LIVING WITH EMBOLDENED TAX AUTHORITIES: INTERNATIONAL TRENDS IN TAX INVESTIGATIONS AND AUDITS

Tax authorities in a number of Asia-Pacific countries have stepped up their information sharing, investigation, and auditing activities. In many jurisdictions, tax authorities have also exhibited a willingness to assert tax avoidance and to test their positions in court. This panel will highlight the issues that are currently of interest to tax authorities, and share practical methods of anticipating and managing tax risks associated with ordinary commercial activity.

CO-MODERATORS:

Michael Butler, Tax Partner
Finlaysons, Australia
Michael Butler is head of Finlaysons’ Tax & Revenue practice area. He has more than 20 years of experience advising clients on tax matters. Mr. Butler established an international practice from an Adelaide base, with a special interest in property taxation, corporate restructurings, international tax matters, and estate and succession planning. MORE>

Neil Russ, Partner
Buddle Findlay, New Zealand
Neil Russ is the leader of Buddle Findlay's national taxation team. He specializes in corporate and international tax issues, as well as structured transactions. In addition to his tax expertise, Mr. Russ has a multi-jurisdictional background in banking and capital markets transactions. MORE>


PANELISTS:

Pieter de Ridder, Partner
Loyens & Loeff, Singapore
Pieter de Ridder specializes in Asian tax planning and covers a wide variety of business sectors, ranging from financial institutions, venture capital businesses, investment fund managers, trading companies, real estate developers, manpower service companies, and construction companies to retail businesses operating in one or more Asian countries. MORE>

Joseph Fletcher, Partner
Holland & Knight LLP, United States
Joseph Fletcher’s 17 years of tax experience include advising on all aspects of corporate and partnership taxation. He has advised both emerging companies and Fortune 500 companies on issues ranging from the establishment of new operations to the cross-border acquisition of foreign corporations by U.S.-based or foreign-based multinational companies. MORE>

Bill S. Maclagan, Partner
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Canada
Bill Maclagan is the office managing partner of the Vancouver office. He is involved in all aspects of income and commodity taxation, including goods and services tax and transfer pricing. His practice emphasizes corporate taxation with a focus on transactional advice, corporate reorganizations, and structuring infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships. MORE>

Susumu Masuda, Partner
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, Japan
Susumu Masuda specializes in international financial and investment transactions, with particular focus on aircraft lease and finance, cyber laws, and related dispute resolution. He has written and lectured on legal topics involving aircraft finance and its taxation and practices. MORE>


Jay Shim, Senior Foreign Legal Counsel
Yulchon Attorneys at Law, Korea
Jay Shim leads Yulchon’s international tax planning and transactions practice. He primarily practices in the areas of international taxation, corporate/M&A, foreign investment, and finance law. Prior to joining Yulchon, Mr. Shim was an international tax partner at global accounting firms in the U.S., Russia, and Korea. MORE>

Sylvette Y. Tankiang, Senior Partner
Villaraza & Angangco, Philippines
Sylvette Tankiang heads Villaraza & Angangco’s Tax Group and has extensive experience in matters involving the application of laws relating to taxation, banking, finance, securities, and e-commerce. Her practice areas include corporate and business law, banking and finance, corporate reorganization, e-commerce and IT, taxation, and mergers and acquisitions. MORE>

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