Richard Vallat practises in all areas of revenue law. His practice includes advice and litigation in the following areas: personal tax, corporate tax, VAT and other indirect taxes, stamp duty, stamp duty land tax and tax-related litigation including professional negligence. Richard is qualified to accept Public Access instructions.
February 2018 – QC
September 2016 – Appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown – “A” panel
March 2011 – Appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown – “B” panel
Called 1997, Gray’s Inn
Ardmore (Court of Appeal), Routier (Court of Appeal), Donaldson (Court of Appeal), UBS / Deutsche Bank (Supreme Court), Ingenious Games and ors (FTT), Landid (FTT), CM Utilities (UT), OCO Ltd (FTT), CIFF (UK) v AG (Ch D), Henderson Investment Funds Ltd (UT), B&K Lavery (UT), Salinger (FTT), Greene King (CA), Bowring (UT)
Secretary to the Revenue Bar Association
Chancery Bar Association
London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association
Stamp Tax Practitioners Group
1991-1995: Merton College, Oxford MA
1995-1996: City University, Diploma in Law
1996-1997: Inns of Court School of Law, Bar Finals
2002-2005: Open University. BSc (Hons)(Maths)
Tax: Corporate
Ranking: Leading Juniors
Frequently acts for HMRC on challenges to avoidance schemes and is an expert on corporate tax and capital allowances issues. He takes instructions on the taxpayer side in cases concerning corporate tax schemes, employee benefit trusts and tax-related professional negligence. He also acts in contractual disputes. “Calm and collected, with a good, practical, commercial take on everything.” “He is very succinct and persuasive, with sound legal analysis.” (2018)
Frequently acts for HMRC on challenges to avoidance schemes and is an expert on corporate tax and capital allowances issues. He also takes instructions on the taxpayer side in cases concerning corporate tax schemes, employee benefit trusts and tax-related professional negligence. “Leading junior, who is a lateral thinker with a commercial approach. He has excellent technical understanding.” (2017)
Often acts on capital allowance cases and corporate tax planning schemes on behalf of HMRC, and also represents the taxpayer. A number of his cases have professional negligence issues attached to them or concern contractual disputes. “He has an easy, approachable manner, is unflappable and shows great attention to detail.” (2016)
Tax: Private Client
Ranking: Leading Juniors
A highly regarded tax barrister, who specialises in advising on offshore trusts, domiciled issues and tax planning for ultra high net worth individuals. “Highly competent and good at explaining complex matters in layman’s language.” “A formidable opponent. Charming outside court and very much fights his corner in court.” (2018)
An experienced advocate advising clients on IHT, CGT, offshore trust estate planning and income tax matters. His practice sees him representing HMRC in alleged tax avoidance cases. “He is highly knowledgeable. He has the advantage that he understands the corporate side of things, so is a reliable pair of hands.” “He is completely charming outside court, and formidable as opposition once you cross through the door. He is clever and high quality – a strong tax litigator.” (2017)
Demonstrates excellent understanding of inheritance, capital gains and income tax. He is also adept at counselling on offshore trusts and also a number of more obscure personal tax issues. He has gained increasing instruction from HMRC regarding alleged tax scheme abuses. “He is very able and practical when it comes to finding an appropriate solution to particularly thorny issues. He understands HMRC’s view and is commercial and clear which makes him client friendly. A leading tax counsel of his generation and always a pleasure to work with.” (2016)
Tax: Corporate and VAT
Rankings: Corporate Tax-Leading Junior (2017); VAT- Leading Junior (2017)
‘One of the best juniors at the tax Bar in terms of written work and court advocacy.’ (2017)
‘Very clear-thinking and known for explaining complicated tax issues in a lucid manner.’ (2017)
‘A bright, talented tax barrister with a vast wealth of knowledge’ (2016)
‘He has the ability to analyse facts clearly and quickly’ (2016)
‘He thinks laterally to find the most commercially effective outcome for his client’ (2015)
‘Assimilates complex sets of facts and applies the law to them in a technically robust yet commercial way’ (2015)
Private Client: Personal Tax
Ranking: Leading Junior (2017)
‘Good at distilling complex areas of law into understandable points.’ (2017)
‘He presents clear and succinct analysis that is practical and pragmatic’ (2016)
‘Combines first-class technical ability with excellent advocacy skills’ (2015)
Tax: Private Client
Ranking: New Silk
Richard Vallat QC is regularly instructed on offshore trusts and income tax matters. Vallat also has expertise in domiciliary issues and regularly represents HMRC in challenging tax planning schemes. “I have always found him to be extremely good on advisory matters,” reports one commentator. Another interviewee says: “He is very strong, very thorough, intelligent and user friendly.”
