Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers is delighted to welcome Nikhil Mehta back to the Bar after many years’ successful practice as a solicitor.  He brings to the Chambers his vast experience of both national and international work and a new dimension: his role in advising on the exciting new developments in tax occurring in India.  His wealth of knowledge adds to the renowned strength and depth of Chambers.

Nicola Shaw has won both "Tax Junior of the Year" at the Chambers and Partners Bar Awards 2009 and "Rising Star" at the Tax Journal Indirect Tax Awards 2009.

Chambers and Partners 2010 had this to say about us:

Tax

This set continues to provide the highest-quality tax advice and litigation services and stands out for its superb array of talent. Among the esteemed members is David Goldberg QC, "a real doyen of tax work who consistently delivers commercial and technically faultless advice." He further earns praise for his "willingness to debate issues and listen to others," as well as the fact that he "looks beyond the questions asked in instructions." Goldberg regularly advises major companies, and, in a reflection of the current climate, has lately been handling a lot of work relating to debt restructuring and dispute settlement. David Goy QC has a "tremendous intellect" and is considered an "excellent analyst who is guaranteed to assess things thoroughly and methodically." Also noted for his "calm and common-sense approach and urbane manner in court," he is particularly strong in matters relating to commercial leasing, property, M&A and tax schemes. An "excellent tax lawyer with first-class advisory skills," Michael Flesch QC assists major corporations with a range of issues. Peers are quick to comment on his "charm and brilliance with clients." Like Goy, he too has handled a lot of restructuring and debt management work of late. Philip Baker QC specialises in international tax. Considered one of the leading practitioners in this area both in the UK and internationally, he often appears as an expert witness in foreign courts. Baker offers "precise and flawless advice" to corporate and private clients, and has recently acted for the government of Mauritius in Privy Council cases. Felicity Cullen QC focuses mainly on commercial tax, acting as an adviser, mediator and litigator. She has been involved in many large City transactions and is routinely involved in private company and business transactions. Commentators admire her for her "technical prowess and problem-solving abilities," as well as her "calm and personable" character. Conrad McDonnell is singled out for the volume and complexity of his workload. He is especially noted for the strength of his advisory work, but observers point out that he has been taking in a lot more litigation work recently. He is recommended along with Aparna Nathan, who splits her practice between corporate and private client work, with the latter area earning her particularly strong praise. She undertakes all aspects of revenue work and is particularly strong on non-domiciliary tax arrangements. Nicola Shaw has a predominantly litigation-focused practice. She represents both HMRC and taxpayers at courts and tribunals of all levels, bringing "an informed and objective perspective" to all she does. She receives glowing praise for her "very strong advocacy skills" and her "clear and unfussy style." Patrick Soares is "a hugely important player in the marketplace, who has an extremely broad range of skills." He advises on all areas of taxation, but is particularly strong on the taxation and structuring of property transactions, VAT, trusts and offshore tax planning and advocacy. Patrick Way's impressive work is "comparable to that of a silk." He is sought after for major real estate and corporate transactions and advises many high-profile private clients. A "highly tactical litigator," he also earns praise for being "incredibly clear and concise in court." Also recommended, Michael Thomas advises and litigates on all aspects of business and corporate taxation, with particular emphasis on real estate taxation. His core strength lies in giving practical advice on tax planning opportunities, especially those arising out of new legislation.

Indirect Tax

David Goy QC is "an incredibly good communicator," whose practice mainly centres on stamp duty land tax (SDLT) and VAT. He appears for both taxpayers and HMRC and is also co-author of the book 'VAT and Property'. The highly respected Nicola Shaw is described as "worth her weight in gold," thanks to her work for HMRC. Handling an almost exclusively litigation-focused practice, she "combines a comprehensive understanding of indirect tax matters with top-class advocacy skills." "Clients love her as she is a great communicator, is fun to have on the team and works incredibly hard." Michael Thomas is well known for his SDLT expertise but also does a fair amount of corporate and real estate tax work, as both an adviser and a litigator. He is considered to be "a very bright, practical guy, whose strongest qualities are his attention to detail and his commercial appreciation." Patrick Soares has a broad practice that includes SDLT, VAT, trusts and tax advocacy. Particular note is made of his knowledge of tax schemes. Conrad McDonnell is well regarded for his advice and representation on VAT matters.

Private Client

Gray's Inn Tax Chambers "produces consistently excellent tax advice" due to having leading individuals such as Michael Flesch QC on its books. Flesch offers high net worth clients advice on trusts and offshore tax planning, and is particularly well known for his charm and excellent client skills. Also highly rated, Aparna Nathan has a similar practice and is described by clients as "very personable and approachable; she is able to explain complex issues clearly and concisely." Nathan has a "broad range of knowledge and an excellent grasp of the intricacies of tax legislation," and is further known for handling inheritance tax issues and complex professional negligence litigation. Respected for his "strong and extremely broad-ranging work," Patrick Soares "offers creative and constructive advice." His private client work centres on trusts and offshore tax planning.