Tax

Our tax practice has an excellent reputation when it comes to advising clients on the tax implications of major transactions. Working closely with our corporate and M&A teams, we advise on all tax issues relating to mergers, acquisitions, divestments, and joint ventures, as well as on large-scale real estate deals for foreign and domestic investors. ...This includes creating tax-optimised target structures (mergers), structuring acquisitions and disposals, advising on acquisition financing, and developing employee stock option plans. When it comes to restructuring financially distressed companies, we advise clients on all tax aspects of debt consolidation and debt relief.

A major part of our work involves advising on the planning and implementation of corporate and group restructurings, such as spin-offs, split-ups, hive-downs, and mergers. Tax issues usually play a dominant role in this regard, as new structures must be tax-efficient and changes to existing ones should avoid triggering new tax obligations. ...Cross-border restructurings are especially challenging. We also have specialist expertise in advising on complex restructurings in the public sector.

Advising clients on VAT has become a key focus of our practice. We develop workable and efficient solutions to complex problems and assist clients with national and cross-border supply and service relationships. We advise on a fast-growing number of compliance cases, both in prevention and in defence.

Our tax lawyers have extensive experience in succession planning. We advise on the transfer of businesses and assets to next-generation family members or foundations/trusts as well as issues of relocation and multiple domiciles. We take a structured approach to creating the most economic, legally sound, and tax-efficient business succession solutions and strategies for the transfer of private assets. ...We have special expertise in cross-border matters and the relocation of business owners abroad, as well as in questions regarding non-profit organisations. We work closely with lawyers from other areas, in particular from our corporate practice, to deliver tailored solutions and seamless client service.

In difficult cases such as complex tax audits, we represent clients in appeals to the tax authorities and courts, all the way up to the German Supreme Tax Court. If there is suspicion of a tax offence, tax auditors will quickly call in tax investigators. We provide preemptive support in situations requiring the disclosure of information, on ongoing tax audits, and where tax investigators are already involved. ...This requires discreet and reliable advice on the relevant tax liabilities and criminal consequences.

We pride ourselves on our strong international focus and have established a trusted and flexible network of tax experts across all key jurisdictions. In Europe we are part of a tightly woven network of leading independent law firms. In the US we have a broad base of premiere law firms – in New York in particular – with whom we frequently collaborate on transactional and succession-related issues.