Tax is another area that has been affected by the expansion of the EU. Foreign investors and local companies alike want help in finding reliable tax-efficient structures that reflect the new commercial and economic realities of the region, as well as its often young and untried tax rules. With the tax profile of the region changing fast, we can help our clients identify trends and likely developments and work with them to assess how these will affect their businesses. We are also assisting clients on dealing with the consequences of accession for VAT and customs duties.

All our tax lawyers combine in-depth knowledge of their own country's tax regimes with an understanding of the business tax systems of the major trading nations and how international transactions and structures work. Our experience with EU law in general, and our in-depth knowledge of EU tax law and its implementation in the current EU member states means we are in a very good position to offer high-quality and concrete advice to taxpayers both on the impact that EU tax law could have on their domestic legislation and on the structuring of inbound or outbound cross-border activities to, from or between the new member states.

For more information please refer to the section on our global tax practice.

For further information please contact David Saito, international business development executive.

Recent deals

Recent work includes advising:

  • several multinational groups on tax reorganisations of their CEE businesses;
  • an air carrier on its VAT-optimised ticket pricing structure;
  • a European market leader in the building materials sector on redesigning its CEE corporate structures;
  • a US-banking group on a Swiss finance branch structure for refinancing its CEE business;
  • on the design of VAT-neutral cross-border outsourcing structures in the banking and insurance industry;
  • on the tax reorganisation of a tobacco industry group’s CEE affiliates;
  • on tax efficient life insurance products for CEE resident investors;
  • Holcim Group on a cross-border merger involving Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria;
  • Peek & Cloppenburg on the group taxation regime under the Austrian corporate income tax act for setting up its eastern European businesses;
  • on the tax planning for CEE assets of individual shareholders of German and Austrian family-owned businesses; and
  • on the use of Austrian private foundations for profit and non-profit investments of Russian
    industrial conglomerates and of their shareholders.

Related practices

Global tax practice

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