Two new partner appointments strengthen Blake Dawson Waldron’s national Tax practice
Australian Law Firm, Blake Dawson Waldron, has boosted its national Tax practice with the appointment of two new Tax partners; Vivian Chang and Paul O’Donnell.
Vivian Chang joins the Tax practice from Deloitte Sydney where she has worked as a tax partner for two years and Paul O’Donnell was previously a tax partner with Ernst & Young in Sydney for twelve years.
In announcing the new appointments, Blake Dawson Waldron Tax practice Team Leader Duncan Baxter said: “Vivian and Paul are both highly regarded for their technical expertise and deep knowledge of various financial services-related tax matters.
“The addition of Vivian and Paul, with their combined experience in the financial services industry and in mergers & acquisitions transactions, will enhance our national Tax team and enable them to play a key role in further developing and building the practice.
“Our Financial Services, Corporate and Property & Projects teams are growing quickly and Vivian and Paul will further enhance our capability to support these teams”.
Joining Deloittes in 1996, Vivian Chang worked in the International Tax Group where she developed a broad knowledge of the tax regime and specialised in financial services, international tax and transactional work. She has advised a range of blue-chip financial services and non-financial services clients. Vivian has advised on large transactional work including acquisition structuring, demergers and due diligence services for major Australian and international corporations. Vivian also has extensive experience advising on taxation arrangements for investing and financing overseas, in Asia, Europe or North America and in undertaking global tax reviews.
Vivian Chang said: “Blake Dawson Waldron has a significant national tax practice with an impressive depth of experience. I am delighted to join the firm and look forward to working as a member of the tax team. My experience providing transactional tax advice and advice on complex matters to corporate and financial services clients will assist the firm in continuing to provide leading-edge advice.”
Paul O’Donnell joins the firm from Ernst & Young where he has worked as a tax partner for 12 years. He was also a director of the company trading as Ernst & Young Law.
Paul has focussed on income tax consulting mainly in the area of financing while at EY, focusing on structured and project finance with trading banks, investment banks and infrastructure consortia.
Paul O’Donnell said: “Blake Dawson Waldron has an impressive national tax practice that is well placed and recognised in the market. My focus will be working with the rest of the firm on financial services, corporate and property clients”.
“For me, this is a tremendous opportunity to apply the skills I have acquired as a tax partner at Ernst & Young working on a wide range of clients including Australian and international banks and investment banks”.