The insertion of a US holding company by way of a share-for-share exchange, whereby the shares in an existing UK company (“UKCo”) are transferred to a new US company (“USCo”) in exchange for shares issued by USCo, is commonly...more
Despite cancellation of all "spicy" stamp duty measures, Hong Kong’s Stamp Duty Ordinance has not reverted to its old version. In particular, the rules governing exemption of stamp duty for "nomination" and “series of...more
On 5 February 2024, the Honourable Justice Paul Webster granted a restoration order (the “Order”) pursuant to section 218A of the BVI Business Companies Act (Revised Edition 2020) (as amended) (the “Act”), declaring the...more
The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the United Kingdom (UK) Spring Budget for 2024 on 8 March 2024. The Budget was delivered against the backdrop of an anticipated general election in the summer or autumn of 2024 and...more
Common Entity Types - Legal persons (such as corporations) and natural persons can generally hold rights over real property in Canada. Investment in real estate can be made through direct ownership by an individual or...more
Key Tax Measures The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the United Kingdom (“UK”) Spring Budget for 2024 on 8 March, 2024. The Budget was delivered against the backdrop of an anticipated general election in the summer...more
Budgets are normally stories of two halves. The first half contains the headline-grabbing tax policy reforms that can be encapsulated in a snappy soundbite in the Budget speech, such as “Chancellor scraps the non-dom regime”....more
Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan delivered the 2024-2025 Budget on 28 February 2024. This Legal Update highlights a few aspects relevant to the real estate industry....more
On 28 February 2024, Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, delivered the 2024-25 Budget (the “Budget”). Starting off by acknowledging the “challenging external environment” including “heightened geopolitical...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER BRITISH LAW - 1. Introduction - Historically, there has been significant investment by overseas individuals and corporations in real estate in England and Wales and in...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER SINGAPOREAN LAW - INTRODUCTION - There are two systems of land registration in Singapore: registration under the Registrations of Deeds Act, known as “unregistered land”,...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER SCOTTISH LAW - 1. Introduction - This guide applies to real estate in Scotland only. 2. Tenure - Real estate, both commercial and residential in Scotland may be...more
In this review of taxation and the British Virgin Islands, Conyers Corporate Counsel Nicholas Kuria discusses some of the most commonly misunderstood notions relating to the use of offshore jurisdictions, with a focus on the...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER PORTUGUESE LAW - I. INTRODUCTION - Portugal is an Iberian Peninsula country, bordered by the Atlantic to the west and south and Spain to the north and east. In addition to...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER HONG KONG LAW - Introduction - Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities over the world. Due to historical reasons, almost all lands in Hong Kong are leasehold...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER CYPRIOT LAW - A. General - 1. Introduction - Cyprus is a common law jurisdiction, and its legal system is based on the UK one. It is a clear and robust system which leaves...more
Key Facts of Real Estate Acquisitions Under Australian Law - INTRODUCTION - The majority of land in Australia consists of freehold title. Registration of ownership of freehold title is recorded using the Torrens ...more
In contrast to recent years, when there has been plenty for real estate tax lawyers to feast on, this Autumn Statement was fairly quiet. Full expensing - After a prolonged period of time-limited, enhanced reliefs,...more
The Policy Address 2023 was delivered by the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive, John Lee (“CE”) on 25 October 2023. In addition to some expected initiatives to further promote the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” and...more
The UK government’s proposals for the reform of stamp duty have been widely welcomed; it is generally felt that modernisation and reform are long overdue in this context. Although the proposals are not intended to alter the...more
Finance Act 2022 inserted two new provisions, section 83DA and section 83DB, into the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 ("SDCA "). Each section provides for the repayment of stamp duty in the context of acquisitions of...more
On 27 April 2023, the UK government announced the administrative companion piece to the Budget announced earlier this year, which includes 23 technical tax policy proposals (although some are merely announcements of future...more