Our Tax Group brings together tax lawyers, accountants and consultants in one highly innovative team. We work with domestic and international corporations, entrepreneurs, family businesses, trusts and high net worth individuals.

We provide the following tax services:

• Using Ireland as part of a group business strategy
• Tax due diligence reports
• Mergers and acquisitions - tax structuring and negotiation
• Corporate reorganisations
• Revenue Audit health checks and advice on audits and settlements
• Transfer pricing reviews and mutual assistance procedures
• Structured finance including securitisations & financial engineering
• Indirect Taxation planning and compliance
• Private client including asset protection & personal tax planning
• Tax litigation including negotiation, arbitration & settlements
• Employee benefits and remuneration
• IP structuring
• Annual Corporate and Personal Tax Compliance

We work with colleagues in other practice areas and industry sectors, forming multi-disciplinary teams to design and implement creative tax solutions, with particular experience in financial services, retail, technology, communications, construction, leisure & entertainment, personal and trust services.

William Fry is the Irish member firm of the TAXAND global network of leading tax advisory firms represented in over 45 countries worldwide with over 2,000 tax professionals. The Firm has been Awarded "Irish Tax Firm of the Year 2009" at the International Tax Review European Tax Awards.

Our experience includes advising:

Aergo Capital Limited on its funding for the acquisition of Safair (Proprietary) Limited and Safair Lease Finance Proprietary Limited, a South African aviation leasing company.  The transaction saw Aergo take control of 33 aircraft in the Safair aircraft-leasing division and lease a further 9 planes from the parent company.

Barclays plc on the US$4.6bn sale of its Asset Management business.  

IONA Technologies plc on tax aspects of its US$162m take private.

Vendors and Management of Vivas Group in relation to the sale of their interests in Vivas Group Limited to Hibernian Group plc/Aviva.

RSA Ireland (formerly Royal & Sun Alliance) on its acquisition of Benchmark Underwriting Limited.

Endesa SA on its €450m acquisition of power plants from ESB.

HMV on its acquisition of stores from Zavvi.

Associated Newspapers Limited on the reorganisation of its interest in Fortunegreen.

United Business Media Group on its re-domiciliation to Ireland.

The Joint Administrators of Nortel Networks Ireland Limited in a major restructuring of this group.

SCOR on the Atlas V issue of Floating Rate Credit Linked Notes (€200m), due 2013.

Scottish Re on migration of certain core assets out of Ireland to ensure commercial viability of the group.

Financial Guaranty Insurance Corporation on the US $1.17bn ACS securitisation.

William Fry Tax Advisors (Taxand Ireland) was voted 'European Private Equity Tax Team of the Year' by International Tax Review (ITR) at its European Tax Awards in 2012.  At the 2011 and 2010 ceremonies, William Fry Tax Advisors was awarded ‘European Indirect Tax Firm of the Year’ and ‘European Tax Policy Firm of the Year’.  In 2009, the ITR awarded us "Irish Tax Firm of the Year".  We are consistently ranked as one of the leading Irish tax firms.

Department

Sources say: “What we look for is advice which is quick and to the point, and that's what we get." "The lawyers can handle anything we throw at them.”
Chambers Europe, 2013 - Tax

William Fry has ‘comprehensive knowledge of Irish taxation'.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2013 - Tax

Sources say: 'The team is extremely smart and most importantly it is good at recognising a client's objective.'
Chambers Europe, 2012 - Tax

'Headed up by the highly thought of Martin Phelan, William Fry’s team continues to drive forward in the Irish market.'
Legal 500 EMEA, 2011 - Tax

Clients highlight qualities of the team such as 'its speed in dealing with a query, using language that I can understand, and its consistent professional courtesy of keeping us in the loop at every stage of the process.'
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Tax

William Fry fields an ‘experienced team’ under Martin Phelan
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Tax

Clients readily recommend William Fry for tax work: “It is great using William Fry for tax because we get a more personal service than you might at the big accounting firms. Its approach is to get a truly deep understanding of our business, and focus on solutions.” The firm fulfils the traditional tax support function, advising clients on compliance on an ongoing basis. However, the group particularly shines in tax structuring in the context of major M&A and capital markets deals. In terms of structuring cross-border transactions, the firm is a member of Taxand, enabling it to partner up with law firms in other jurisdictions very easily.
Chambers Global, 2010 - Tax

Team

Martin Phelan
Martin Phelan “has a very practical mindset, understands the client's needs very well and offers clever solutions.”
Chambers Global, 2013 - Tax

Martin Phelan is a towering force in the local market and enjoys recognition on a global scale. With a special interest in tax aspects of M&A and restructuring, he is described as a 'constructive, creative and compliant adviser.'
Chambers Global, 2012 - Tax

Sources praise Martin Phelan, whose 'profound knowledge allows him to give excellent industry-specific solutions.'
Chambers Global, 2011 - Tax

'Practice head Martin Phelan is a highly regarded figure in the market. He is particularly experienced in relevant aspects of M&A and restructuring transactions, and he has recently advised extensively on the migration of IP portfolios to Ireland'.
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Tax

Martin Phelan is a “commercially minded practitioner who delivers structures quickly”.
Chambers Global, 2010 – Tax

Martin Phelan ‘understands clients’ needs and gets them to where they want to go effortlessly’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Tax

Sonya Manzor
Sonya Manzor has ‘tremendous energy’ and ‘quick understanding’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2013 - Tax

Sonya Manzor "finds solutions to all sides of an issue and works seamlessly with her corporate colleagues to solve the problem. She also has an incredible work ethic and is always positive and constructive.”
Chambers Global, 2013 - Tax

According to impressed clients, 'she certainly understands the nuances of the Irish tax code, and how it relates to our strategy and objectives.'
Chambers Global, 2012 - Tax

'Sonya Manzor impresses clients with her thorough advice and dedicated approach.'
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Tax

Sonya Manzor is a 'key contact within the corporate tax sphere'.
Chambers Global, 2010 – Tax

Sonya Manzor is highlighted for ‘her attention to detail and communication skills’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Tax

Brian Duffy
Brian Duffy is recommended for his expertise on inward investment and M&A tax structuring. According to clients, “he leads the way and gives us great support.”
Chambers Global, 2010 – Tax

Nora Lillis
Nora Lillis "is efficient, proactive and user-friendly".
Chambers Global, 2013 - Tax

Cliona Donnelly
'Promising associate Cliona Donnelly draws on over a decade of experience when advising clients in tax structuring matters covering corporate restructuring, M&A and due diligence.'
Chambers Global, 2012 - Tax

'Cliona Donnelly has worked on several of the firm's most prominent recent transactions and is valued by clients for her quick and accurate responses. '
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Tax