Tax Essentials for Commercial Lawyers
Build a solid foundation for dealing with the most important tax issues commonly faced by commercial lawyers and in-house counsel. Explore the tax implications arising in business purchase and sale agreements, business structuring, tax disputes and more. Walk away with the skills essential to identifying potential tax risks and avoiding serious problems. WEB223NZA45
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD hours
Chair: Simon Akozu, Partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
9.15am to 9.20am Opening Comments by the Chair
9.20am to 10.05am Topical Tax Issues Affecting the Documentation of Commercial Transactions
Cover off the common tax clauses in commercial agreements and recent changes commercial lawyers should be aware of, including:
- Buying or selling a business: key tax clauses to be aware of in your sale and purchase agreement
- Tax issues to consider when negotiating and documenting the settlement of a dispute
- Recent and proposed tax changes affecting commercial transactions
Presented by Chris Harker, Partner, and Mitchell Fraser, Solicitor, Mayne Wetherell
10.10am to 10.55am Business Structuring to Obtain the Best Tax Outcomes
- How to identify the most appropriate structure for your clients
- Tax issues specific to each business structure: limited partnership, trusts and companies
- Investment in New Zealand and abroad
Presented by Andrew Ryan, Partner and Phillip Chrisp, Senior Solicitor, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
11.00am to 11.45am Tax Disputes Update: Key Cases and Learnings
Take a look at recent tax disputes and their implications for your practice.
Presented by Jo Giboney, Special Counsel, Duncan Cotterill
11.45am to 12.30pm Tax Issues: The Accounting Perspective
Insight into the key tax issues from an experienced chartered accountant, including:
- Impact of bright line rules on commercial real estate transactions
- GST pitfalls and opportunities of commercial real estate transactions
Presented by Graham Lawrence, Director, The Advisory Group
Learning Objectives:
- Examine the common tax clauses in commercial agreements and consider recent and proposed tax changes
- Consider the tax issues specific to various business structures, including limited partnership, trusts and companies
- Reflect on recent tax disputes and consider the implications for your practice
- Gain insight into the accounting perspective on the key tax issues
Presenters
Chris Harker
Chris advises on tax law. He has advised on a number of significant transactions including mergers and acquisitions, restructures, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), and financing arrangements. He has also acted for clients seeking binding rulings from Inland Revenue in respect of prospective transactions, and represented clients in respect of Inland Revenue investigations and disputes.
Mitchell Fraser
Mitchell Fraser is a solicitor at Mayne Wetherell. Mitchell advises on all aspects of tax law. He has particular experience in tax issues arising in commercial transactions, and in binding ruling and disputes processes with Inland Revenue. Mitchell has also been closely involved in submitting on a number of law reforms affecting commercial transactions in recent years.
Andrew Ryan
Andrew is a leading tax lawyer and chartered accountant, who is renowned for his tax advice and his representation of clients in contentious matters. Andrew provides prompt, clear and pragmatic advice to clients on their most important tax issues. He assists with all aspects of New Zealand tax laws, including with structuring businesses to be tax efficient and compliant from a New Zealand and cross-border perspective. He has advised at the highest level on many of New Zealand’s most complex transactions.
Phillip Chrisp
Phillip is a Senior Associate at MinterEllisonRuddWatts, specialising in tax law. Phillip is a trusted advisor to a number of large multinational enterprises, fund managers, leading New Zealand businesses, and warranty and indemnity insurers, assisting with a variety of tax matters. His areas of expertise include international taxation, transfer pricing, managed funds, private wealth, mergers and acquisitions and tax disputes.
Jo Giboney
Jo is a member of Duncan Cotterill's tax team and advises domestic and foreign clients on the New Zealand income tax and GST consequences of a broad range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, inbound and outbound investment, and corporate restructurings. Jo regularly assist clients with tax disputes and negotiations with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, and with tax investigations, binding and non-binding ruling applications and tax risk reviews.
Simon Akozu
Simon is a Tax Partner at MinterEllisonRuddWatts. His clients include leading New Zealand corporates, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals. His areas of focus include M&A, infrastructure projects, financing arrangements and crypto assets.
Graham Lawrence
Graham is a tax partner at The Advisory Group which is a boutique advisory practice based in Auckland. Graham has over 22 years advising customers on the key tax issues around commercial property transactions and submits on policy changes with the Inland Revenue Department. Needless to say, Graham’s finger is firmly on the pulse of the latest tax and legislative developments affecting commercial property.