"Rory Mullan is our go-to guy for private client tax as well as the human rights angles involved. He is a very good advocate - very bright, effective and incredibly good to work with too."
Rory Mullan KC enjoys advising and representing taxpayers on range of both direct and indirect tax matters. His aim is always to ensure the best outcome while recognising the practical and commercial realities for those facing difficult tax issues.
Issues Rory has recently dealt with in the course of his practice include:
- Taxation of offshore structures, including the application of the transfers of assets abroad code, the attribution of gains under section 13 TCGA 1992 and the treatment of trust gains under sections 86 and 87 TCGA 1992.
- Double taxation agreements.
- Taxation of trusts.
- Residence and domicile status.
- Taxation of non-UK domiciled persons and those who are deemed to be UK domiciled.
- The application of the Transactions in Securities legislation.
- Loan relationships.
- Partnership taxation
- Employee taxation including the scope of the benefits code, the employment related securities legislation (Part 7 ITEPA 2003) and the disguised remuneration legislation (Part 7A ITEPA 2003).
- Inheritance tax, including the new regime for APR and BPR.
- Compatibility of direct tax provisions with EU law.
- Tax information exchange
- The DOTAS regime.
- The GAAR and its application.
- Advising on transfer of residence relief.
- Appeals in relation to a demand for import duty.
Rory is Chair of the Revenue Bar Association.
Rory is also a member of the Chancery Bar Association and the Stamp Taxes Practitioners Group. He is also qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser. Rory is licensed to accept instructions under the Public Access Scheme.
- SWISS CENTRE LIMITED -v- HMRC [2026] UKUT 227 (TCC)
- Airedale Chemical Company Limited - and - Revenue And Customs Commissioners
- Fisher v HMRC [2023] UKSC 44
- The App Accounting Group Ltd, Uberdev Ltd & Rosetta Software Ltd v HMRC [2024] UKFTT 100 (TC) (TC09051)
- Laing O'Rourke Services Ltd v Revenue and Customs Commissioners; Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd v Revenue and Customs Commissioners - [2023] STC 1333
- Swiss Centre Ltd v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2023] UKFTT 449 (TC)
- Asset House Piccadilly Ltd v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2023] UKFTT 385 (TC)
- Redmount Trust Company Ltd v HMRC [2023] UKUT 68 (TCC) (Upper Tribunal)
- Hoey v HMRC [2022] EWCA Civ 656 (Court of Appeal)
- Hoey v Revenue and Customs Commissioners; Regina (Hoey and others) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners - [2022] 1 WLR 4113
- Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Smartpay Ltd and another - [2022] SFTD 1010
- Revenue and Customs Commissioners v AML Tax (UK) Ltd and another [2022] UKFTT 174 (TC)
- Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd v HMRC [2022] UKFTT 6 (TC)
- A D Bly Groundworks and Civil Engineering Ltd & CHR Travel Ltd v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 445 (TC)
- R (on the application of Sibley) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners - [2022] STC 336
- HMRC v Fisher [2021] EWCA Civ 1438
- Clamp & Anor, R (On the Application Of) v HMRC [2021] EWHC 2360 (Admin)
- Butt v HMRC [2019] EWCA Civ 554 (Court of Appeal)
- R (Jimenez) v FTT & HMRC [2019] EWHC Civ 51 (Court of Appeal)
- Routier v HMRC [2017] EWCA Civ 1584 (Court of Appeal)
- HMRC v Hely-Hutchinson [2017] EWCA Civ 1075
- HMRC v Apollo Fuels Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 157 (Court of Appeal)
- Revenue and Customs Comrs v PA Holdings Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 1414 (Court of Appeal)
- Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Loyalty Management UK Ltd [2008] STC 59, [2007] EWCA Civ 965, and 151 Sol Jo 1300
- Greenalls Management Ltd v Customs & Excise Commisssioners [2005] UKHL 34 (House of Lords)
- Howell v Trippier [2004] STC 1245 (Court of Appeal)
- Red Discretionary Trustees v Inspector of Taxes; Spc 397 [2004] STC (SCD) 132
"Rory Mullan is our go-to guy for private client tax as well as the human rights angles involved. He is a very good advocate - very bright, effective and incredibly good to work with too."
"Rory Mullan is one of the brightest KCs at the tax Bar."
"Rory is genuinely in a league of his own. He devours information and produces logical, reasoned, and workable advice. He is one of the most unflappable barristers in the field."
"Rory gives balanced, well-thought through, insightful advice. He puts the client first and his advice has a strong commercial dimension."
"Very user-friendly and response. Very practical and knowledgeable. Advocacy was clear and concise and very persuasive. "
"Rory is great in court and someone who plays to win"
"He has the gift of being able to bring new perspectives to bear on problems and is also highly persuasive."
"Rory Mullan KC is very thoughtful; he has the gift of being able to bring new perspectives to bear on problems, and is also highly persuasive. He has a deep tax expertise and is an excellent communicator in court."
"Rory Mullan KC has a deep tax expertise and is an excellent communicator in court."
"Rory is excellent at simplifying the issues involved in difficult cases and focusing on the key points at issue. He's very good in front of clients, especially in explaining difficult issues of law."
"Rory Mullan is very impressive in consultations. He is very good at bringing new perspectives - he is thoughtful and innovative."
"Rory is technically very competent and has an excellent manner when dealing with complex issues"
"A very good advocate who always comes up with good arguments."
"Can run a case from start to finish by himself. Constructs intelligent arguments and presents them forcefully."
"Rory is happy with a collaborative approach to advising clients, which is always appreciated."
"Incredibly switched-on and strategic in his approach, he knows the tax system in great detail"
- Rory Mullan KC appointed as Head of Chambers
- Boulting v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2025] UKFTT 1272 (TC) by Rory Mullan KC
- RORY MULLAN KC appointed as Chair of the Revenue Bar Association
- Chambers High Net Worth 2025
- Privy Council decides on Application of Article 6 in Tax Matters
- Chambers Bar Awards 2024
- Chambers High Net Worth 2024
- The GATA Gibraltar Tax Essay Prize
- Boox company successfully applies to join clients' appeals against MSC charge
- Legal Directory 2024 Bar Rankings
- Chambers High Net Worth 2023
- TENANCY AND THIRD SIX PUPILLAGE VACANCY
- TENANCY AND THIRD SIX PUPILLAGE VACANCY
- Redmount Trust Company Ltd v HMRC – voluntary returns effective for SDLT purposes
- The Legal Training Consultancy ‘Tax Planning for High-Net-Worth Individuals’ online conference
- Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards 2022
- Chambers seminar on Taxation of Employment Income: Recent developments
- Court of in Hoey v HMRC
- Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd v HMRC – successful claim.
- Rory Mullan to be appointed Queens Counsel
- DECISION ON CORPORATION TAX FOR PROVISION IN RESPECT OF UNFUNDED PENSION
- DECISION ON CORPORATION TAX FOR PROVISION IN RESPECT OF UNFUNDED PENSION
- Redmount Trust Company v HMRC – decision on SDLT sub-sale by option agreement
- Old Square Tax Chambers ranked in Chambers and Partners for the UK Bar 2022
- Rory Mullan formally sworn in as Queen’s Counsel
- HMRC v Fisher Judgement
- TENANCY AND THIRD SIX PUPILLAGE VACANCY
- Chambers and Partners – High Net Worth Guide 2021
- Capital Gains Tax (2021)
- Rory Mullan QC interviewed by the Tax Journal
- Rory Mullan QC article for the Tax Journal
- Chambers Webinar – Contractor Loan Schemes
- Contractor loans, PAYE and transfer of assets abroad
- Allocation of profits of mixed partnerships – HFFX LLP v HMRC
- Recent Supreme Court Tax Cases
- Legal 500 2021 Rankings
- Ranked as a leading set in Chambers HNW
- Rory Mullan: Tax Penalties Uncovered – Key Elements Explained
- Rory Mullan comments on Loan Charge decision
- Fisher v HMRC
- Private Client Tax – End of year round-up 2019
- Current Issues in Employment Taxation
- Old Square Tax Chambers ranked as a leading set
- 2019 Chambers UK Bar Awards
- Old Square Tax Chambers ranked in Chambers and Partners
- Free Seminar (Manchester) – Dealing with HMRC Investigations
- Tax for General Practice – Spring 2019
- James Kessler QC and Ross Birkbeck – Embiricos v HMRC [2019]
- Rory Mullan and Harriet Brown – Butt v HMRC
- Free Seminar: Tax Administration and Taxpayer Rights
- LexisNexis Case Analysis : Murphy and others v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2025] UKFTT 1503 (TC)
- LexisNexis Case Analysis : Moran v HMRC [2025] UKFTT 540 (TC) by Rory Mullan KC
- Consultation on reforms to inheritance tax agricultural property relief and business property relief—application in relation to trusts
- Free In-Person Seminar: A Practical Approach to Enquiries and Appeals
- Liability of Non-UK Residents to Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax and use of UK Double Taxation Conventions by non-UK residents and UK-Residents
- New Landscape for Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief
- Settling Disguised Remuneration Enquiries - where we are in 2025
- KEY HAVEN PUBLICATIONS LTD - 42nd Annual Oxford Four-Silk, Fourteen-Speaker Residential Seminar - PRACTICAL TAX PLANNING 2024
- Old Square Tax Chambers Presents a Tax Litigation Masterclass
- Non-Doms after the Budget
- Key Haven 2024 - PRACTICAL TAX PLANNING 2023
- Free Seminar - Tax Incentives for R&D: Recent Developments
- Tax Administration and Taxpayer Rights
- Dealing with HMRC Investigations
- Current Issues in Employment Taxation
- Recent Supreme Court Tax Cases
- Contractor Loan Schemes
- Key Haven Publications 2022 – 40th Annual Oxford Four-Silk Sixteen-Speaker
- Key Haven Publications 2021 – 39th Annual Oxford Four-Silk Fourteen-Speaker Residential Seminar
- Key Haven Tax Planning Webinar
- KEY HAVEN PUBLICATIONS LTD – PRACTICAL TAX PLANNING 2019
- The Interaction of EU Treaty Freedoms and the UK Tax Code with Harriet Brown, (Key Haven Publications 2011)
- Author of chapter on Capital Gains Tax in Tolley’s Property Taxation
Topics on which Rory has recently lectured include:
- Motive defences
- Inheritance tax APR and BPR relief
- Contentions tax issues in the context of trusts
- Planning for those coming to the UK
- The concept of “earnings” for income tax and NICs
- Transfer of Assets Abroad
- Capital gains tax
- Silk in 2021
- Called to the Grays Inn Bar in 2000
- Appointed as Chair of the Revenue Bar Association (RBA) 2025
Rory Mullan KC is regulated by the Bar Standards Board