George Rowell

Call 2004

rowell@exchangechambers.co.uk

"George is a really impressive barrister, his knowledge of law is incomparable, and he is never anything other than 100% impeccably prepared. Remarkably, he is also highly pragmatic and commercially-minded, which is very rare indeed in combination with such an academic mind, so he really offers the best of both worlds."

The Legal 500 2024
Photo of George Rowell

Professional Negligence

George is a commercial barrister specialising in tax disputes, professional negligence and insolvency. Although he has experience across the range of professional negligence work, he has a particular interest in tax-related professional negligence claims. As he understands the tax law underlying such claims, he is able to take points on breach of duty, causation, loss and mitigation which might not occur to other professional negligence lawyers.

George has experience of professional negligence claims against:

  • Accountants
  • Auditors
  • Chartered tax advisors
  • Independent financial advisors
  • Solicitors
  • Surveyors

George has been rated as a Leading Junior in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Chambers & Partners says: “George provided detailed yet considered advice in relation to complex arrangements being scrutinised by HMRC” and “George was most approachable and worked with us in developing the strategy to defend the arrangements and seek settlement.”; Legal 500 says he is: “practical, pragmatic and puts clients at ease, excellent at tax and developing a specialism in professional negligence in tax-related cases.” (see Recommendations for details).

Professional Negligence Cases

  • Claim for over £12m arising from an aggressive tax avoidance scheme used by an insurance brokerage company.
  • £2.7m claim against seven defendants arising from aggressive tax avoidance schemes used between 2009 and 2018.
  • Complex set of claims, for around £4m in total, against accountants and tax advisers arising from partnership-based tax avoidance scheme (with leader).
  • Negligence claims arising from three complex failed tax avoidance schemes used between 2010 and 2013 resulting in claims by the company’s liquidators for £7.5m, as well as tax liabilities to HMRC of around £2m.
  • Professional negligence claim for £5m+ losses arising from seriously defective VAT, accountancy, and business structuring advice.
  • Ten-handed claim against trade union for defective legal advice.
  • Claim arising from tax avoidance scheme used between 2012 and 2017, which resulted in tax liabilities of over £1m.
  • Claim against accountants and CTAs for recommending investment in high-risk ‘film scheme’, which led to tax and NIC assessments and commercial liabilities to third parties.