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Stuart Walsh LL.B

He/himSocio
Stuart Walsh is extremely knowledgeable, charming and effective – he knows how to win cases.
Legal 500, 2021
About

Stuart Walsh is a Partner in the Tax Controversy and Disputes team, advising businesses for over 20 years on the effective and efficient handling of tax audits and enquiries, tax risk management and tax dispute resolution, focussing on VAT, excise duty and other indirect taxes.

Stuart has significant experience in assisting clients in achieving successful outcomes in technically complex and document heavy tax disputes - through negotiated settlement wherever possible, but with extensive experience of all stages of the appeal system where litigation proves unavoidable.

Consistently recognised within the legal directories, Stuart is the only UK lawyer to be ranked in Legal 500 2023 as a leading individual in VAT and Indirect Tax; Tax Litigation and Investigations; and Customs and Excise.

Bar admissionsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Successfully acted for a leading UK financial institution before the Court of Appeal in a £multi-million dispute concerning an alleged supply chain VAT fraud on purchases of emissions allowances issued under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.
  • Successfully defending a leading UK bank against a challenge before the High Court to its refusal to disclose confidential documentation on the grounds that it was subject to litigation privilege.
  • Acting for a US headquartered global e-commerce business on the applicability of a VAT exemption to its supplies of dental products.
  • Advising a US headquartered global securities business regarding the conditions for Stamp Duty and SDRT intermediary relief and the scope of HMRC’s discretion.
  • Acted for the world’s leading logistics company before the Tax Tribunal challenging a £multi-million recovery assessment on excise duty unpaid alcohol.
  • Advised a leading global brewer on the review and replacement of their due diligence documentation, together with a training programme, to improve their robustness to excise duty and VAT fraud supply chain risks.
  • Successfully acted on behalf a leading global retailer in a tax appeal concerning the recovery of VAT incurred on pension fund management fees post VAT deregistration of its UK business.
  • Successfully represented a series of online travel businesses in tax appeals, up to the Supreme Court, challenging HMRC decisions that they were acting as principal (rather than as agent) in the supply of overseas hotel accommodation.
  • Acted for a leading global insurer, conducting a full investigation into serious tax non-compliance within a number of SPVs, engaging and negotiating with HMRC to avoid any resulting tax or penalty liability.
  • Successfully represented a leading specialist insurance group in a tax appeal concerning the group holding company’s entitlement to recover input VAT on professional services fees.
  • Successfully represented a leading supplier of patient transport services to the NHS in a tax appeal challenging HMRC’s ruling that its services did not qualify for VAT zero-rating.
Education
  • University of Westminster, Law LLB, 1997
  • College of Law, London, Legal Practice Course, 1999

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Legal 500 2023:
    • Leading individual in Tax Litigation and Investigations
    • Leading individual in VAT and Indirect Tax
    • Leading individual in Customs and Excise
  • Chambers and Partners 2023:
    • A ranked individual for 14 consecutive years in Tax: Contentious
  • Legal 500 2021, ”Stuart Walsh is extremely knowledgeable, charming and effective – he knows how to win cases”
  • “Stuart Walsh knows everything there is to know about VAT disputes and he will always find a way to win.”
  • Chambers & Partners 2021, “He is very capable, thorough and supportive." "He is very proactive and hugely approachable."

Publications and media

Prior Experience

  • 1997-2000, Solicitor, London based law firm
  • 2000-2007, Indirect Tax Litigation Services, KPMG LLP, London
  • 2007-2022, Partner, London based international law firm

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