UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: The International law maker Pinsent Masons has launched tax practice in Doha in order to capitalize on work arising from Qatar and UAE’s decision to join OECD initiative relating to the transparency of tax affairs.
Ian Anderson joins from the Qatar Financial Centre where he has been Director of Tax since 2006 and was responsible for developing the tax system for the Centre. Prior to that role, Ian was Director of Tax and Treasury at Air tours, with a particular emphasis on tax structuring and cross-border leasing.
He will launch the firm’s Tax practice in the Middle East, focusing on multinationals with a tax presence in the region and FATCA-related services in light of Qatar and the UAE having agreed to join the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard from 2017.
Jason Collins, global Head of Tax at Pinsent Masons, says:
“We are delighted to add Ian to our global team and in so-doing launch our Tax practice into the Middle East. Recruiting in Doha means that we now have significant tax capability across Europe, The Middle East and Asia Pacific. Ian’s mix of experience in industry and at the QFC means he is well-placed to advise multinationals and ultra-high net worth individuals on a range of local and international tax matters.”
Sachin Kerur, Head of Pinsent Masons in the Middle East, says:
“Our Doha office continues to go from strength to strength under James Elwen’s leadership. Ian’s appointment is typical of our strategy to play to our strengths by focussing on those sectors in which we have market-leading expertise, and building out the range of legal services we can provide particularly to organizations and prominent individuals active in the energy and infrastructure sectors.”
Elsewhere, Franck Lagorce joins the firm’s Paris office from Winston & Strawn, where he was a partner. He has nearly 30 years’ experience advising institutional investors, pension funds, investment funds and multinational corporations on a broad range of corporate tax matters. He has provided general tax advice on both direct and indirect tax matters and has a particular specialism relating to international taxation and the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) program for change, in addition to extensive experience in the real estate investment arena.
