Sylvester Urban is an experienced Senior Associate in the tax group. Sylvester advises on some of the most complex issues affecting the financial services industry, and has particular expertise in cross-border tax regimes.
Sylvester also assists clients in other sectors such as resources, infrastructure, construction and industrials. Sylvester has been involved on some of the largest M&A deals and has experience in tax audits and tax litigation with tax authorities.
Sylvester is at the forefront of legal and industry developments and regularly advises clients on new and untested areas of tax law.
In his spare time, Sylvester is a chess master who regularly competes in strong chess tournaments.
Sylvester's work highlights include:
- NAB, IAG, BOQ, Challenger and others: advised on the tax aspects of recent debt issuances, and obtained rulings from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
- Several multinational clients: advised on responding to the ATO’s questions on compliance with section 128F of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth).
- Australian bank: advised on a FATCA/CRS audit by the ATO.
- Large asset manager: advised in relation to voluntary disclosure and remediation of complex trust taxation and FATCA/CRS breaches.
- A range of mutual banks: part of the market-leading team to pioneer the issuance of mutual capital instruments.
- AIG and other insurers: regularly advises W&I insurers on a range of complex tax issues across many different industries.
- Chevron Global Energy Inc: provided critical tax structuring advice in relation to Chevron’s acquisition of Puma Energy’s retail fuels business.
- Newmont: advised Newmont on its A$26bn acquisition of Newcrest.
- Woodside: advised on the merger with BHP’s petroleum business.
- Leading healthcare and insurance group: advised in relation to a substantial income tax dispute with the Commissioner of Taxation.
- REA Group: advised REA Group on the tax aspects of its divestment of key operating entities in Malaysia and Thailand, and its accompanying minority investment in PropertyGuru.
