ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2021: Flick Gocke Schaumburg named Germany Tax Firm and Tax Disputes Firm of the Year

Flick Gocke Schaumburg has been named as Germany Tax Firm of the Year at the ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2021. It also won the title of Germany Tax Disputes Firm of the Year. The awards ceremony took place online on September 9, 2021.

Setting out its reasons for the honors, ITR said that Flick Gocke Schaumburg could look back on an outstanding year in tax advisory and tax dispute resolution. Further, it spoke of the firm successfully assisting several DAX 30 companies in tax audits and resolving complex tax issues. ITR also mentioned the firm had secured important decisions for its clients in disputes with the German tax authorities, and assisted in some of the most significant corporate transactions and indirect tax matters.

In terms of deals done, ITR highlighted Flick Gocke Schaumburg’s advisory support to an electronics group in preparing a complex international joint venture, to Siemens in the spin-off and IPO of Siemens Energy with a volume of EUR 20bn, and to Schneider Electric in tax due diligence and structuring on its acquisition of RIB Software. A special mention also went to Flick Gocke Schaumburg’s advisory role for Open Grid Europe and MET in the bidding process for the acquisition of Gas Union Group. This transaction showcased the firm’s ability to balance efficient tax structuring with complex legal and regulatory requirements, ITR said.

ITR also acknowledged an outstanding past year for Flick Gocke Schaumburg’s dispute resolution and litigation team, which successfully advised several DAX 30 clients among others. One example cited by ITR was the creation of a defense strategy against actions brought by the tax authorities in income adjustment procedures – a international case involving complex civil law issues, requiring the preparation of a model calculation to determine royalties using a software-based calculation model.

Summing up, ITR said: “Whether supporting clients on transactions, tax advice, appeal defense or representation in criminal cases, FGS is the outstanding tax firm in the German market.”

Professor Thomas Rödder, Chairman of Flick Gocke Schaumburg, states: “We are delighted with the awards and the recognition of our day-to-day commitment to serving our clients, which is increasingly internationally focused. The ITR Awards once again confirm the success of our approach to tax-focused legal advice.”

The 2021 event was the 17th ITR EMEA Tax Awards ceremony. The awards go to the leading tax firms and advisors in the EMEA region following extensive research and interviews. Winners are determined based on innovation, complexity of engagements and market impact.