The European Commission put forward a proposal in 2021 to tackle shell entities (known as ATAD 3). Despite widespread support for the concept, reaching agreement on the technical details of the Unshell Directive has proved...more
At its dawn, the ATAD 3 Proposal and its adverse tax consequences were considered by some as the demise of international investment and holding structures. Others pointed out the uncertainties surrounding key terms related to...more
Further to the request of the European Parliament for concerted EU action, the European Commission issued on 22 December 2021 a proposal for a Council Directive laying down rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities...more
On May 18, 2021, the European Commission (the Commission) of the European Union (the EU) published a communication on “Business Taxation for the 21st Century” (the Communication), setting out a long-term vision to provide a...more
UK Case Law Developments - EIS relief not available for shares carrying preferential rights - The Upper Tribunal (UT) in Foojit v HMRC dismissed the taxpayer’s appeal against the First-tier Tribunal’s (FTT’s) decision...more
There have been several recent developments in trade disputes involving the Trump Administration and the European Union (EU), including an increase by the U.S. Trade Representative in tariffs on new Airbus aircraft and...more
An advisory committee to EU institutions has issued an opinion on blockchain and the EU single market, advising the European Commission on potential next steps, including launching a "comprehensive" blockchain initiative,...more
Background on the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive - On January 1, 2019, the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (“ATAD”) went into effect for all 28 Member States. ATAD is the European Commission’s response to the relevant Action...more
On 21 June 2016, the EU Council reached agreement on the EU Anti Tax Avoidance Directive (“ATAD”). The ATAD is expected to be adopted in a forthcoming ECOFIN meeting, possibly on 12 July 2016. The Council had reached...more
Antitrust and competition - A welcome limitation on the investigatory powers of the Commission when requesting information from companies - On 10 March 2016, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) set aside...more
Background - The Commission has published a proposal for a Council Directive, the ‘Anti Tax Avoidance Directive’ (the “Proposed Directive”), confirming the Commission’s intention to combat tax avoidance and to coordinate...more
On 28 January 2016, the European Commission published a draft Anti Tax Avoidance Package in order to ensure increased tax transparency and effective taxation within, and outside of, the EU. The package includes a proposed...more
The proposed Council Directive marks another, significant, though likely problematic, step towards tackling tax avoidance across Member States. Background - The European Commission (the Commission) has been moving...more
A company that helps with or facilitates a cartel is at just as much risk of sanctions and penalties as are the actual cartelists. This was confirmed by the EU’s highest court (the European Court of Justice (ECJ)) on 22...more