London – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary UK LLP (“DLA Piper”) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Simon Airey, Waseem Khokhar, Michael Anderson and Aaron Stephens from US law firm Dorsey and Whitney. They are part of one of the UK’s most experienced contentious tax teams that successfully advised Marks & Spencer recently on the landmark European Court of Justice ruling which gave the retailer rights to tax relief on overseas losses. The team has also been responsible for dealing with a series of other EU non-discrimination claims that are currently before the UK Courts and the European Court of Justice.
The new team will join DLA Piper’s 20-strong team of lawyers in the Tax Investigations and Disputes Team. This team is headed by partner Jonathan Pickworth and includes Hartley Foster, one of the UK’s leading EU tax experts. DLA Piper’s Tax Investigations and Disputes Team is part of the Regulatory Group, headed by Neil Gerrard, a leading corporate tax fraud lawyer. The arrival of the Dorsey and Whitney team will significantly enhance the contentious tax team.
The four will join DLA Piper’s London office in January 2006.
Global Legislative and Regulatory Group Head, Neil Gerrard said: “The arrival of Simon and his team increases our opportunities to further develop our burgeoning contentious tax practice and build on the considerable synergies of the two teams. It emphasises our position as a market leader for all types of contentious tax work, and other regulatory matters.”
Jonathan Pickworth, Head of the Tax Investigations and Disputes Group in the UK added: “There are few firms that offer a dedicated contentious tax service. None offer this service on a global basis. With the arrival of the new team we will have a substantial all round tax practice and will continue to build on our strength in the market.”
