"Etienne has a great legal mind and is highly knowledgeable. He displays excellent attention to detail and gives clear and concise advice."

Etienne has been a tax lawyer since 1990. He was an equity partner, and head of the International VAT Unit, at Clifford Chance LLP before being called to the Bar in 2014.

His experience includes advising on all direct and indirect tax matters relating to:

  • real estate property development
  • real estate property investment
  • cryptoassets (e.g. DeFi, NFTs, ICOs)
  • transfer pricing
  • outsourcing
  • power generation (e.g. solar, wind, biofuel)

He advises on all indirect taxes (e.g. SDLT, IPT, excise duties, plastic packaging tax), and is particularly expert in VAT, having advised on both contentious and non-contentious VAT issues across sectors ranging from:

  • finance (e.g. FinTech)
  • funds
  • charities and other non-profit organisations
  • real estate
  • healthcare
  • insurance
  • private equity
  • food
  • outsourcing
  • transport (e.g. aircraft, vessels, trains and automobiles)
  • crypto assets (e.g. DeFi, NFTs)

Etienne has appeared in the First-tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal and the High Court without being led. His experience includes advising on European law and administrative law (i.e. legitimate expectation) in the context of VAT.

Etienne has a strategic, commercial approach and often works with professional advisers not only to establish the proper tax treatment of a project, but also to ensure that the end client achieves their business objectives.

"Etienne has a great legal mind and is highly knowledgeable. He displays excellent attention to detail and gives clear and concise advice."

"Etienne is excellent to work with and very user friendly and knowledgeable. He is very good with clients."

"Excellent choice for indirect tax matters."

"He is very good, friendly and knowledgeable."

"A strong advocate."

  • Contributing writer to James Kessler QC’s Taxation of Charities & Non-Profit Organisations 13th edition 2022/2
  • Contributing writer to Helen Tse MBE’s Doing Business After Brexit: A Practical Guide to the Legal Changes
  • Writer of the tax chapter of the Outsourcing Practice Manual
  • Co-author of the European Union chapter of the Inward Investment and International Taxation Review

  • 39th Annual Oxford Residential Seminar – EU Law in the Post-Brexit World of VAT & Land
  • VPG Annual Conference – Case Law Update 2021

  • National Chair of the VAT Practitioners Group
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation
  • Qualified as a solicitor in 1990

Etienne Wong is regulated by the Bar Standards Board

See Privacy Notice