Lee Nuttall

Lee Nuttall is the leader of Gowling WLG UK's national Tax Group. The UK Tax Group is described by Legal 500 as a "first-rate and user-friendly team".

A partner based in Gowling WLG's Birmingham and London offices, Lee has broad experience of commercial corporate tax for more than 25 years - a focus that is evenly balanced between transactional and advisory work. His expertise is in both direct and indirect domestic tax issues, and extends to those international tax issues that are relevant to the needs of his clients.

Lee is recognised as a leading individual in Corporate Tax (and described as "very brainy"), and is recognised by Chambers & Partners in the same category. One client comments: "Lee will explain complicated transactions with both patience and respect, and always delivers sound advice we can rely on."

The tax landscape is changing at a faster pace than ever before. To navigate it successfully, you need help and guidance from seasoned tax advisers who know your sector. Lee's particular focus is on the application of taxes to the UK real estate sector - whether clients are investing or trading; buying or selling; or raising finance through debt or private equity. He has a particular interest in tax advisory work relating to joint ventures, partnerships, trusts and other forms of collective participation in UK real estate, and in its practical implementation.

His client roster includes:

• pension funds and other institutional investors;
• commercial developers of all descriptions, including regeneration and logistics specialists;
• national and regional residential developers;
• listed and private companies;
• retail and other occupiers;
• local authorities and other public sector bodies;
• domestic and cross border lenders;
• equity providers; and
• housing associations and charities.

As well as deep experience in tax issues relevant to office, retail and industrial sectors, Lee has specialist expertise in sub-sectors such as housing (PRS and BTR), care homes, supported living and student accommodation; serviced offices; hotels, leisure, pubs and bars; agricultural farmland and forestry; data centres, and infrastructure. Mixed-use schemes (particularly those involving residential) pose interesting structural tax challenges which need careful management to avoid tax leakage.

Recent experience

• Leading on the acquisition of a £80m research park for an institutional client wrapped by a corporate, and the subsequent hive-up of the property business and real estate asset
• Advising a pension fund on its £150m investment in a US-based equities fund
• Designing a tailored structure for investment by a non-UK resident entity in a major central London property