementation of a new fund for a client. The team also acted as lead tax and legal counsel on the restructuring of a Czech real estate business of a high net worth family.