Practice areas

We have substantial expertise in the real estate tax field. Our practice includes advising on the tax implications of property investment, financing and development transactions. We have considerable experience of all tax aspects of property transactions, including corporate taxes, stamp duty land tax, value added tax and capital allowances.

We act for a number of fund and institutional clients in structuring their significant property investments and developments.  In these transactions, we determine the optimal acquisition and holding structure for the investment to minimise acquisition taxes, tax leakage on rental income and tax costs on exit.

Advising on tax structuring considerations for an acquisition is rarely the end of our remit on real estate tax work.  We are often called to deal with tax considerations that arise during the active management stage of real estate investments including SDLT mitigation, development (and re-development) strategies (including Construction Industry Scheme considerations) and tenant incentives.

Our property investment clients cover the full spectrum of tax profiles ranging from non-resident funds, through UK pension funds to UK high-net-worth individuals (whether or not they are UK domiciled).  We also act for receivers and managers of property assets when property owners default on debt obligations, to consider tax efficient means of restructuring holdings and help to maximise disposal proceeds.

We have been involved with the structuring and establishing both of domestic and pan-European real estate investment funds. We work closely with leading independent overseas law firms where our clients need high quality foreign jurisdiction advice on international structures.

We understand that life does not always run smoothly. Where that is the case, we represent our clients in contentious dealings (including litigation, where appropriate) with UK tax authorities on matters involving property taxes.