Baker McKenzie‘s well-established customs and excise practice has a comprehensive offering which encompasses trade disputes, HMRC negotiations, and regulatory compliance, as well as sanctions advice and general advisory services. The group’s leading reputation in the London market, alongside its extensive experience handling complex, multijurisdictional matters, has amassed an impressive and extensive client roster comprised of notable names from the tech, luxury and fashion, and oil and gas sectors, to name a few. Spearheading the team is Jennifer Revis, who is praised by clients for her ‘strong technical skills.’ She stands out for her breadth of expertise that spans customs valuations, rules of origin, and classifications, alongside investigations, transfer pricing issues, and litigation. The department also benefits from the aptitude of Ben Smith, who specialises in export controls, sanctions, and customs advice. Other key members of the practice include tariff classification expert Jessica Mutton and supply chain restructuring authority Kelvin Hong.

Praised by clients as an ‘excellent team with particular expertise in customs and excise matters,’ PwC LLP is highly regarded for its wide-ranging capabilities, which span HMR disputes, customs duty reviews, and settlement agreements, alongside investigations, litigation, and environmental excise tax mandates. The practice’s breadth and cross-border capabilities continue to attract new clients, including impressive names from the food and beverage, consumer goods, and aviation sectors. David Anderson co-heads the department alongside Victor Cramer and Holly Grantham, and is recognised for his aptitude for litigating customs and excise disputes. Cramer is a key contact for HMRC disputes and alternative dispute resolution, while Grantham specialises in environmental tax and regularly assists with transactions, restructurings, and compliance issues. Other notable team members include Claire Millard and Richard Kelly.

With an aptitude for handling customs duty issues, judicial reviews, and tax litigation and investigations, RPC‘s customs and excise department is capable of advising large multinational businesses on a range of mandates both domestically and internationally. The team’s cross-border capabilities and deep expertise in the field continue to attract new clients from the manufacturing, tech, and food and beverage sectors. Spearheading the group is Adam Craggs, who is supported by contentious specialist Michelle Sloane. Sloane is noted for her breadth of practice, which encompasses customs and excise duty disputes, HMRC criminal investigations, and prosecutions. On the judicial review and civil proceedings front, Liam McKay is a key contact, while Alexis Armitage focuses on HMRC enquiries and information notices. Jasprit Singh is another notable name and regularly advises on anti-facilitation of tax evasion compliance.

The ‘brilliant’ customs and excise team at Ernst & Young LLP is sought after by notable names from the manufacturing, logistics, and automotive industries seeking assistance with disputes, customs valuations, and compliance, as well as investigations, disclosures, and trade remedies. With a robust offering and a multidisciplinary approach, the group continues to expand its client roster, further cementing its presence in the distribution services, chemical, and defence sectors. Heading up the department is Julian Balson, who stands out for his ‘vast wealth of knowledge and experience’ which encompasses litigation, investigations, and export controls and sanctions. He is supported by time-to-pay agreement specialist Holly Rowland, cross-border disputes authority Diego Quinones Cruz, and HMRC negotiations expert Davinder Sahota.

Kennedys' customs and excise group regularly advises notable names from the retail, gambling, and transport sectors on excise duty assessment appeals, HMRC negotiations, and fraud investigations, as well as regulatory compliance, litigation, and enforcement risks. The team’s capabilities to handle both contentious and non-contentious mandates, as well as its cross-border experience, continue to attract new clients, further cementing its presence in the logistics and financial solutions industries. Andy Brown sits at the helm of the practice and specialises in international tax disputes and investigations. He is supported by Chris Young, who stands out for his experience representing businesses in HMRC disputes and criminal proceedings. The department also benefits from new addition Ben Williams, who joined from HMRC in October 2024 and also concentrates on tax disputes with HMRC.