Exchange Chambers

Exchange Chambers

Barristers

George Rowell

George Rowell

Exchange Chambers, North West

Work Department

Commercial

Position

Practice Areas

George is a commercial barrister specialising in tax disputes, professional negligence and insolvency. He combines heavy-weight advocacy experience with in-depth tax and commercial knowledge.

Professional Negligence

George is routinely instructed as sole or leading junior counsel in multi-million pound claims against accountants, tax advisers, IFAs and solicitors. He has a particular interest in claims arising from negligent tax and financial advice and failed property investment schemes.

Tax Disputes

George “cut his teeth” in-house with HMRC before moving to independent practice. He represented HMRC as a member of the Attorney-General’s Panel between 2008-2021 but now concentrates on advising businesses and private clients. His main areas of expertise are employment-related taxes, CGT, IHT, VAT, judicial review, avoidance schemes and penalties.

Insolvency

George is routinely instructed as sole or leading junior counsel in multi-million pound proceedings against directors and shareholders. He has a particular interest in cases with overlapping tax and insolvency issues, such as misfeasance claims arising from failed tax avoidance schemes.

Examples of recent cases:

- £20m negligence claim against promoter of EBT tax scheme

- £10m bribery and negligence claim against accountants and solicitors in respect of 14 tax schemes

- Defending £5m misfeasance claim against directors who used an EBT tax scheme.

- Acting for liquidators in £2m misfeasance claim against directors who used failed tax schemes

- £5m claim against solicitors over defective share purchase agreement

- Acting for investors challenging management of insolvent pension administrator with £1.3bn assets under management

Publications

Co-author of Tax Penalties: A Practitioner’s Guide (Sweet & Maxwell; 1st edn 2017; 2nd edn, 2019); former consultant editor of Simon’s Taxes.

Career

Magdalen College, Oxford (MA Oxon); City University, London (MA in Law)

Call: 2004

Mentions

Northern Circuit • Regional Bar

Chancery, probate, and tax

Leading junior2
George Rowell – Exchange Chambers ‘George is insanely talented. The depth and breadth of his knowledge is utterly remarkable , and he is a real fighter who is unwaveringly committed to his client’s cause and will work with his instructing solicitors to ensure the right outcome is achieved.’
Northern Circuit • Regional Bar

Company and insolvency

Leading junior1
George Rowell – Exchange Chambers ‘George is a confident and skilled advocate. He is extremely bright, clear, and concise, and he is a standout barrister in tax and insolvency-related matters.'
Northern Circuit • Regional Bar

Professional negligence

Leading junior1
George Rowell – Exchange Chambers ‘George is insanely talented; the depth and breadth of his knowledge is utterly remarkable and unsurpassed by any other counsel. He is unwaveringly committed to his clients’ cause and his advocacy is ruthlessly prepared.’