Tax | Europe

Baker McKenzie has an impressive offering across Europe, with key practices in the UK, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Spain. The lawyers advise on the tax due diligence of multi-jurisdictional target companies and the tax structuring of strategic acquisitions. Baker McKenzie assists with transfer pricing, VAT and the taxation of internationally mobile employees, and is further active in tax disputes. The law firm counts large multinationals among its clients, as well as financial institutions and pharma companies.

Top-ranked Freshfields has an excellent network throughout the continent, boasting significant expertise in the UK, Germany, Austria, Spain and Italy. The law firm provides comprehensive tax advice to multinational clients across a range of sectors, including finance, technology, pharma and energy. It advises on the sell-side of M&A transactions that entail the disposal of assets in multiple jurisdictions, with increasing activity involving the US. Freshfields also has experience in tax planning and in applications for advance tax rulings on behalf of global financial services companies seeking to restructure their European operations. The law firm has further experience representing international corporates in tax audits coordinated between multiple European tax authorities and tax disputes, as well as tax-related disputes.

The firm has highly regarded tax teams across Europe, with reputable teams in Germany, the UK, the Czech Republic and the Benelux region. The law firm has particular expertise in transactional tax matters, utilising its extensive international network to assist with cross-border matters. It frequently acts for clients hailing from the financial services industry, with standout experience in corporate tax matters relating to pan-European transactions that entail the acquisition of equity and commodity trading businesses or real estate. The practice further represents clients in tax investigations and disputes. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Linklaters has a strong pan-European tax practice, with top-tier practices in Belgium and Germany. It has further strong teams in France, Spain and the UK. The law firm advises financial institutions and energy companies on a range of tax matters, including tax advice related to M&A and restructuring. Linklaters assists with contentious tax issues, including litigation and investigations. It has further expertise in transfer pricing and VAT.

Clifford Chance has a reputable offering across Europe, with prominent teams in the UK, France and the Benelux region. The law firm has expertise in the tax aspects of M&A, real estate and financial services mandates. It further advises financial institutions on the tax implications of moving corporate structures and personnel. Clifford Chance also has a strong investment funds practice that advises on the creation of structures that ensure tax efficiencies for managers and investors.

CMS benefits from local tax capabilities across many European jurisdictions, including in France, the CEE region, Portugal and Switzerland, with the capacity to offer a single-firm solution to many transactions or corporate restructuring matters. The law firm assists with tax aspects of M&A, including the tax due diligence and transfer of assets in different jurisdictions. It also has a notable offering on VAT, transfer pricing and indirect tax advisory mandates.

DLA Piper has well-regarded teams across Europe that offer expertise in the full range of tax mandates. The law firm advises on transfer pricing matters both within the context of global corporate restructurings and in standalone advisory mandates, and global indirect tax advisory mandates on behalf of major international companies. The lawyers are also active in the structuring of private equity and strategic M&A transactions that touch on multiple jurisdictions.

Dentons boasts an extensive range of offices situated across Europe, with a particularly strong offering in the CEE region. The law firm regularly acts on the tax aspects of M&A and real estate transactions. It advises global luxury goods companies and real estate investors on cross-border restructuring mandates. Dentons further assists with the design of supporting transfer pricing policies, as well as contentious matters, including disputes relating to withholding tax.

Loyens & Loeff is a market-leading Benelux practice active on pan-European matters, with an increasing presence in Switzerland. The law firm handles the full range of tax issues arising from real estate transactions, corporate restructurings and debt restructuring matters. It advises on advance tax rulings and on the functioning of participation exemption regimes. The law firm has further experience in the creation of management incentive plans for companies with managers spread across various countries in Europe. It also handles complex litigation, representing clients before the CJEU.

Slaughter and May has an outstanding London office offering tax advice alongside its extensive 'best friends' network of prominent firms. The law firm handles tax aspects of high-profile M&A deals, and also assists with tax policy. Its clients also hail from the financial and energy sectors.

Latham & Watkins has a notable offering in the UK, France, Spain and Germany. The law firm focuses on the tax elements of finance and M&A mandates, including capital markets and private equity matters. It assists US-headquartered investment funds with tax planning at either the investment or exit stage of European transactions.