Helen Buchanan
Global Guide 2024
Band 1 : Tax: Contentious
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
020 7936 4000Share profile
About
Provided by Helen Buchanan
Practice Areas
Helen has a broad tax practice, advising clients on all corporate taxes and leads Freshfields' London tax team and international tax investigations practice. Her contentious experience spans: high-value disputes relating to the deductibility of payments in the UK and internationally, including unallowable and main purpose challenges; disputes regarding where tax is paid by multinational groups, covering permanent establishment, residence, transfer pricing, diverted profit tax (DPT) and controlled foreign company (CFC) risks; state aid and treaty-based litigation and arbitration; employment taxes (including off-payroll working); capital gains and transfer taxes on corporate transactions; VAT and other indirect taxes; tax fraud; as well as cross-border tax warranty and covenant claims. Helen is a qualified mediator and is experienced at litigating and settling cases at all levels in the UK and internationally. She also advises on a range of corporate transactions, bringing a practical and risk-focused approach. Helen's sector expertise includes energy and natural resources, infrastructure, TMT, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, retail and financial services.
Career
Helen has been a partner at Freshfields since 2007.
Chambers Review
Global
Helen Buchanan is head of Freshfields' global tax dispute practice. She is widely seen as one of the leading contentious tax practitioners in the market. She is highly regarded for her experience advising corporates on disputes including transfer pricing, Diverted Profits Tax and CFC-related disputes.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Helen is very technically skilled, but she combines that with pragmatism and the ability to deliver advice in a very clear and commercial way."
"Helen is a fantastic lawyer and legal mind, but is able to deliver the most practical and useful advice."
"Helen is very technically skilled, but she combines that with pragmatism and the ability to deliver advice in a very clear and commercial way."
"Helen is a fantastic lawyer and legal mind, but is able to deliver the most practical and useful advice."