Tax
Our taxation solicitors are up to date with how UK law affects corporation tax, mergers, acquisitions and company restructuring. You can rely on us for great tax property tax planning advice.
What is involved with tax law?
Our highly experienced tax law team provides commercially led advice on a comprehensive range of tax issues. We work closely with other practice areas to provide a full legal service to our clients.
We are recognised as leaders in the structuring and facilitation of tax efficient investment and funding structures (including EIS, private equity and UK and offshore debt arrangements), restructuring and refinancing (of UK and international groups, in particular, some notable insolvent restructuring and refinancing work), initial public offerings, exit planning (including large trade sales, private equity and sales to employee ownership trusts) and negotiating the tax contents of transactional documents. The tax team has also established a high-quality practice advising on the tax and legal structuring of private equity and co-investment funds.
Our property tax law offering is widely acknowledged and respected for complex real estate tax and investment structuring, acting routinely on foreign property holding structures, forward funding transactions, development structures such as of student accommodation, retirement villages and build to rent projects as well as global property investments with a focus on tax efficient structuring of UK investment and subsidiary businesses.
We are highly experienced advisers in the employment sphere including EMI, SIP and other schemes for UK and multinational business.
The tax law team has grown a strong reputation for the handling of contentious tax matters, including a number of HMRC enquiries, investigations and disputes, where we aim to adopt a pragmatic and commercial approach, successfully defending taxpayers in a number of complex cases.
Adrian Hackett
Partner & Chartered Tax Advisor
Our accreditations
We are celebrating another year of accreditations and rankings.
Our taxation solicitors are up to date with how UK law affects corporation tax, mergers, acquisitions and company restructuring.
You can rely on us for great tax property tax planning advice – we are also experts on the structure of collective schemes. Freeths take an analytical yet commercial approach, supporting all types of corporate transactions as well as VAT, Stamp Duty and SDLT planning.
You can expect practical, pragmatic advice on all situations; from owner-managed business, private equity and unit trusts to properties and funds.
These may include exit strategies and offshore structuring, groups of companies, employment tax and remuneration planning (including redundancy).
Notable work
- Sale of portfolio of 50+ let commercial properties for circa £60 million, including advice on key VAT and capital allowance issues.
- Demerger of major student accommodation provider, including transfer of properties valued at £12.4 million to new company and onward transfer of that company. Freeths gave comprehensive tax advice on structuring given to ensure complete tax neutrality.
- Successfully appealed against HMRC decision to enforce a £200,000 movement guarantee facility against a leading international haulier.
- Conducted the landmark appeal of European Brand Trading Ltd versus HMRC to the Court of Appeal.
- Advising a non-UK resident on the tax implications of investing in UK commercial property with a view to residential development, giving advice on the most suitable structure for the project.
- Negotiated tax deeds entered into between an incoming corporate shareholder, outgoing shareholder and the target company, as part of a share purchase and subscription transaction.
- Advising on the Stamp Duty Land Tax implications of a client's acquisition of a £25 million+ residence and surrounding land, obtaining the client a tax liability saving of over £80,000.
- Designing and implementing an employee share option scheme which incorporated growth shares to provide tax efficient value based incentives to key senior executives in anticipation of sale.
- Successfully dealing with a formal enquiry raised by HMRC in relation to a transaction with a Stamp Duty Land Tax liability of £1.2 million.
- Helped structure and drafted the legal documents for an £8 million limited partnership aiming to alleviate the poverty premium.
- Successfully negotiated with HMRC to withdraw Follower Notice and APN penalities levied on our client in respect of a tax avoidance scheme. We also managed to secure a favourable settlement and payment plan for our client with HMRC.
Relevant insights
Testimonials
"They were able to support in complex tax matter not only answering abstract questions but also supporting in discussions with the tax office."
The Legal 500, 2025
"The team's strengths lie in their comprehensive understanding of complex tax codes and regulations, their proactive communication and strategic pl...
The Legal 500, 2025
"The Freeths team was incredibly hard-working, helpful, professional and patient. They went above and beyond the call of duty to explain everything...
The Legal 500, 2025
"The team at Freeths were made up of experienced individuals who added great value."
The Legal 500, 2025
“Freeths has a brilliant ability to advise on the full range of issues - it's a formidable tax team.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“It's a very helpful team who are always on hand to answer questions.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“The team has a lot of knowledge of handling complex tax cases.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Freeths clearly understand MTIC fraud, and all feedback is timely and clearly laid out.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
Meet the team
Claire Boyce
Partner & Chartered Tax Advisor
Adrian Hackett
Partner & Chartered Tax Advisor
Matthew Switzer
Director & Chartered Tax Advisor
Alex Angelides
Managing Associate & Chartered Tax Advisor
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