Tax: Private Client

Pump Court Tax Chambers remains the pre-eminent set for private client tax work. The set's members handle some of the most significant tax litigation matters.

"Pump Court Tax Chambers has a wide range of barristers able to handle any matter. It also has good, proactive clerks."

"Pump Court Tax Chambers has a strong set of barristers, who are able to handle complex and sophisticated matters. Its barristers have a diverse range of strengths."

"The clerking at Pump Court Tax Chambers is very good. They've always been extremely helpful and responsive."

"The clerks have always been super helpful; they are really accommodating and go the extra mile to make sure someone is available, and they're helpful on fees."

"They are pre-eminent among tax chambers for the breadth and depth of their tax knowledge, coupled with the ability to offer clients practical and commercially orientated advice."

Emma Chamberlain is one of the best-known and most admired tax counsel at the Bar, known for her enormous intellectual ability on complex private client tax matters matched with strong client-care skills. "Emma Chamberlain is an outstanding tax adviser: practical and creative and gives a quick response." "Emma Chamberlain personifies excellence." "Emma Chamberlain is simply excellent. There is no better barrister in their field. She has a great deal of commercial acumen and is practical." "Emma is the go-to person for complex Business Property Relief cases and provides a commercial and strategic approach. She doesn't just give you the answer you want to hear but is incredibly tenacious."

Kevin Prosser KC is experienced in representing affluent individuals on a range of tax matters. Prosser has a diverse and enormously successful tax practice and is hugely well regarded for his tax litigation work. "Kevin Prosser has good commercial awareness and vision, and is excellent at approaching complex matters." "Kevin Prosser is one of the top tax barristers in the UK. Extremely bright and creative." "Kevin Prosser is easy to deal with and very reassuring in terms of advice and guidance."

William Massey KC is a noted expert on Inheritance Tax, particularly Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief matters. "William Massey KC is well known for landed estates related tax matters. We love working with him, he has helped us with complex tax matters over a long period of time." "William Massey's attention to detail and strategy is first rate - he is certainly the guy you want in your corner." "William Massey KC is absolutely top of his game for his practice areas"

David Ewart KC is a tax specialist with a broad practice, including private client tax work. He handles both advisory and advocacy work and is a popular choice among taxpayer clients. "David Ewart is one of the leading tax silks at the Bar today." "David Ewart gave excellent, commercial advice to our clients and helped us to deal with a difficult issue." "David thought about issues that weren't brought forward before: a respectful, helpful and authoritative colleague whom it is hard not to be impressed by."

Richard Vallat KC acts for taxpayers and HMRC on a wide range of matters involving IHT, CGT and Income Tax. Vallat has broad expertise in tax work, handling both advisory and litigation matters. "Richard Vallat KC is excellent: extremely bright, grasps all the issues and responds quickly." "Richard's advice was clear, well structured, practical and commercially minded." "Richard is incredibly smart, knowledgeable and quick."

Barbara Belgrano is a highly regarded tax junior with a broad practice in Revenue work. Belgrano is often instructed on complex tax avoidance scheme cases and other matters involving the anti-avoidance provisions. "Barbara Belgrano is so impressive and has been a helpful and inspiring leader on the matters on which I have worked with her; she is formidably intelligent as well as being friendly and thoughtful." "Barbara Belgrano is formidably intelligent, eloquent and excellent at formulating and communicating arguments. She has been an inspiring and thoughtful leader." "Barbara Belgrano has strong technical knowledge and is very responsive." "Barbara is modest but quietly brilliant; she gets a problem and wrestles with it until she finds the answer. She is very clever, has a good client manner, can lower tension levels and a great writer."

Ben Elliott is a well-regarded junior, frequently handling complex tax cases. Elliott appears, led and unled, in major private client tax litigation matters, and is developing expertise on the taxation of cryptocurrency assets. "Ben Elliott is a fantastic all-round barrister and good guy. Technically brilliant and very hard-working." "Ben is great; he's one of the go-to juniors. He works really hard, and his level of experience and the types of cases he has done relative to his level of seniority are very good." "Ben is a superb tax lawyer and has a very approachable, friendly and open manner with both clients and those instructing him, which is much appreciated."

David Yates KC has a broad tax practice, acting both for the Revenue and taxpayers. Yates has a strong advisory practice and has also appeared in many of the major tax litigation cases of recent years. "David Yates is remarkably clever, homes in on key points unerringly, delivers helpful advice - often with wit. Also a brilliant advocate. Just outstanding." "He has a wonderful grasp of the legislation and its practical application. David has an assured way of advising. I was struck by how clear his thought process was and what he said made so much sense." "In all matters, David is highly expert and attentive to clients' needs and desires."

Elizabeth Wilson KC is recognised as a go-to barrister for sophisticated tax matters. Wilson is a particular expert in inheritance tax reliefs and capital gains tax planning. "Elizabeth Wilson is very capable, straightforward and reassuring." "Elizabeth Wilson KC really is amazing at distilling very complicated technical legal advice into bitesize, user-friendly advice. She is really personable and also very good at turnaround as well." "Elizabeth Wilson was very diligent in her approach to the issues. She covered and dealt with them all quite clearly."

James Rivett KC is a well-regarded figure in the private client tax practice. His work encompasses corporate and personal taxes as well as indirect taxation. "James Rivett is exceptional on both onshore and offshore tax and trust-related matters." "James has an easy manner and is easy to work with; he's able to have a discussion about points and will still tell you what needs to be done and why. Very good to work with and easy to get along with." "James is technically superb. He is great with clients - he explains complex tax issues to them and always has sensible answers to problems." "James is a class act - incredibly bright, but also polished, charming and good at explaining complicated concepts to lay clients, who love him. He is innovative, and incredibly detailed and thorough."

Laura Poots acts on a range of private client tax matters, and often acts for the Revenue. Poots' tax practice covers direct and indirect taxation and both corporate and personal taxes. "Laura Poots is excellent: very clear, very responsive and practical." "Laura Poots is very astute. She distils problems into their constituent elements and helps develop practical solutions." "All of Laura's comments were incisive and to the point. The client really rated her input, too."

Oliver Conolly wins frequent praise for his advisory work. Conolly acts for taxpayers and the Revenue on tax litigation work and also has a strong advisory practice. "Oliver Conolly delivered considered and practical advice to our client." "Oliver is very clever and hard-working, with a very friendly manner. He is able to explain difficult concepts in simple terms to clients. He is very responsive and user-friendly." "Oliver is my go-to barrister for technical tax matters. He has an amazing brain and gives consideration to all of the possible issues. I could not rate him more highly."