Tax Negligence Disputes

FS Legal’s widely renowned tax negligence team has a national reputation in this field having successfully recovered multi-million-pound settlements for clients who have been exposed to negligent tax advice from accountants, tax advisers and financial advisers.

Our team has been ranked as a leading law firm in this field by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners and are frequently consulted by the specialist press including the Financial Times, the Times, Citywire. We have also worked with the BBC and Channel 4 on Dispatches and Panorama.

We work closely with a number of the ‘big four’ accountancy firms, who recognise our specific expertise and refer their clients to us directly so that we can together meet our clients’ needs by dealing with both HMRC and their former advisers.

Unlike many commercial firms, we do not act for banks, insurers or other large institutions. This allows us to represent clients with disputes against well known high street banks. We act solely on our clients’ behalf with transparency and without the restraints caused by conflicts of interest.

FS Legal have successfully used the Judicial Review process to prevent HMRC from issuing bankruptcy proceedings against participants in tax mitigation schemes. In many cases, HMRC may have opened an enquiry, issued a closure notice, issued a tax demand, an Accelerated Payment Notice (APN), Partner Payment Notice (PPN) or taken other action to recover sums from our clients.

Our team lead cutting-edge and high profile litigation including reported cases which go on to change the case law in this country. In particular FS Legal acted in a £6M claim against tax advisers and accountants arising out of failed tax mitigation schemes which was one of the very first such cases to be brought before the Courts.

The team has a national reputation in acting for investors in tax schemes such as the Eclipse Film Partnerships, Ingenious schemes, Big Screen Productions, Icebreaker, Scion schemes and other similar schemes. We act for a number of high profile sports and media personalities, City figures and well known national corporations.

We have specific experience of a wide variety of tax mitigation schemes including:

We provide expert lawyers recommended and recognised as ‘Leading Individuals’ by Chambers & Partners who note the firm’s “pragmatic, practical and efficient approach“ and “determined litigators with a very good sector knowledge.” Legal 500 notes “FS Legal is a firm that punches well above its weight and is particularly strong in the areas of financial services, pensions and tax schemes” adding that the team has “a deservedly good reputation for providing a top-quality, commercial service“.

To view the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Directory Rankings please click here for Chambers & Partners and click here for Legal 500.

Funding

We understand that, whether it’s a personal or business matter, funding is a key concern. We have a variety of funding options available to seek to remove the risk and cost from our clients. Unlike most firms, we are able to operate around 90% of our cases on a contingent basis.

Because professional negligence cases are intricate and require specialist knowledge, we offer a free, no obligation, and confidential advice service to all our new clients.

To discuss your specific circumstances and potential claim in more detail please call Kit Sorrell or Julia Norris at our Manchester office.

Press

To view our press coverage including commentary in the Financial Times, please follow the below links:

FT – ‘Tsunami’ of claims after crackdown creates £5bn tax bill

FT – Taxmen challenge film fund partners

FT – Stars face big bill as tax plan backfires

FT – Film backers face unhappy tax ending

Mail on Sunday – Some of Britains biggest celebrities urged claim failed tax avoidance schemes

FT Adviser.com – Tax avoidance compensation could hit advisers