Partner Mathew McKay leads tax practice at Bell Gully. It is involved in various tax services such as corporate transactions, private clients, indirect tax and customs matters. It has a diverse range of significant corporate, banking and finance and property transactions that require advice from the tax team. In addition, the team has a strong relationship with New Zealand Revenue Department, in order to provide better disputes and litigation practice.

One recent example of the firm’s work saw it assisting Vodafone New Zealand in the sale of its passive mobile tower business for $1.7 billion. It advised the client on all tax aspects of the transaction, including transaction structure, providing tax drafting input into all key contracts, and liaising with bidders. 

Client feedback 

“Deep understanding of law and regulation, pragmatic approach, personal connections to essential legal and regulatory authorities, deep bench of talented folks, direct engagement by senior partners, availability, timeliness and superb work ethic. Expensive by the hour but cost-effective when results are considered!” 

“Attentive with good service levels. Commercially savvy.” 

“Bell Gully has a strong corporate / transactional practice and its lawyers are user-friendly.”

The tax and business advisory practice at Deloitte New Zealand delivers fully integrated tax services to clients. In addition, it works with the Inland Revenue officials to improve the technical and practical efficacy of New Zealand’s tax policy environment. Specialist partners Melanie Meyer and Bart de Gouw lead the transfer pricing team. It also drives discussions with the authority regarding BEPS issues and assists in shaping the direction of transfer pricing in New Zealand. 

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

The team welcomed two associate directors Emma McGachie and Katarina Jovanovic during the research period. 

Client feedback 

“Deloitte has a strong tax team across all sub-specialties.”

David Johnston leads tax practice at DLA Piper. He has more than 20 years of experience in transactions and dispute service both in New Zealand and the UK. The team advises on a wide range of tax matters, ranging from inward and outward investment, private equity deals, structuring for corporate and real estate acquisitions and disposals and transfer pricing planning and documentation through to executive and employee compensation packages. 

One of the work highlights was an acquisition project handled by David Johnston. He headed the team and assisted BlackRock with its acquisition of 100% of the shares in solarZero. The work included the negotiation of tax clauses, cross-border tax structuring and tax structuring of the management incentive arrangements to retain key management personnel post-deal. 

The EY law tax practice team has an extensive technical understanding of all tax types, including customs duties, and specialises in handling complex cross-border tax issues, BEPS matters and MAPs. The indirect tax practice team consists of professionals with specialist skills in technology and data management, and also has a strong legislative background. Tori Sullivan is the key tax partner in the team. 

Sullivan and the team recently represented Anderson & O’Leary in a tax dispute. They represented the client in the initial independent review stage and the District and High Court, alongside Jenny Cooper QC in the High Court. The dispute is still ongoing, and the team will be representing the client in the Court of Appeal in 2023. 

Senior Associate Jonathan Choie left for EY Singapore during the research period.

Mayne Wetherell established its tax practice in 2021. It covers areas such as tax disputes, M&A transactions, high net worth individuals and family tax advisory, customs and excise matters advisory, and tax law reform matters. Brendan Brown, Chris Harker and Tim Stewart are the leading professionals in the team.

One of the case studies showed that the team served as a tax counsel to Spark New Zealand in an acquisition project that involved NZ$900 million. The work included advising on tax structuring and documentation and leading negotiations on tax matters with counsel for OTPP.

Client feedback 

“Excellent communicators and masters of making the complex clear and understandable.” 

“By accessing senior expert staff (partner level) directly, we were given concise advice very quickly. Advice is provided with clarity and confidence and very transparent signaling of risk aspects (from a tax authority likelihood of challenge) and level of this risk.” 

“The team are commercial, responsive and a pleasure to work with. They are the standout transactional team in NZ from our perspective.” 

“Highly competent, commercial, very responsive, quick, clear, articulate.” 

“Understanding the nature of the transaction and explaining the merits of the position to offshore counsel.” 

“Clear, accurate commercially focused advice. Delivered on time under tight deadlines.” 

“Very good at communicating very technical matters in practical and easy to understand language. Consider the wider context of tax transactions / matters, not just the point in front of them.” 

Fred Ward and Greg Neill are the key partners in tax practice at Russell McVeagh. Its practice covers direct and indirect taxation and provides services related to various areas such as M&A, customs and excise, transfer pricing, tax investigations and disputes. It participates in all tax reform processes, including appearing before parliamentary committees and making representations at the ministerial level. Its clients include ANZ, BNZ, ASB Bank and Kiwibank. 

A team led by Neill recently served as lead legal advisors to QIC Private Capital in its acquisition of 50% of Vector Limited's New Zealand and Australian metering business. In addition, it worked with Herbert Smith Freehills to provide Australian legal advice in this matter. 

Client feedback 

“Provide clear definitive advice, within the timeframes required.” 

“Very efficient in providing advice and meeting deadlines. Clearly articulate complex issues and considerations in a manner that can be easy interpreted by a non-specialist. Strong subject matter experts. Collegial when working with other advisors.” 

“Good practical advice addressing the particular issue requested.” 

“Very prompt advice and very clear and precise written opinions.” 

“High quality and good value taxation advice.” 

“Prompt turnaround, good technical analysis.” 

“High profile partner with recognised expert knowledge.”