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KPMG has announced the appointment of a new partner for its tax controversy practice in Brisbane.
KPMG strengthens legal push with new appointment
24 February 2016
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1 minute read
Sarah Blacklock joins KPMG from law firm McCullough Robertson, and previously Ashurst’s Sydney dispute resolution practice. She joins KPMG's tax controversy practice leader, Angela Wood, and partners Sarah Dunn and Angelina Lagana to become the fourth partner in the big four firm’s national tax controversy practice.
Ms Blacklock has experience managing and resolving risk reviews and audits for high-wealth individuals, SMEs and international taxpayers. She has also run tax litigation in the Federal Court, AAT and state courts for both taxpayers and the commissioner of taxation.
Ms Wood said: “This is a rapidly growing area for KPMG globally and in the region, and external developments such as the introduction of Australia’s Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law and the ATO’s ever-increasing focus on transfer pricing disputes have driven the need to recruit more specialist tax controversy expertise into KPMG Law.
“We are delighted to appoint someone of Sarah’s experience to our national tax controversy practice. As a Harvard-trained negotiator, Sarah brings a unique approach to dispute engagement and resolution.”
The KPMG appointment represents a further example of the big four expanding their push into legal services, with PwC recently voicing their aspirations to become a top 20 global legal firm.
Law firms themselves have recently been urged to consider a push into the taxation space in an attempt to combat an encroachment on their own services.
