England - London • Dispute resolution

Macfarlanes LLP

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‘One of the most professional and respected tax litigation teams in the market’, the Macfarlanes LLP team provides comprehensive support, with expertise in both direct and indirect tax disputes. Lead partner Gideon Sanitt has experience at all levels of the UK and European Courts and acts for both high-profile individuals and corporate clients. Sanitt is supported by senior counsel Ben Webster, who is a solicitor advocate with experience in disputes with HMRC, judicial review cases, and disputes between taxpayers. Senior associate Sophie Rhind joined the department from HMRC in 2021 and brings key expertise in judicial review matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team has a deep knowledge of tax matters and a tactical approach to case management. They are very approachable and help us to manage matters in a way which is focused on results.'
  • 'Ben Webster and Gideon Sanitt have been excellent. Their depth of experience has served us well. I trust their judgement implicitly and feel that they are working with us at all times to get the best result for us.'
  • 'Their output is high quality and comprehensive. Unlike other advisers, their first draft advice needs little input: They've clearly grasped the factual position and fully applied the law to the facts to produce a note that is full and clear.'
  • 'Gideon Sanitt has an impressive ability to create a clear picture from a complex factual and technical position. He comes across as very knowledgeable, with a wealth of relevant experience of disputes with HMRC to draw on.'
  • 'Macfarlanes has one of the most professional and respected tax litigation teams in the market. They are involved in a substantial amount of high-end work in both corporate and private client markets.'
  • 'Gideon Sanitt has a depth of real experience in litigation. Sophie Rhind recently arrived from HMRC and has a very good sense of what a tribunal will make of the client's case.'
  • 'Very responsive and hands-on, realistic and well-measured advice, highly experienced in all manner of litigation. A pleasure to work with.'
  • 'Stellar knowledge. Superb tacticians. A real class act. Safe pair of hands. Exactly who you want in your corner in a crisis. Cool under pressure.'

Key clients

  • Royal Mail Group
  • Odey Asset Management
  • HFFX LLP
  • CDC Administration

Work highlights

  • Advised Odey Asset Management and a number of its individual members on a dispute with HMRC regarding the tax impact of a historic incentivisation and retention mechanism for key partners.
  • Advised Royal Mail in the group litigation brought against it involving circa 300 claimants.
  • Advised HFFX LLP and a number of its individual members on a dispute with HMRC regarding its Capital Allocation Plan.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Gideon Sanitt

Other key lawyers

Sebastian Prichard Jones, Ben Webster, Sophie Rhind, Jackelyn West