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Professional Biography

Hugh specialises in tax disputes and investigations. His clients include internationally mobile high net worth clients and other private individuals, family businesses, trustees, entrepreneurs and corporates. His practice covers the full range of UK taxes, both direct and indirect. Hugh’s work frequently has a significant cross-border element, often combined with allegations of tax fraud or criminal behaviour. Hugh has experience of litigating tax cases at all levels, from the specialist tax tribunals through to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. A significant element of Hugh’s practice involves remedying unsuccessful planning (often involving complex trust arrangements), including by way of claims for mistake and rectification in both the UK and offshore jurisdictions. He also acts on tax-related professional negligence disputes and other trust and commercial disputes with a tax angle. Hugh is a Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts Civil Proceedings).

What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?

St John

What was your first job?

Hospital porter

What is the book you recommend to everyone?

Midnight's Children

What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?

An uptick in HMRC investigations - HMRC are close to resuming business as usual activity following the pandemic and there is political pressure on them to collect more tax revenue.