Best Law Firms in Taxation

Taxation is the emerging sector in law where all firms want to work in. Taxation was shot into limelight with the onset of the GST laws in India. When the taxation policies changed, the law firms dived into work and the firms that have made their names in this sector as follows –

• AZB & Partners –

The advisory aspect of the firm is led by Ajay Bahl. The firm deals in full service tax practice.

1. The firm represented PepsiCo. in a transfer pricing dispute
2. The firm has represented Honda Group in an approximately INR2.9 billion tax dispute concerning the nature of certain transaction
3. They have also represented Seagram Distilleries, that is not merged with Pernod Ricard in an INR1.6billion tax assessment dispute
4. The firm advised GSK Group on its proposed divestment of Horlicks and other consumer healthcare nutrition brands to Unilever.
5. AZB & Partners has also represented Google in a tax liability dispute valued at approximately INR25billion.

• Economic Laws Practice –

The tax practice at Economic Laws Practice is led by Rohit Jain. The firm offers transactional, advisory and litigation services. The firm also represents global clients on all court levels in tax classification, valuation, exemption and refund disputes.

1. The firm has provided Juniper Networks indirect tax advisory including its transition to the GST regime.
2. The firm advised GE India Industrial on litigation strategies concerning the classification of imported goods under the Customs Act.
3. The firm worked with Ericsson on the implications of the revised SCOMET list on drafting and preparing applications to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade for the coverage of three types of telecoms equipment.
4. The firm worked for BMW India with a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Investigation concerning the alleged undervaluation of import prices on account of advertisement, marketing and promotional expenses.

• Khaitan & Co. LLP –

The indirect tax space is headed by Dinesh Agarwal. The firm covers the full spectrum of matters concerning international taxation, cross-border tax structuring, tax efficient global mergers and acquisitions, transfer pricing and GST compliance. 

1. The firm provided tax solutions including tax indemnity provisions for Advent International’s $343million stake acquisition in Manjushree Technopack.
2. The firm provided income tax and regulatory advisory to CK Birla Group’s €72million acquisition of Parador Holdings.
3. The firm also handled the tax structure of Birlasoft’s two tier transactions involving a merger with KPIT Technologies and a then subsequent de-merger into a new entity.
4. Khaitan and Co. has represented Mahindra and Mahindra before the Supreme Court in the matters of tax implications of a loan waiver.

• Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan –

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan works in the spectrum of tax litigation and advisory sector including but not limited to indirect tax expertise, customs and excise duty, GST compliance, transfer pricing and expatriate taxation.

• Nishith Desai Associates –

Nishith Desai Associates has offices spanning through the United States of America, Asia and Europe. The firm has immense experience and expertise in international taxation support. The firm has numerous multinational corporations. The firm also provides tax planning and structuring advice on cross border transactions and international tax controversy.

• Vaish Associates –

Vaish Associates has a significant number of global clients in high-value transfer pricing, domestic and international tax disputes. The firm also deals with large scale corporate restructurings and strategic tax planning for clients across all sectors such as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, consumer goods among others.

1. Vaish Associates represented Mitsubishi in transfer pricing disputes related to applications of Berry ratio, that is, gross profit to operating expense, as the profit level indicator.
2. The firm represented Adidas in matters involving transfer pricing disputes.
3. The firm represented BG Exploration in transfer pricing adjustments on account of payment of interest on loan and management service charges.
4. The firm represented GlaxoSmithKline in a dispute involving corporate taxation and transfer pricing disputes.
5. The firm represented Technip UK in matters involving taxability of receipts of a non-resident service provider engaged in the oil and gas sector.

• Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas –

‍Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas offers a variety of services to their clients including, but not limited to direct and indirect tax disputes, M&A transactions, corporate restructuring, global restructuring strategies, and providing regulatory advice for corporate names entering the Indian market.

1. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas devised a tax structure for a consortium of lenders led by the State Bank of India regarding the formulation and implementation of a resolution plan that involved the acquisition of SKS Power Generation.
2. The firm advised Hindustan Unilever on its acquisition by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. The firm also helped develop various modules of related tax implications.
3. The firm represented Engineers India before the High Court in a $10million case to tax demands.

• L&L Partners Law Offices –

The firm deals with tax litigation and transactional mandates. They also deal with transfer pricing disputes and high value service tax demands.

1. Represented Nokia before the Supreme Court in a transfer pricing dispute
2. Provided tax advice, transaction structuring and tax due diligence for Global Infrastructure Partners $26million acquisition of IDFC Alternatives’ infrastructure fund management business.
3. Represented ChrysCapital before ITAT in a transfer pricing dispute.
4. Provided tax advice to Nutanix on its global acquisition of Minjar for $24million

• Bhasin Sethi & Associates –

Bhasin Sethi and Associates is a boutique tax firm providing tax advice to predominantly domestic clients. The firm has expertise in central excise tax, customs tax, Foreign Trade Policy and GST compliance. The firm was founded by Ashok Bhasin and Vimal Sethi.

1. The firm advised railway construction company Rail Vikas Nigam on the implementation of GST regime.
2. The firm drafted an appeal for Jindal Mectec against the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s decision to withdraw GST exemptions.
3. The firm drafted the reply to a show cause notice sent to Veer Overseas in a matter involving export of goods in contravention of Foreign Trade Policy provisions.

• TLC Legal –

TLC Legal specializes in indirect tax, disputes concerning customs duty, excise tax, GST compliance, Foreign Trade Policy exemptions etc. 

1. TLC Legal represented Marico before the CESTAT on matters of ‘rounding off’ regarding coconut oil imports.
2. The firm defended Ratnamani Metals and Tubes before the CESTAT in a dispute relating to the applicability of tax exemptions.
3. Represented life insurance company SLIC before the CESTAT in a dispute concerning service tax credits.
4. Represented mining company Vedanta before the CESTAT in a customs duty dispute.
5. Represented Welspun Corp before the CESTAT in a customs duty dispute.

• Majumdar & Partners –

Majumdar & Partners provides tax structuring support on corporate transactions such as M&A, offshore recapitalizations, EPC contracts and cross-border restructuring exercises for a client list with a substantial emphasis on US-based multinationals. The team provides indirect tax advice and is also regularly approached to assist with tax litigation strategy.

1. Provided tax structuring advice to Aims Impex for a $15m M&A sale to Eternis Fine Chemicals.
2. Provided tax restructuring advice to Zephyr Software Holdings as part of a recapitalization transaction.
3. Provided the full suite of tax advice to Chart Industries as part of its acquisition of VRV Asia.
4. Provided Wikborg Rein Advokatfirma with tax advice on a dispute concerning the sale of ships to a Marshall Islands-domiciled company.