THE OPPORTUNITY  

DLA Piper provides the full range of indirect tax services that address the challenges of international commerce and business operations. 

With more than 370 tax advisors in offices throughout the world, we help multinational companies address the complex challenges of international commerce and business operations as well as manage and resolve tax disputes. 

We wish to boost our contentious VAT and preferably customs capability in the UK, as there is a vacancy in this area. The VAT Practice is recommended in the Senior Associates.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The UK Tax Team has offices in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. The firm has tax capability in many jurisdictions in EU and outside the EU. In indirect tax we support our own UK and international tax group clients as well as working with our clients and colleagues on international tax projects, working with the lawyers in the UK groups, such as in corporate, finance, IP and real estate on transactional work, and adding value to the Sectors in which the firm operates. We also assist clients under investigation or in a dispute with HMRC and are further expanding our capabilities in this area. 

The Candidate will be expected to be self-starters, looking to identify contentious VAT and other indirect tax opportunities in- our client base and through her or his own networks and business development – and undertaking the following types of work but not be limited to:

• Having conduct of appeals to the First-tier Tax Tribunal, including taking all steps to protect client positions
• Preparing claims for recovery of overpaid VAT and indirect taxes and preparing voluntary disclosures of underpaid VAT and indirect taxes
• Assisting in raising the profile of VAT within the UK sectors, in particular across financial services, IPT, Insurance, on UK, and cross border goods and services; 
• Advising clients on due diligence measures designed to prevent, or facing interventions by HRMC in respect of alleged, non-compliance in their supply chains 
• Strategically advising clients and managing client expectations and project delivery appropriately;
• Liaising with colleagues in our International VAT Group with a view to developing a leading cross border contentious Vat and indirect tax practice;
• Business development activities, including identifying opportunities to grow the practice; 
• Work alongside transfer pricing and trade group to cross sell business and work on projects together. 

ABOUT YOU

We do not set upper or lower limits of PQE for any of our vacancies. We have however given an indicative PQE as an approximate guide for applicants. Candidates who have upwards of 4 years PQE are likely to have the right level of knowledge and have gained the right level of experience needed to be able to undertake this role.

• The successful candidate will be a qualified Lawyer, Charted Tax Advisor or Chartered Accountant (or equivalent); 
• Candidates will have good drafting and written and oral communication skills and contentious indirect tax experience gained in a leading regional or City firm;
• Have experience in a broad area of VAT, especially financial services and cross border goods and services;
• Be interested in business development activity and growing the practice;
• Excise duties and PPT experience is desirable, but not essential; 
• Be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of the technical issues that are key to our clients;
• Drafts documents using a commercial, client focussed style;
• Complies with professional standards and all relevant regulatory obligations;
• Able to handle multiple priorities, working to sometimes conflicting timescales in a fast-paced and challenging environment;
• Direct tax experience is useful, but not essential; 
• Able to build trust and rapport to develop effective relationships, internally and externally. 

ABOUT US

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive - we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and act thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative - we are proactive, passionate team players, investing in our relationships
• Be Bold - we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional - we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do.  We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

We support anyone with a disability or long term health condition to ensure they have the opportunity to perform at their best. If you have not done so already, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.

AGILE WORKING

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That's why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and references from previous employers.