Ben Phillips

Over the past ten years, Ben has advised a significant number of clients across the Middle East and North Africa region, primarily focusing on the GCC and Egypt.

Ben has advised on complex international tax matters, including multijurisdictional group restructuring and reorganisations in the Middle East region.

In addition, Ben has vast experience of advising on buy side and sell side deals including drafting legal provisions in the contractual documentation and negotiating provisions with opposite counsel.

Ben also provides domestic corporate tax advisory support, including advising a number of clients on the introduction and application of corporate tax in the UAE.

Mergers and acquisitions

• Advised Brooge Energy on the tax provisions of the contractual documentation on its divestment in BPGIC Group to Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC.
• Advised CVC DIF on the tax provisions, including Pillar Two, in the sale and purchase agreement on the USD 1.03 billion investment in National Central Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed).
• Advised Gulf Data Hub on the tax provisions to be included in the sale and purchase agreement, and negotiated the provisions with Buyer’s legal counsel, on its disposal of a stake in its data centres to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
• Advised Affinity Holdings Private Limited on the tax provisions to be included in the sale and purchase agreement, and negotiated the provisions with consortium’s legal counsel, on its USD 1.01 billion disposal of a healthcare asset to a consortium.

Restructuring and international tax structuring

• Advised on a significant investment by a UAE sovereign wealth fund in a global environmental commodities exchange and their re-domiciliation from Singapore to the UAE.
• Advised a leading fashion house on its Middle East structure as it re-evaluated its legal arrangements with its local partner.
• Advised an e-commerce platform on the proposed investment in UAE real estate, including the application of the UAE domestic minimum top up tax regime to the proposed investment.
• Advised a leading financial institution on its proposed re-domiciliation to the UAE.

Tax advisory

• Ongoing tax adviser to a leading financial institution on its tax obligations across the GCC.
• Advised a leading multinational technology company on its proposed data centre expansion in the UAE and KSA.
• Advised a leading private bank on the merger of a number of entities in the Middle East and North Africa region.
• Tax advisory to a UAE headquartered FMCG business on pre-implementation restructuring in light of the introduction of UAE corporate tax.

• ICAEW - Chartered Accountant
• Solicitor’s Regulatory Authority
• Dubai Legal Affairs Department