Tax | UK

Freshfields is renowned as a key player in major tax matters on behalf of its impressive client base. It provides a full suite of services in areas including finance, TMT, real estate and energy. The team is noted for its corporate tax expertise as well as for its work in the private equity sphere. It stands out for its ability to advise on cross-border tax issues.

Kirkland & Ellis has a well-rounded practice with strength in investment fund structuring, restructuring and insolvency, and private equity transactions. Leading global asset managers form the main part of its client base, and the team regularly advises these clients on cross-border tax issues.

Macfarlanes is widely respected for the quality and breadth of its tax work. The team advises clients on a range of matters, with notable areas of expertise including restructuring and M&A. The team is best known for its standout expertise in relation to investment fund and private client-related tax issues. It is known for its adept handling of matters for clients in the real estate, financial services and media sectors.

Slaughter and May is a premier firm that is distinguished for the advice its tax team provides on private and public M&A. The team has additional experience in sophisticated financial transactions and general advisory work. Its noteworthy clientele is formed of multinational banks, corporates and insurance companies. The team also regularly advises the UK government and other public sector bodies on tax policy.

On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman. The firm enjoys a strong reputation across a broad range of corporate tax work including matters relating to M&A, capital markets and real estate. The team is renowned for its work with both banks and corporations on domestic and cross-border matters. Its large international network allows the team to service clients at a global level.

Ashurst is well reputed in the tax sphere for major transactional work and for acting on cross-border advisory matters. The team has broad expertise, which includes advice to asset managers on fund structuring, assistance with the tax aspects of high-value real estate transactions, and tax advice on large M&A mandates. It counts alternative asset managers and multinational corporations among its clientele.

The tax team is able to utilise Baker McKenzie's worldwide footprint to advise on high-value matters for global corporations. It has a proven track record in a wide range of corporate tax matters including M&A, restructurings and joint ventures. Also adept at advising on transfer pricing concerns as well as indirect tax. Broad sector expertise including finance, technology and media.

BCLP is highlighted for its coverage and commercial knowledge of tax matters for corporate clients. It has an excellent track record in the real estate space, representing property investors in both UK and cross-border deals. The team has additional expertise in real estate fund-related tax matters such as joint venture structuring. It is also notable for its ability to advise clients on their M&A activity.

Clifford Chance has a prominent tax group that regularly advises on big-ticket work for a diverse client base. The team has a full-service tax offering and can assist with everything from corporate transactions to restructuring and fund-related tax issues. The team works with a wide range of multinational clients from industries including banking and financial services, investment management and real estate.

Herbert Smith Freehills represents clients in a comprehensive range of direct and indirect tax matters, with experience in areas such as M&A, real estate and investment funds. It has notable experience advising clients from the energy and financial services sectors, including a large number of FTSE-listed companies. The team handles contentious and non-contentious matters both in the UK and internationally.

The tax team at Latham & Watkins advises on the full range of corporate tax work. In particular, the group stands out for its transactional work, regularly assisting clients with M&A, private equity and capital markets transactions. Notable for its ability to handle cross-border mandates, especially those with a US element.

Linklaters is held in high regard for its capable handling of high-profile corporate transactions both in the UK and internationally. The tax team has a breadth of experience and knowledge covering areas such as M&A, financing and restructuring. Clients hail from a broad range of sectors including finance and energy.

Proskauer Rose houses a well-regarded tax practice which is noted for its expertise in investment fund tax matters. In that space, the team works with leading sponsors on fund structuring across a range of asset classes. It regularly acts on cross-border issues, especially those requiring advice on US tax. It also advises clients across a range of corporate matters including M&A, private equity and restructuring.

Skadden focuses on advising clients on the tax elements of public M&A, especially those deals involving US tax issues. The team also works with clients on private equity deals and is highly proficient in cross-border transactions thanks to its established global network of offices. The tax team is experienced in acting for clients within the real estate, finance and technology sectors.

Travers Smith houses a well-regarded tax practice that focuses on the representation of asset managers and institutional investors in private equity-related transactions. The group is also adept at providing advice on the tax issues relating to investment funds. In addition to its PE work, the team also assists large corporates on matters including the tax structuring of M&A.

Debevoise & Plimpton's tax team is recognised for the strength of its funds-related work, regularly advising well-known asset managers on fund structuring and on investments and sales. The team is well placed to handle complex UK-US cross-border tax considerations as it contains US tax experts on the ground in London.

Hogan Lovells has a strong reputation for its experience advising on the full range of corporate tax matters, including M&A and capital markets. The tax team is notable for its transfer pricing expertise as well as its work on SDLT. Its clients are drawn from a wide range of sectors including healthcare, real estate, finance and pharmaceuticals.

The team at Norton Rose has extensive experience advising on a wide array of domestic and international tax matters including M&A activity, restructurings and refinancings. The team is able to advise on large, multi-jurisdictional matters through its large network of international offices, and it is noted for its diverse practice, which encompasses energy, telecommunications, and real estate and infrastructure expertise.

Weil's tax team is proficient in advising on a comprehensive range of corporate tax matters including M&A, securitisations, private equity deals and restructurings. It works on behalf of an impressive client roster, covering industries such as banking, financial services and energy, and has extensive experience advising on cross-border transactions.

Akin is best recognised for its tax advice on large restructuring mandates as well as its work in the investment funds space. Bondholders and other creditors come to the team for its ability to advise on cross-border tax issues, and investment fund clients seek the firm out for its ability to advise on fund structuring, as well as for advice on investments and disposals. The team also handles more general corporate and finance tax matters for blue-chip clients.

The tax team at Goodwin is well known for advising on high-value M&A and investment fund structuring. Its clients are drawn from a range of areas but the lawyers excel when working with those in the real estate and life sciences space. International tax issues are a strength, and the team is well placed to advise on these because of its global network of offices.

International tax matters are at the core of Ropes & Gray's practice, with standout expertise in US taxation. The team has significant experience providing advice to private equity groups on mergers, acquisitions, investments and joint ventures, among other areas.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett stands out for its expertise in investment fund-related tax and counts leading asset managers in its client base. The group works for those same clients on the tax aspects of corporate and capital markets transactions.

Cooley advises technology and life sciences clients on a broad range of corporate and financing tax issues. The team's client base is broad and includes startups and established companies, as well as investment funds. As well as UK tax expertise, the team has demonstrated strength working on US tax issues.

DLA Piper acts for an impressive set of clients including financial institutions and UK and international corporates. The team has extensive experience in relation to both direct and indirect tax matters, notably advising on real estate-related mandates as well as on VAT. Transfer pricing is another noted area of strength.

Gibson Dunn’s London tax team has a strong reputation for advising household-name corporates and alternative asset managers on difficult tax issues. Those clients seek the team out for advice on high-value M&A and financing deals. The firm is particularly noted for international tax matters and cross-border transactions or investments.

Greenberg Traurig is best known for its real estate expertise, and the London tax team regularly advises clients on real estate transactions and on investment fund structuring. The team also advises clients on corporate taxation relating to M&A and financing transactions.

McDermott Will & Emery houses a growing tax team that is establishing a reputation for its corporate tax work. M&A and restructuring are two areas of strength for the team.

Paul Hastings' tax team has a growing reputation in the London market. The group has many strings to its bow and is as comfortable advising on credit fund structuring as on capital markets or private equity transactions. It has an impressive client base that includes leading US-headquartered asset managers.

Pinsent Masons represents clients from the energy, infrastructure and financial services sectors in a full range of direct and indirect tax concerns. The team enjoys a sound profile for its skilled representation of clients in complex domestic and international matters, with particular expertise in advising on M&A-related tax.