Firm says awards are a “testament to the hard work and commitment” of the entire team
Bell Gully’s tax team has showed off its strength with two wins at the ITR Asia-Pacific Tax Awards 2021.
The firm brought home the awards for New Zealand Tax Disputes Firm of the Year and Impact Deal of the Year.
“These awards are a testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire Bell Gully team,” tax department leader Graham Murray said in a press release. “With the tax landscape both in New Zealand and around the world continuing to evolve, we are focussed on ensuring our clients have access to the best advice possible.”
Bell Gully said that winning the New Zealand Tax Disputes Firm of the Year award highlights its expertise in tax disputes and litigation – two aspects that continue to be a “standout feature” of the firm’s tax team.
“The firm is at the forefront of this work in terms of both the number of appointments and the significance of our dispute work, which is affecting a large number of multinationals engaged in this jurisdiction,” Bell Gully said.
The firm picked up the Impact Deal of the Year award for its work with global life insurance group Resolution Life on the ~$3bn acquisition of AMP’s wealth and protection and mature businesses. The firm’s team, led by Murray, had advised on the New Zealand aspects of the deal.
The team worked closely with King & Wood Mallesons, Resolution Life’s primary Australian tax counsel, on the transaction, which had several complex tax structuring components.
The two awards add to Bell Gully’s already stellar record for 2021. Earlier this year, the firm’s tax offering was ranked as a top-tier practice in the ITR World Tax 2021 for the 18th consecutive time.
Bell Gully is also the sole New Zealand firm to receive a Tier 1 ranking in ITR’s World Transfer Pricing 2021.
