Tax

A&O Shearman’s tax team is a market leader in domestic and international tax matters. 

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We advise our clients across the business cycle, helping them design tax strategies; manage the tax implications of a range of financing, capital markets, and corporate transactions; handle financial restructurings and insolvencies; and deal with tax investigations and disputes.

Our clients rely on our expertise at every stage of their investments, from early planning through to successful conclusion.

Deep tax expertise in corporate transactions  

We work with our corporate clients on the tax aspects of their capital raisings and deployments; M&A transactions, IPOs, carve outs, spin-offs, joint ventures and disposals; and when they return value to their shareholders.  

We also provide tailored, pragmatic solutions to the complex issues that arise in private equity transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, refinancings, restructurings, and exits.  

Trusted tax advisor to the world’s leading financial institutions 

We are a trusted advisor to the world’s leading financial institutions whether they are raising funds, providing finance or making investments. We have deep expertise in complex multijurisdictional transactions including bilateral and syndicated loans, cross-border and domestic financial products and asset finance deals (from aviation to shipping, rail and commercial property).  

Experience of complex capital-raising and financing transactions 

Our team works hand-in-hand with our top-tier capital markets practice to advise on the tax treatment of structured finance facilities, bond issuances, regulatory capital transactions, corporate hybrids, repackagings, CLOs, derivatives transactions, complex securitizations and Islamic finance deals. 

Integrated tax advice for private capital firms 

We advise fund managers on the optimal tax structure for their investment vehicles, ongoing tax compliance, and the tax aspects of their investments and exits. Our team advises across the spectrum of investment strategies and asset classes, from infrastructure to regulated funds, unregulated alternative investment funds, real estate (including public and private REITs), private equity, private credit, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds. 

We also help institutional investors design and negotiate the terms of their investment into funds and other investment structures, from “managed accounts” to minority stakes.  

Advice on financial restructurings and insolvencies 

Our team handles the tax aspects of large-scale insolvency and restructuring matters, including contingency planning; debt refinancings; distressed acquisitions and sales; credit bidding and out-of-court refinancings; and formal insolvency processes. Our lawyers are regularly involved in government-led consultation exercises in relation to tax and insolvency, and we use our insights for the benefit of our clients facing distress.  

Advice on tax litigation and investigations 

We support organizations in all sectors facing tax investigations and disputes. We have extensive experience advising on information requests; responding to enquiries; managing tax audits; transfer-pricing challenges; mutual agreement procedure (MAP) and arbitration processes; and managing ongoing relationships with local tax authorities.

Our lawyers have a track record of successfully litigating tax cases before courts and tribunals, as well as negotiating settlements and resolutions with tax authorities. 

Real estate tax advice 

We advise our clients on real estate transactions which often involve complex tax issues, especially when they cross borders or involve multiple parties and financing sources. Our real estate tax team has the experience and commercial acumen to advise on all tax aspects of these transactions to both optimize returns and minimize risks.  

Energy and infrastructure projects 

Our tax team draws on the expertise gained from advising project sponsors and banks to help them navigate the tax complexities of some of the most high-profile energy and infrastructure projects in the world.  

Indirect tax expertise 

Our indirect tax team advises businesses and individuals on compliance with the complex and evolving rules and regulations around indirect tax regimes, with a particular focus on VAT. 

Meet our teams

Our lawyers have the skills and experience to handle our clients' most complex challenges. Meet them below.

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