Singapore

Sunit Chhabra and Lim Pek Bur are the key tax partners at Allen & Gledhill. They specialise in tax advisory and dispute resolution. Its practice covers tax advisory, structuring and planning and dispute resolution. In addition, the team assists clients with complex legal, commercial and financial arrangements. Its clients cover a wide range of sectors such as financial institutions, business trusts, real estate investment trusts, private equity and hedge fund managers.

One recent example of the firm’s work saw it assisting the Ayala Corporation on the issue of US$400 million 3.90% guaranteed undated notes due 2026 under its US$2 billion multicurrency debt issuance programme. Other clients include The Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore Press Holdings, and Astrea 7.

Allen Tan and Dawn Quek are two key practitioners at Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. It is the Singapore branch of the Baker McKenzie network. Its practice includes international tax planning, tax controversy, wealth management and indirect tax and trade. Its transfer pricing team supports services such as transfer pricing planning, implementation, documentation and audit defense.

Details of the firm’s work and clients remain confidential.

The team welcomed Luke Tanner as of counsel and Chris Newman as director of economics during the research period. Before joining the team, Tanner worked at Deloitte Tohmatsu Tax and Newman at VISA.

Client feedback

“They put the client's interest as a top priority.”

“Knowledgeable expertise. Ability to provide good advice supported by technical grounds.”

“High degree of technical competence and networking within the jurisdiction.”

“Very knowledgeable in this specific specialised area and able to present potential pitfalls and provide strategies to deal with the dispute with the tax authority.”

“Client focused and practical.”

“BM is very aware of the objective of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) queries and is able to advise what the client needs to provide to the IRAS so that the IRAS is able to complete their assessments. Allen Tan and Lee Shih Hui are very patient when addressing our concerns and are able to provide insights which are very much appreciated.”

“In depth technical skills supporting arguments with tax cases.”

BDO Tax Advisory has been an independent member firm of BDO International since 1979, one of the largest professional services firms in the world. It offers a broad range of fully integrated tax services with in-depth knowledge of both Singapore and international taxation. It has a dedicated transfer pricing team, offering services including advisory, dispute resolution and compliance. Evelyn Lim is the head of tax and she oversees the business tax and international tax practice.

The BDO team recently acted as corporate tax advisor to a client based in Korea and advised on its inbound investment. Work included assisting the client in evaluating its structure options and profit repatriation alternatives. In addition, the team continued to support the client and helped to meet its ongoing corporate income tax reporting obligations.

Nelson Tan joined the team as executive director during the research period. He is experienced in handling Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore tax audits and providing investigation advisory services.

The team at Deloitte Singapore provide services using a local approach, a global or regionally coordinated approach, or a centralised approach to increase efficiency and control over activities. Low Hwee Chua is the Singapore tax leader and the regional managing partner for Southeast Asia tax and legal. He has over 30 years of experience in taxation services, including two years with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

Details of the firm’s clients and recent work remain confidential.

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson is the oldest and one of the largest full-service firms in Singapore. It has a broad-based tax practice that covers advice on all domestic taxes in Singapore (including individual and corporate income tax, GST, stamp duty, etc.), as well as international tax issues from a Singapore perspective. It provides tax advice and related consulting services for a very wide range of business sectors, from finance, real estate, technology, manufacturing to shipping, and many others. Edmund Leow SC leads the tax practice.

Details of the firm’s work and clients remain confidential.

Client feedback

“The firm's global network is unparalleled and its ability to provide cross-border, multi-jurisdictional advice is greatly appreciated. The team is Singapore is helmed by Edmund Leow, who is a leading tax and trust professional in the space. He advises clients on complex tax issues in the private client context with ease and is able to provide commercial and realistic solutions.”

“Commercial-minded, responsive, knowledgeable and user-friendly.”

“They listen proactively, are accommodating and very fast in responding.”

“They have a can-do approach and deliver fast and very high quality.”

DLA Piper has expanded its tax practice into Singapore with strategic partner hire in Singapore. Barbara Voskamp, the new tax partner, specializes in international tax and focuses on tax structuring, corporate implementation, and transactional work. The team continued the development of specialized tax practices such as executive compensation, private banking, and personal tax planning. In addition, it also supports its international transfer pricing teams by working closely together.

The team also welcomed Anne Klaassen as the new tax consultant in 2023.

GSM Law is a boutique firm offering advisory services in the areas of corporate and individual income taxation, property tax, stamp duties and tax investigation and audit. It is also capable of advising on tax planning and structuring, wealth and succession planning and M&A matters. Partner Gurbachan Singh is one of the key practitioners in the team. Gurbachan covers areas of tax advice, GST, digital tax and property tax. Another key partner Ban Su Mei covers private client matters.

Details of the firm’s work and clients remain confidential.

The team specialises in corporate tax consulting, planning and compliance, deal advisory, global indirect tax services and transfer pricing services. It also covers the practice of tax dispute resolution and controversy and US tax services. Ajay Kumar Sanganeria leads the tax practice. He is an expert in international taxation. Felicia Chia leads the transfer pricing practice. She supports internal training and regularly speaks on global transfer pricing at seminars.

One recent case study showed that the team led by Lee Bo Han served as the tax consultant and assisted a leading payment technology company in preparing its R&D tax claims for submission to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

The team expanded during the research period by adding Andy Baik and Nicole Li as partner and principal advisor, respectively. Partners Lam Kok Shang and Leonard Ong retired from the team in the same period.

Vikna Rajah is the head of the tax department at Rajah & Tann. He focuses his practice on tax and trust. The tax team has been engaged by sovereign wealth funds, multinationals, Big Four accounting firms, and Fortune 100 companies. It has built a strong connection with the firm’s M&A and banking and financial departments in cross-border transactions. It also advises multinationals and high-net-worth individuals on income tax, GST, stamp duty and tax treaties regarding various transactions, including tax-efficient Singapore-based holding structures for the worldwide operating subsidiaries of multinationals.

One recent case study showed that Vikna Rajah led the team and advised a real estate investment trust on tax structuring alternatives in a S$2.16 billion acquisition of two Singapore shopping malls.

RBA Group is an advisory firm. It supports clients by providing accounting, tax, and consulting services. The team consists of accountants, tax advisors and lawyers and is based in offices across Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam. Pierre Vanrenterghem is the key practitioner in the local team. He specialises in corporate tax, transfer pricing and fund administration and structuring. Berangere Bassen is the key tax advisor, covering international tax law and Singapore tax law practices.

One recent example of the firm’s work saw it advising Lamudi Services on tax regulation for individuals working overseas for a Singapore-based company, tax residence and tax filing obligation in Singapore.

Client feedback

“They are able to produce a comprehensive tax computation.”

“RBA, and Pierre Vanrenterghem in particular, provides our group with advice on international and local tax planning, tax compliance, as well as tax-related structuring work and general accounting assistance. RBA are proactive and knowledgeable.”

RSM Singapore is a member of RSM International, an international network of independent audit, tax, and consulting firms. The network is connected globally and locally with offices across the Americas, Europe, MENA, Africa and Asia Pacific. The Singapore team headed by Koh Puay Hoon provides a wide range of tax practices such as cross-border investments and tax planning, corporate tax compliance and personal tax services, tax investigation and audit. Joanna Lam and William Chua are the key partners and cover transfer pricing and corporate and international tax areas respectively.

One recent example of the firm’s work saw it assisting a client in resolving and obtaining a bilateral advance pricing arrangement that involved US$1.6 million in tax savings.

The team recently added Law Wei Lin as the director for corporate and international tax practice. Partner Thomas Chan left the firm during the research period.

Client feedback

“Attentive and professionally managed the tax queries.”

Taxise Asia is the Singapore member firm of the WTS Global international network of tax practitioners. Founded in 2019, it is a specialist international tax, international trade, and transfer pricing law firm with a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together the combined expertise of seasoned practitioners, in-house professionals, tax lawyers, tax accountants, economists, former tax officials and academics. Eugene Lim and Irving Aw are the key practitioners in the team.

Details of the firm’s clients and recent work remain confidential.

During the research period Molvin You, who previously led the transfer pricing practice left the team for Baker Tilly Singapore, joined the team. In the same period, Adnan Begic joined as a transfer pricing specialist.

Client feedback

“Our partner at Taxise Asia is extremely knowledgeable, hardworking and prompt.”

“Practical, implementable solutions. Approachable for non-legal/financial people.”

“Subject matter knowledge is exceptional. Clear and concise communication.”

The Transfer Pricing Solutions group expanded its presence to Singapore. It works with clients’ teams and assists with providing advisory services, transfer pricing documentation and defending international-related party transactions. Adriana Calderon is the director and the technical lead in Singapore.

One recent case study showed that the team assisted a commodity trader in a transfer pricing audit. The work included reviewing queries by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, drafting and submitting the responses, and maintaining all communications with the authority.

Client feedback

“Their ability to always provide timely delivery never fails to impress. Client management and solutions provision is their forte. TPSA constantly updates and keeps their clients engaged with the latest TP happenings and webinars. They are usually contactable and available for a consult.”

“Adriana and her team are professional and knowledgeable; always deliver what they promise.”

Partner Eric Roose leads tax practice at Withers KhattarWong. He has more than 30 years of experience in international tax planning and corporate tax advisory matters. Other key practitioners include Fernando Gandioli and Stacy Choong. The team specialises in tax, trust and regulatory services. It has strength in various sectors such as funds and trusts, technology and blockchain, real estate, energy, natural resources and infrastructure.

During the research period, the team actively served as lead tax counsel for various clients, including the PAG Real Estate Property Fund III and FLOW Digital Infrastructure.