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By Claus Herfort and Martin Seevers, PricewaterhouseCoopers

A monthly commentary on the notable facts, figures and goings-on in the tax world, so called to give you a gentle exit from International Tax Review each month

By Jack Grocott

Hugues Salomé In a recent referendum, citizens of the Swiss canton of Vaud accepted a decrease of the tax burden for corporations in line with the latest federal corporate tax reform, as well as other measures for individual residents. The new rules will retroactively come into force as of January 1 2009.

Justice Nicholas Warren Mr Justice Warren has been appointed president of the Finance and Tax Chamber at the higher level of newly reformed tribunals system in the UK. The regime is the first rung of judicial proceedings in Britain in areas such as tax, and consists of a First Tier and an Upper Tribunal, which the Finance and Tax Chamber is part of.

Sam Shi KPMG's US-China practice has appointed Sam Shi as its new director. He is based in New York.

Richard Winston Richard Winston is joining K&L Gates as a partner in its Miami office. He joins from Hughes Hubbard & Reed and advises multinational clients on tax planning in Latin America.

There is still plenty of appetite for M&A activity in these troubled economic times. Transactions may be more strategic as companies seek out ways to reorganise and restructure in the deepening recession, but they are still happening. Tax is playing an important role in how and where these reorganisations occur as effective structures can mitigate risk and tax liability. Faced with such a globalised business landscape, tax authorities must make sure their tax laws are fit for purpose. Wiser tax administrations have changed legislation to take advantage of the economic downturn. But they are under pressure to collect revenue as companies look for ways to save money. Tax executives need to consider these new tax laws before and during transactions and they need specialist M&A tax advice. The latest edition of International Tax Review's M&A tax yearbook, co-published with BMR Advisors, Ernst & Young, Eurofast, Gowling Lafleur Henderson, Magisters, Pepeliaev, Goltsblat & Partners, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Slaughter and May, offers such specialist advice. The guide is the 47th in the magazine's Tax Reference Library which has been designed to give in-house tax counsel and directors the most cutting-edge advice for planning their corporation's tax strategy in a range of practice areas. The laws in India need a total overhaul. They lack the sophistication needed to deal with today's fragile market, says BMR Advisors.

By Tim Wach, Gowling Lafleur Henderson

Sead Dado Salkovic The Cyprus – Qatar double taxation agreement was concluded between May 22 – 27 2007 and subsequently approved by the Council of Ministers on August 27 2008. The agreement was signed by the Cypriot minister of finance on behalf of the government on the November 11 2008, and countersigned by the minister of finance of Qatar upon ratification. Qatar ratified the treaty on January 26 2009.