Tax
The Tax team is made up of experts who advise a range of businesses and individuals (both onshore and offshore) on all UK taxes. They are ranked in Legal 500, tier 3 for VAT and Indirect Tax.
The team can call on many years of experience and are regularly asked to contribute to books, journals and other periodicals.
We provide highly-specialised advice to a range of very large businesses including fully-listed international corporates and major UK universities.
Bulletins
Higher SDLT rates for second homes
During last year’s Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced that SDLT rates would increase in relation to the purchase of additional residential properties. As with the 2014 Autumn Statement changes to… Read more →
Wedlake Bell LLP is a 'friendly' firm that displays an understanding of VAT and SDLT at the 'highest levels'. The practice is led by VAT and indirect tax specialist Michael Ridsdale, whose knowledge of SDLT is 'second to none'. Ridsdale advises on a broad range of transactions and has significant experience representing tax payers in HMRC disputes and enquiries.
— Legal 500, 2022
Honest, trustworthy and open.
— Legal 500, 2022
A very friendly team that clearly understands VAT and SDLT at the highest levels.
— Legal 500, 2022
Michael Ridsdale leads the team at Wedlake Bell LLP, which advises large corporates and major UK universities on a variety of VAT issues, including those concerning real estate assets and new developments, where it draws on the firm's strong real estate capabilities. Martin Scammell is another key name; he has substantial experience in property VAT.
— Legal 500, 2020
"Michael Ridsdale heads the department and has been involved in numerous headline property transactions in 2016-2017; he has also been particularly active in thought leadership in the tax space."
— Legal 500, 2017
"Martin Scammell is another contact in the group and key clients include University of Oxford, The British Land Company, Prudential Assurance and Centrica."
— Legal 500, 2017
"Wedlake Bell LLP has a ‘deep experience’ of SDLT and VAT property transactional issues. Indeed, the firm provides ‘more pointed, complex advice than the Big 4 firms’, according to one source, and is regularly instructed by clients in the education, insurance and real estate sectors."
— Legal 500, 2017
‘Prompt and highly focused’
— Legal 500, 2017