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Ben Symons

Ben Symons

  • Qualified: 2002
  • Called to BAR: 2018
  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Consumer Credit
  • Judicial Review
  • Money Claims & Debt
  • Property, Chancery & Trusts
  • Shareholder Disputes
  • Tax

Summary

Ben is an experienced civil practitioner whose core areas of practice are tax, general civil litigation and administrative and public law. Ben is a former solicitor who is dual-qualified having been called to the Bar in both England & Wales (2011) and Australia (2014).

Specialist areas of law include

  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Consumer Credit
  • Judicial Review
  • Money Claims & Debt
  • Property, Chancery & Trusts
  • Shareholder Disputes
  • Tax

Profile description

Tax Law

Ben is experienced tax counsel with very broad experience of what is a specialist area of practice. Prior to joining chambers, Ben was employed as senior in-house tax counsel for some blue-chip financial services companies including Barclays Bank and UBS. He specialises in providing tax advice in relation to the following:

  • Mergers and acquisitions and group restructures
  • International taxation (US, EMEA, LATAM and APAC)
  • Transfer pricing/securitisation/securities lending/collateral management
  • Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
  • Residence and domicile of individuals for the purposes of UK income tax and UK inheritance tax

Ben has acted in numerous cases regarding value added tax, customs and excise, employee share schemes, stamp duty and tax. Examples include the following

  • Extensive research and drafting of a skeleton argument to argue that a value-added tax (“VAT”) claim of a taxpayer dating back over 10 years was still open and that the taxpayer was entitled to amend that original claim over a decade later.
  • Preparation of a technical note to the client and a statement of case in relation to a mediation concerning a VAT dispute and whether the taxpayer was entitled to claim the margin scheme in relation to the sale of second-hand goods that it was making.
  • Preparation of an agreed statement of facts in relation to a complicated VAT dispute and whether a certain companies of a corporate group were entitled to claim bad debt relief immediately in respect of credit sales they had made where they had not retained title to the goods (GMAC UK claims) and what the entitlement of companies that had joined the VAT group later (through acquisition) was to claim bad debt relief.
  • Assisted Helen Barnard and Owen Roberts of HMRC with a disclosure exercise in relation to an excise matter against ASDA for excise duties allegedly not paid on sales of alcohol made in the United Kingdom.
Civil litigation

Ben is experienced in advising and assisting clients at all stages of litigation from pre-action through to costs and enforcement. His practice involves advising and representing clients on a variety of proceedings in the county court and various tribunals all the way to the High Court. Ben's experience of civil cases includes but is not limited to:

  • Shareholders’ interests and disputes
  • Directors' rights and duties
  • Financial services law 
  • Contractual disputes (all forms of Breach of Contract)
  • Debt recovery
  • Insolvency and bankruptcy
  • Landlord and Tenant law
  • Credit Hire Disputes
  • Airline Compensation Claims
  • Road Traffic Accidents

Ben can be instructed to advise in writing, in conference or over the telephone. He also undertakes drafting work and can be instructed to prepare applications, correspondence, draft orders, witness statements and various written submissions including skeleton arguments.

Administrative and Public Law

Ben accepts instructions in relation to the following areas of public law:

  • Judicial Review
  • Public Inquiries

Testimonials

Ruth Clark

“I called Clerks Room Direct in February and two days later one of their barrister’s Stephen David, was representing me in court. From my first phone call to Rory I felt that I was in safe hands.” “I called Clerks Room Direct in February and two days later one of their barrister’s Stephen David, was representing me in court. From my first phone call to Rory I felt that I was in safe hands.” Read more Read less

Saleem

“The clerks were promptly aware of my requirements and were able to recommend a number of specialist barristers at competitive prices.” “The clerks were promptly aware of my requirements and were able to recommend a number of specialist barristers at competitive prices.” Read more Read less

Natalie Ryan

“The speed and quality of the service was astounding. I was recommended two extremely qualified, competent experts to discuss my matter with and had a telephone consultation within 24 hours.” “The speed and quality of the service was astounding. I was recommended two extremely qualified, competent experts to discuss my matter with and had a telephone consultation within 24 hours.” Read more Read less

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Contact Ben today
  • Go direct to save on solicitors’ fees
    Go direct to save on solicitors’ fees
  • We’ll find the right barrister for you
    We’ll find the right barrister for you
  • 1000+ barristers: all direct access specialists
    1000+ barristers: all direct access specialists
  • Save up to 42% with fixed costs
    Save up to 42% with fixed costs
    • Ben Symons
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