Tax

Our tax experts enable clients from multi-nationals to start-ups to minimise tax exposure and do business while complying with the UK's maze-like tax system. We offer advice on the full range of tax issues affecting corporates, including VAT, stamp duties and other specialist areas. Core areas of expertise include helping clients to structure corporate and commercial transactions such as share sales and joint ventures, financings, real estate transactions and investment funds in a tax-efficient way.  

Bristows’ tax team is fully integrated with the firm’s core practices and sectors. We advise on the tax rules relating to charities and not-for-profit bodies, employment packages, share schemes and strategies for businesses whose underpinning value lies in their technology or IP rights. We also have significant experience advising international clients, particularly in the U.S. and continental Europe, on cross-border issues.

Our recent experience includes:

• Advising world leading advertising group WPP on its acquisition of a leading research and marketing group in Central and West Africa which required advice on ‘umbrella’ arrangements, including global tax protection provisions
   
• Advising the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on the tax implications related to its landmark deal with U.S. owned international publisher SAGE in respect of the Institution's 18 world-renowned academic Journals
   
• Advising Swedish biotech company, Albireo, a spin-out from Astra Zeneca, on the final stage of its $40m financing by a syndicate of global healthcare investors led by Nomura Phase 4 Ventures
   
• Advising medical diagnostics specialists, Abingdon Health, on a joint venture and spin-out transaction with Birmingham University which created Bioscience Ventures Limited
   
• Advising Capgemini affiliate, Sogeti, on the acquisition of software testing specialist Vizuri, and on subsequent tax issues arising from the integration of the Vizuri business
   
• Advising LaSalle Investment Management on the establishment of the £200m Garden Centre Fund, the Fund's subsequent joint venture with the Wyevale Group and ongoing issues relating to the structure of the Fund