Giles Salmond leaves Deloitte to join Eversheds as Head of the VAT Disputes and Indirect Taxes Practice

Eversheds has appointed Deloitte Indirect Tax Litigation Director, Giles Salmond, as a partner in its London tax team. He will lead the VAT disputes and Indirect Taxes practice.

An indirect tax litigation specialist, Giles has represented a wide variety of companies across all sectors including multinationals and UK PLCs.

After being called to the Bar, Giles practised for 6 years at the Solicitor’s Office for HM Customs and Excise where he undertook complex prosecution work and latterly civil VAT and customs duty litigation, including many appearances before the VAT and Duties Tribunals. Giles then joined Garretts, the law firm associated with Andersen, before transitioning to Andersen and then Deloitte in 2002, where he became a Director in 2006.

A highly experienced litigator, Giles has a significant profile in the market having acted in a large number of cases both before the UK courts and tribunals and the European Court of Justice. His wealth of experience includes appearing as an advocate before the ECJ in a complex customs valuation case relating to the EU’s international agreements on trade (GATT and WTO).

Giles has been at the forefront of many landmark VAT cases, including acting for Condé Nast in the leading VAT case on time limits which established that the introduction of the three year cap in 1997 without transitional provisions was unlawful.

Giles has also been intrinsic in the mediation of tax disputes. He was involved in the first UK tax mediation and has since acted in a number of successful tax mediations.

Commenting on his appointment, David Jervis Head of tax said:

“Giles has developed a strong reputation in the market having acted for a wide range of clients across all sectors including consumer business, leisure and the financial services sector, having been involved in a number of high profile disputes with the tax authorities. We have recruited him to lead our VAT disputes practice at Eversheds.

“Giles’s appointment is a great addition to the team, to provide our UK and multinational clients with market leading expertise in complex VAT disputes.”

Giles Salmond commented:

“I look forward to joining Eversheds in the new year and working with the existing team to expand its capabilities and take on new mandates.”