James Kessler KC

James Kessler KC

Head of Chambers
Call: 1985 Silk: 2003
 Legal 500 - 2021
Chambers and Partners - 2019
Legal 500  - 2023

"An amazing intellect, lovely man, and the stand-out authority on international private client tax matters such as the remittance basis. For many issues, there is no-one who is remotely comparable in technical terms."

  • Other interests include prosecution of tax crime in complex cases, particularly along the avoidance/evasion faultline.
  • Recent cases include: Embiricos v Revenue & Customs [2020] UKUT 370 (TCC)
  • James has practiced as a barrister since 1985 and as QC since 2003. He is also a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland.
  • He is in Band 1 in Chambers Directory in the Private Client Tax category, with a reference to “acumen and remarkable thoroughness of thought” and in Band 1 in the Legal 500 directory which comments: “The leading expert on the taxation of non-domiciled individuals.”
  • James is one of the founders of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, for whom he drafted the STEP Standard Provisions, and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
  • James has received the Geoffrey Shindler Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession (STEP Private Client Awards, 2011).
  • James became Head of Chambers in 2015
  • Languages: Working Portuguese, German & Hebrew

"An amazing intellect, lovely man, and the stand-out authority on international private client tax matters such as the remittance basis. For many issues, there is no-one who is remotely comparable in technical terms."

"James Kessler is a brilliant man, a pleasure to work with, and without question the standout practitioner in relation to UK-resident foreign domiciliaries."

"James has been fantastic: he's reassuring to speak to and gets things very quickly in consultation; he really gets down in the details"

"Has extraordinary technical ability and is a go-to barrister for offshore matters. He is thoughtful, bright and very measured in his approach."

"The leading expert on the taxation of non-domiciled individuals."

  • James is one of the founders of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, for whom he drafted the STEP Standard Provisions
  • Geoffrey Shindler Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession (STEP Private Client Awards, 2011)
  • Languages: Working Portuguese, German & Hebrew

  • Chartered Institute of Taxation

James Kessler KC is regulated by the Bar Standards Board

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