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Michael Conlon QC is a practising barrister who specialises in all aspects of indirect taxation, including investigations and, in particular, litigation before the VAT and Duties Tribunals, the higher courts and the European Court of Justice. As a result of his broad legal and professional experience he is able to undertake the whole range of legal work relating to indirect taxation.
A significant part of his practice involves giving advice at the initial stages of planning a transaction or in reviewing proposed commercial structures for any indirect taxation issues, including risk assessment. He frequently gives opinions on difficult points of law and assists his clients in negotiating favourable tax treatments with HMRC and the European Commission. The experience gained in drafting legislation and as a City solicitor is an advantage in helping clients to prepare appropriate commercial documentation or written submissions. He is happy to work as a team with other professionals and frequently advises jointly with counsel from other practice areas.
The major part of Michael's work is litigation. This may arise where HMRC challenge the returns of a business by raising assessments for duty or tax, interest and penalties, or where HMRC refuse to pay a claim for overpaid tax. It may also arise where a grey area needs to be clarified. This may be achieved by running a test case. Depending on the stage in the litigation at which Michael is instructed, he is able to provide all the necessary work required to bring the case expeditiously to trial and to appear as the client's advocate at the hearings.
Indirect taxation is complex. Occasionally advisers give advice that is subsequently questioned. In recent years Michael's practice had also involved advising claimants or insurers in cases of alleged professional negligence and preparing expert opinions to be used in such claims. He has recently advised on the taxation of shipping companies and sat as an abitrator at the London Court of International Arbitration. |
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