Highly regarded set with long experience of litigating major tax cases and providing high-value advisory work. Members act for the taxpayer and the Revenue in cases involving a wide variety of tax issues and are expert in such areas as transfer pricing, corporation tax and corporate reorganisations. Recent cases include Beagles v HMRC, an income tax appeal, and the case of Leekes in the Court of Appeal, which related to loss relief on a trade succession. Esteemed tax set with members expert in a host of indirect taxes including VAT, stamp duty, input tax and excise duty. Individuals act for and against the taxpayer in headline litigation and are also noted for their strong advisory practice. Other cases handled by them include Aria Technology Ltd v HMRC, an appeal against a decision to refuse recovery of input tax, and Karoulla v HMRC, an appeal on the grounds that new evidence be admitted in relation to a VAT assessment.

Client service: “It is a fantastic chambers manned by high-calibre barristers. The clerks are great, particularly Chris Broom, the senior clerk.”

David Goldberg KC
A hugely well-respected figure at the Tax Bar, held in high regard for his innovative arguments and technical acumen. He has incredible experience in the most complex tax cases.

Strengths: “Very intelligent, he’s a great litigator who it is a pleasure to work with.” “David has an encyclopaedic knowledge of tax law and adopts a thoughtful, intellectual and commercial approach to its application.”

Michael Flesch KC
Maintains a broad litigation and advisory practice covering the whole spectrum of tax-related issues. He specialises in big-ticket corporate transactions and offshore matters.

Strengths: “Highly experienced, very considered in his advice and always well prepared, he’s great to work with.”

Nicola Shaw KC
An eminent KC who is experienced in representing both the taxpayer and the Revenue in cases involving residence and domicile issues, the transfer of assets abroad and transfer pricing. She has represented clients at all levels of domestic courts and tribunals, including the Supreme Court, and has also taken cases to the ECJ. She has a broad practice that encompasses both direct and indirect tax expertise. Devoting a significant portion of her broad tax practice to indirect tax instructions, she regularly represents taxpayers and HMRC in contentious matters, particularly in the area of VAT. She acts for clients at every level of court including before the CJEU.

Strengths: “Pragmatic, client-friendly and incredibly smart, she’s really good at getting to the heart of the issue.” “Technically excellent, really thorough in the way she prepares a case and an amazing advocate.” “She’s absolutely fantastic with clients.”

Laurent Sykes KC
Recent silk with a corporate and employment tax litigation practice, who is active predominantly on the taxpayer side. He also has a solid advisory practice that caters to a number of leading corporate clients. He is admired for his knowledge of corporation tax and income tax.

Strengths: “Intelligent and responsive, he offers practical, tactical advice and complex legal analysis.” “He’s a very experienced tax barrister who is very commercially focused.”

Nikhil Mehta
An experienced practitioner who previously worked as a solicitor in London and a barrister in Mumbai. He carries out contentious and advisory work on behalf of corporate and private clients on matters as diverse as loss relief and corporate reorganisations. He continues to practise as an Indian tax advocate alongside his UK practice.

Strengths: “Very commercial in his approach and very quick-thinking, he’s particularly good in those situations where new facts are unearthed in a case.” “Extremely easy to work with, he consistently provides practical, commercial and technically excellent advice, both in relation to transaction matters and tax disputes with HMRC.”

Recent work: Acted for the taxpayer in a case in the Court of Appeal concerning loss relief on a trade succession.

Conrad McDonnell
Concentrates his practice on corporate tax issues, and is an expert in tax schemes, double tax treaties, and income and corporation tax. He is usually instructed on the taxpayer side.

Strengths: “Has superb analytical skills and is a pleasure to work with.””He is an excellent senior junior who is formidable in cases where there’s a

complex tax code that needs forensically dissecting.”

Michael Jones
A highly respected junior experienced in a broad range of tax issues, who has a focus on corporate and commercial matters, including shareholder taxation and employment tax issues. He is regularly instructed in high-value litigation both for the taxpayer and for HMRC.

Strengths: “A very talented junior who has a good eye for the strategy involved in litigation. He is very client-friendly, very hard-working and someone who gets involved in the detail of a case.” Receives strong praise from peers for his handling of indirect tax matters. He represents both the Revenue and the taxpayer in noteworthy cases involving VAT and stamp duty. “Brilliant” and “one of the most talented juniors at the Tax Bar.”

Michael Firth
Sought after for his advice and representation in challenging tax matters. His practice takes in cases relating to business tax, personal tax and indirect tax.

Strengths: “He is a super junior who has great technical skill.””He has the ability to look at the finer points and find alternatives that work.”

Recent work: Acted for the taxpayer in Beagles v HMRC, an income tax appeal concerning whether a discovery assessment can be stale.