Recent News & Events

Corporation tax loss relief – article – Sarah Squires

The Tax Journal recently published a practice guide on corporation tax loss relief written by Sarah Squires, focusing on the various categories of corporation tax loss relief now available to companies following the 2017 reforms.

A copy of her article can be found here.

2019 Chambers UK Bar Awards

Old Square Tax Chambers is delighted that Rory Mullan has been nominated for ‘Tax Junior of the Year’ in the 2019 Chambers UK Bar Awards being held at The London Hilton Park Lane on Thursday 31st October.

British Tax Review: Finance Act 2019 Notes – Sarah Squires

Sarah Squires is among the contributors to the British Tax Review’s Finance Act Notes 2019, commenting on the changes to the taxation of non-residents that invest in UK property. Her note considers the new Schedule 5AAA Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 and its application to UK property rich collective investment vehicles (CIVs).

The article can be accessed here.

(This material was first published by Thomson Reuters, trading as Sweet & Maxwell, 5 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AQ, in the British Tax Review as “Section 13: disposals by non-UK residents etc; and Schedule 1, paragraph 21: Schedule 5AAA to the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992—UK property rich collective investment vehicles etc” in Issue 3, 2019 and is reproduced by agreement with the publishers)

CIOT Autumn Residential Tax Update Conference 2019 – Sarah Squires

Sarah Squires will be among the speakers at this year’s CIOT Autumn Residential Tax Update Conference. Sarah will be speaking about the changes made in Schedule 5 to the Finance Act 2019 to move non-resident company landlords into the charge to corporation tax from April 2020.

The conference is held at the University of Warwick and runs from 6 – 8 September 2019. For more information about the conference, please see here.

Praesto Consulting UK ltd v HMRC – Input tax credit – A focus on substance and reality

Rebecca Sheldon has published a new article for British Tax Review.

To view the article please follow the link here.

Philip Simpson QC appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (A Panel)

We are pleased to announce that Philip Simpson QC has been appointed to the Attorney General’s A Panel of Civil Counsel to the Crown.

The appointment is effective from September 2019

Old Square Tax Chambers ranked in Chambers and Partners – High Net Worth 2019 Directory

Old Square Tax Chambers is honoured to be recognised in the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth 2019 Directory. James Kessler QC, Rory Mullan, and Harriet Brown received individual recognition.

Ranked as a leading set in the Tax: Private Client section, Chambers is particularly highlighted for taxpayer-side advisory work, although its “very capable and knowledgeable” barristers also handle litigation matters for taxpayers, including high net worth individuals.

James Kessler QC “does a lot of advisory work, and is a leader in the market,” says one source, adding: “He wrote the tome on foreign domiciliaries.” Interviewees also mention Kessler’s guide to drafting wills and trusts. One says he has an “extremely good reputation and obviously knows his stuff – he’s clearly extremely knowledgeable. He has a got a book on drafting trusts and wills which is extremely well regarded and clear.” Another source summarises: “James without any doubt at all remains a leading light of the tax Bar. He reinvented drafting and wrote a book about it. It was genuinely influential. Then he spotted the massive influx of non-doms and wrote his next book.”

Rory Mullan wins praise both for his litigation practice and for his writings on tax and European law. “Rory has a strong litigation practice – he has won some difficult cases,” says one interviewee. “I can’t speak highly enough about him,” enthuses another; “he was hot off the mark when it came to spotting how European laws had a massive impact on the UK. Rory wrote this book, ‘The Interaction of EU Treaty Freedoms and the UK Tax Code’. Since that book came out it’s been common currency among every tax adviser.”

Harriet Brown is a specialist in offshore tax work, domicile and residence, and related matters. Sources highlight her dual qualification as a Jersey advocate as a particular strength. An interviewee reports that “Harriet is very committed to her clients, she is very punchy in court and is very good with procedural stuff.” An instructing solicitor praises Brown’s “excellent technical knowledge, very structured thinking, practical and commercial approach, and can-do attitude.”

One source reports that the clerks Cliff Holland and Franco Lombardi are “very quick and flexible, and helpful in getting you what you need.” Another adds that “the clerking is efficient; they are responsive in terms of timelines and feedback and when we needed things quickly they have been very responsive.”