Peter Scott is a Senior Associate at King & Wood Mallesons. Specialising in transactional tax matters with a sharp focus on funds and cross-border investments, Peter helps clients to navigate complex tax issues with confidence. He is known for his expertise in tax controversy and international matters. He has more than a decade of experience across a range of sectors including energy, infrastructure and financial services. Peter also has a strong background in private wealth tax issues, including in relation to family trusts and private companies.
Expertise in funds, deals and cross-border investment
Peter regularly advises Australian and foreign institutional investors on major investments, m&a and financing deals. He has significant experience advising on the tax aspects of establishing, operating, restructuring and investing into Australian and offshore funds, including across debt, property, private equity and resources. With a deep understanding of the domestic and cross-border debt market, Peter navigates compliance/structuring challenges and advises on sophisticated financing arrangements, including compliance with Australia’s thin capitalisation rules.
Peter has guided private and institutional clients through more than 50 large private placements in domestic and international markets, including Asian, European and US credit and private equity funds as well as co-investments.
Tax controversy
Peter is known for his strategic handling of tax controversy matters, representing clients in negotiations and disputes with the Australian Taxation Office and state revenue offices. Across audits, voluntary disclosures, settlements and litigation, he helps clients obtain optimal outcomes.
Highlights include successfully negotiating the settlement of an ATO dispute involving a significant infrastructure asset and managing complex tax litigation for high net-worth clients.
Notable achievements and credentials
A fellow of the Tax Institute of Australia and a member of the International Fiscal Association, Peter is a respected thought leader, regularly presenting on technical tax issues and contributing insightful articles. He holds an LLM (Sydney) and a BBus and LLB (Hons I) (UTas) and has lectured in tax at the University of Tasmania.
Client highlights in more detail
Peter has extensive experience across complex transactional and controversy matters. Highlights include advising:
- Insignia Financial in relation to various large private placement investments in offshore and domestic funds for a superannuation fund and other funds managed by Insignia Financial.
- Australian Retirement Trust relating to various Australian investments.
- OPSEU Pension Trust on a number of Australian investments.
- Pension Protection Fund for a number of Australian assets.
- UBS on various funds managed by UBS.
- A very large custodian in respect of their global custody services and securities lending program.
- QIC Limited on their domestic and international managed funds.
- Goldman Sachs in relation to the establishment of a credit fund.
- HNW private client in relation to an audit and ultimately the negotiation of settlement terms for a long running ATO dispute relating to an offshore controlled company.
- HNW private client to adopt a filing position in respect of a complex capital gains tax issue, including briefing counsel.
- A large fund in relation to the settlement of an ATO dispute relating to an infrastructure asset.
- Corporate restructures in respect of various corporate restructuring transactions, including obtaining favourable tax rulings for two demergers.
