About

Old Square Tax Chambers is a leading tax barristers chambers in London, founded in 1968. The head of chambers is James Kessler KC.

Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board.

Individually, chamber members have specialist expertise and each member practices law independently. Tax Chambers is not a company or a partnership. However, members are able to exchange ideas and share legal knowledge and experience within chambers, building up a substantial pool of expert learning in tax law and practice.

Members are supported by an experienced senior clerk, Cliff Holland, who will discuss the level of fees before work is done and where appropriate will advise as to the most suitable member to deal with any particular practice area.

The approach of our barristers chambers is based on its experience that it is seldom sufficient to advise on a tax question in isolation. It is important to take into account all the taxes which may be relevant, as well as the other legal constraints and the business or personal considerations which may influence a client’s course of action. Members seek to view a client’s problem in the round, looking for opportunities to improve upon whatever plan of action has been proposed.

Members have an enthusiasm for problem-solving, a reputation for discretion, and aim to give advice which is practical and helpful, and to express it in terms which the client can understand. They also relish litigation where it is the right course for the client.

In giving advice, members’ objective is to be innovative but avoid expensive and time-consuming disputes with the HMRC. In handling contested disputes, members strive to achieve an acceptable result short of litigation.

Members of chambers are happy to travel outside London and to meet clients in their own offices, as appropriate.

Publications

Members have written and contributed to a significant number of major works including the following:

• Drafting Trusts & Will Trusts, James Kessler KC
• Individual Tax Residence, Setu Kamal
• Inheritance Tax Planning, Robert Venables KC
• The Interaction of EU Treaty Freedoms and the UK Tax Code, Rory Mullan KC and Harriet Brown
• The Jersey Law of Trusts, Harriet Brown
• Non-Resident Trusts, Robert Venables KC
• Taxation of Charities and Non-Profit Organisations, James Kessler KC, Etienne Wong and Mary Ashley
• Taxation of Non-residents and Foreign Domiciliaries, James Kessler KC
• Taxation of Foundations, Robert Venables KC
• Taxation of Trusts, Robert Venables KC
• Tolley’s Property Taxation, Patrick Cannon (editor), Rory Mullan KC and Harriet Brown (contributors)
• Tolley’s Tax Planning, James Kessler KC (contributor)
• Whiteman & Sherry on Income Tax, Setu Kamal (contributor)

Chamber members also publish articles in the major tax periodicals each year.