Baker McKenzie‘s department houses lawyers, economists and accountants, delivering ’strong technical expertise and awareness of commercial reality’. The group offers comprehensive support in contentious tax, covering indirect tax disputes, transfer pricing, state aid investigations, and corporation tax disputes. David Jamieson co-leads the team alongside Jessica Eden, with Jamieson focusing on contentious VAT matters, while Eden spearheads the corporate tax disputes offering. Patrick O’Gara is particularly adept in issues relating to DPT, with strength in the technology, pharmaceutical, and professional services sectors. Jukka Karjalainen leads on transfer pricing, with varied prior experience, which includes working in-house at a multinational mining corporation.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The leading tax team in London at the moment.’

  • ‘Jessica Eden is pre-eminent and gives good, technically able, advice.’

  • ‘Baker McKenzie have deep expertise across international indirect tax matters, enabling them to advise on highly complex issues from legislative positions through to authority engagement and litigation strategy.'

  • 'They have both strong technical expertise and awareness of commercial reality (not guaranteed in many law firms!). They are able to engage effectively at all levels of our organisation, from our operational teams through to the c-suite.’
  • ‘The Baker McKenzie team are hands-on, driven, and practical in approach - their ability to deep dive and look round corners in delivery of their advice is consistent.'

  • ‘Deep expertise in market and tax, quick delivery, out of the box, client focuses, feel like part of the team. ’

  • ‘Ability to adapt the business needs is outstanding compared to other law firms.’

Key clients

  • Core Media
  • Electronic Arts
  • European Tyre Enterprise Limited
  • Hutchison 3G Limited
  • Marriott
  • MDU (Medical Defence Union Limited)
  • Thames Television
  • The Prudential Assurance Company Limited
  • Takeda
  • UK Power Networks

Work highlights

  • Advised the Kwik-Fit Group on a long running dispute with HMRC concerning whether a restructuring of the group’s inter-company balances gives rise to an unallowable purpose for the existing receivables.
  • Represented Prudential in the Upper Tribunal in November 2022. The case concerned the VAT treatment of investment management services.
  • Acted for Thomson Reuters Corporation in a Judicial Review of HMRC's decision to issue Diverted Profits Tax Notices in contravention of an Advanced Pricing Agreement.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

David Jamieson, Jessica Eden  

Other key lawyers

Patrick O’Gara, Jukka Karjalainen