Phillip Chrisp

Senior Associate

Phillip is a tax law specialist with broad experience advising on New Zealand tax matters.

Phillip has a particular focus on corporate taxation, regularly advising on the tax aspects of business and property transactions. He has four years’ Big Four experience in transfer pricing and has a particular interest in advising clients on structuring, international taxation and financing. He also routinely assists businesses with tax controversies and disputes and obtaining rulings.

He also advises on commercial contracts, employment taxation, regulatory tax compliance (including FATCA/CRS) and GST.

Phillip’s key clients include a number of New Zealand listed clients and leading businesses, large multinational enterprises, private equity and managed funds, warranty and indemnity insurers, and high net worth individuals.

Phillip’s approach is to provide clear, thoughtful and client-focused advice. His ability to put himself in the shoes of clients to understand their objectives and to identify key risks and value drivers to reach commercial outcomes, leads to Phillip establishing enduring relationships with clients and becoming a trusted adviser.

Career highlights

Advising on the tax aspects of a number of recent significant business transactions, including advising the Auckland Radiology Group on its sale of the ARG business to Infratil, EBOS on its acquisition of LifeHealthcare for A$1.167 billion, Next Capital on its sale of the NZ Bus business, the shareholders of Hamilton Radiology Limited and Midland MRI Limited on the sale of the shares to I-Med, and Aon New Zealand on the sale of its superannuation business.

Advising a multinational group on the tax implications of a significant refinancing of cross-border related party debt and preparation of interest rate benchmarking study.

Advising a large New Zealand fund manager on the structuring and implementation of a novel PIE fund structure.

Negotiating a favourable tax settlement with Inland Revenue for a client on the repatriation of more than 30 years of accumulated trust assets held offshore.

Assisting a high net worth family with various complex tax issues involved in the wind down of a foreign trust structure and on migration to New Zealand.

Assisting a number of New Zealand business with the establishment of employee share schemes in New Zealand, including the establishment of two exempt employee share schemes for two NZX listed entities.

Achievements and recognition
  • Tier 1 team, Tax, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific