
Robert E. Gaut
Partner
Robert Gaut is a tax partner and head of our UK tax practice in London.
Robert provides advice on a full range of UK and international tax issues relating to fund formation, private equity deals, finance transactions and private equity real estate matters, including experience with non-traditional equity transactions, such as debt-like preferred equity and co-investments for private credit investors.
Robert is highly-regarded for his ability to provide sophisticated tax advice to many of the world’s preeminent multinational companies, sovereign wealth funds, investment banks and private equity and credit funds. Clients have commented to legal directories that Robert is “really technical and knows his stuff,” and “has a very strong knowledge of the various tax laws, but also presents more innovative techniques and strategies."
He is consistently recognized by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 United Kingdom, and has been recognized by Chambers Global as a leading individual in tax. The Legal 500 comments that Robert has “vast experience in a range of matters, including corporate tax structuring, real estate tax and fund formation.”
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Company share option plans (CSOP) and enterprise management incentives (EMI) are two statutory share option regimes that can be used to incentivise employees in a tax-efficient way. Broadly, where the relevant qualifying criteria have been met, both the CSOP and EMI schemes allow employees to acquire shares in their employer (or its group) for less … Continue Reading
As has been widely reported, a number of the Mini Budget proposals (summarised in our recent Tax Blog) have been scrapped. The new Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced these measures claiming that they are estimated to raise £32 billion in taxes every year. More tax rises and spending cuts are expected to be … Continue Reading
UK Mini Budget 2022 The Chancellor today unveiled the UK’s 2022 Growth Plan which has been described as being “the biggest package of tax cuts in generations”. We have summarised here the tax changes that we think will be of interest to our client base. UK corporation tax: the main corporation tax rate that was … Continue Reading
The recent decision of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) in BlueCrest Capital Management (UK) LLP v HMRC (29 June 2022) is the first time the UK’s salaried member rules (the Rules) have been considered in the context of an asset management limited liability partnership (LLP). BlueCrest is engaged in providing hedge fund investment management services. In … Continue Reading
HMRC has recently updated the guidance relating to the UK’s new qualifying asset holding company (QAHC) tax regime which was introduced from 1 April 2022. The new guidance clarifies HMRC’s approach to whether corporate lending vehicles used by credit funds should be treated as carrying on an investment activity or a trade in the context … Continue Reading
Summary and Background On 11 May 2022, the European Commission (the “Commission”) published its draft proposal for a debt-equity bias reduction allowance (“DEBRA” or, the “Directive”), which forms part of the Commission’s Communication on Business Taxation reforms which were first outlined on 18 May 2021. The Directive seeks to remove tax as a weighted factor … Continue Reading
Significant progress has been made in the efforts of the OECD to reach international consensus on the BEPS 2.0 proposals. Broadly, the proposals are aimed at addressing challenges relating to taxation of the modern digital economy. The 139 country OECD Inclusive Framework meeting concluded on 1 July 2021, with 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing in … Continue Reading
The UK Chancellor has today announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the furlough scheme) and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be extended against “a worsening economic backdrop”. Earlier this week we reported on the UK Prime Minister’s reintroduction of the furlough scheme until 2 December 2020 (the scheduled end date of the … Continue Reading
Ahead of England’s return to national lockdown this Thursday, the UK Prime Minister has announced the extension of support packages for both employed workers and for the self-employed. As reported by us previously (https://www.proskauertaxtalks.com/2020/09/uk-chancellor-announces-winter-economy-plan/) the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the furlough scheme) was due to end and its replacement, the Job Support Scheme, was to … Continue Reading
As coronavirus infection rates rise and restrictions tighten across the UK, the UK Chancellor has extended the Job Support Scheme (again). Last week we reported on the extension of the Scheme to businesses legally required to close under tier 3 of the alert system (https://www.proskauertaxtalks.com/2020/10/covid-19-extension-of-the-uks-job-support-scheme/). Yesterday (22 October) the UK Chancellor announced the following updates: … Continue Reading
As lockdowns loom across the land with the introduction of a three-tier system of restrictions based on local COVID-19 alert levels, at the highest alert level (tier 3) certain businesses will be forced to close, including pubs and bars (unless they serve substantial meals). To support businesses that are legally required to close as a … Continue Reading
The European Council has announced its decision to remove the Cayman Islands from the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. In February we reported on Cayman’s inclusion on the list and our expectation that Cayman would make every effort to ensure its removal from the list in cooperation with the EU (https://www.proskauertaxtalks.com/2020/02/cayman-islands-added-to-the-eu-blacklist-of-non-cooperative-jurisdictions-for-tax-purposes/). The … Continue Reading
As the UK braces itself for a second wave of COVID-19 the UK Chancellor has announced the Treasury’s Winter Economy Plan with the aim of protecting jobs and supporting businesses over the coming months. Despite the measures introduced in the Chancellor’s Summer Statement (reported by us https://www.proskauer.com/blog/chancellors-summer-statement-focuses-on-hospitality-sector), the UK’s economic recovery “is fragile” amidst the … Continue Reading
Following the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) rulings in Meo and Vodafone Portugal, HMRC has recently updated its VAT manual and published a brief (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-and-customs-brief-12-2020-vat-early-termination-fees-and-compensation-payments/) stating that payments arising out of early contract termination will now be treated as consideration for a taxable supply therefore subject to VAT. This marks a significant change from HMRC’s … Continue Reading
The UK government has opened a consultation on draft legislation concerning the taxation of coronavirus business support payments. HMRC want views on the technical effectiveness of the proposed legislation in ensuring that grants covered by the legislation are subject to tax. Such grants include the much-reported Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) (as reported by us … Continue Reading
On 18 February 2020, the ECOFIN committee of finance ministers of the EU resolved to add the Cayman Islands to the EU blacklist of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Their reasoning was short: “[The] Cayman Islands does not have appropriate measures in place relating to economic substance in the area of collective investment vehicles.” This … Continue Reading
Development Securities plc and others v HMRC [2019] UKUT 169 (TCC) The Original Judgment As we reported in our August 2017 UK Tax Round-Up [https://www.proskauer.com/newsletter/uk-tax-round-up-august-2017], the UK’s First Tier Tribunal (“FTT”) found against the taxpayer in the Development Securities case, and ruled that certain Jersey-incorporated companies were, in fact, UK tax resident through central management … Continue Reading
UK General Tax Developments HMRC updates guidance on what constitutes “ordinary share capital” Following the decision by the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) in Warshaw V HMRC, reported in our UK tax blog earlier this month, HMRC has updated its guidance on what constitutes “ordinary share capital” for the purposes of most tax provisions using that term. As well as … Continue Reading
Welcome to the January 2019 edition of the UK Tax Round Up. With the political focus continuing to be dominated by Brexit, this month has been reasonably quiet on the UK tax front. There have nevertheless been some noteworthy developments. Please view this month’s issue of the UK Tax Round Up.… Continue Reading
Season’s greetings from Proskauer’s UK tax team and welcome to the December edition of the Tax Round Up. Following the Autumn Budget and draft Finance Bill last month, this month has been comparatively quiet with very few significant announcements. Please view this month’s issue of the UK Tax Round Up.… Continue Reading
Welcome to the November edition of the Proskauer UK Tax Round Up. This month has seen a number of developments, both on the domestic and international tax fronts. We have set out a summary of some of the main points of interest. Please view this month’s issue of the UK Tax Round Up.… Continue Reading
The UK Budget took place on 29th October. The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, took the opportunity to make a series of targeted changes to the UK’s tax system, some of which had already been announced, but several of which were new and surprising. We have summarized here of the most eye-catching changes that will be of … Continue Reading
Welcome to the October edition of the Proskauer UK Tax Round Up. It has been a reasonably busy month, with a number of interesting UK cases being reported as well as further clarity from the CJEU in relation to VAT. The Autumn Budget will be presented later today and the Finance Bill 2019 will be … Continue Reading
Welcome to the September edition of the Proskauer UK Tax Round Up. This month has seen a number of interesting tax cases and some clarity on the meaning of ordinary share capital. Please view this month’s issue of the UK Tax Round Up.… Continue Reading