Mathew McKay

Contact Mathew

Mathew is a specialist in tax disputes and litigation, with broad experience across a range of industries and transactions.

Mathew has a well earned reputation for representing clients during the Inland Revenue audit and dispute resolution phases and in court proceedings to the highest level.

He advises on all aspects of New Zealand corporate tax law, including tax issues affecting mergers and acquisitions, capital restructuring and financing arrangements, cross border transactions, debt securitisations and employee remuneration arrangements. He also provides advice to clients on the establishment and operation of managed fund vehicles including portfolio investment entity (PIE) funds and limited partnerships.

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 names Mathew as a leading individual for tax. Clients say "Mathew McKay always delivers high quality, commercial advice, on short turn-around times. When you are in a tight spot it is comforting to know that you have Mathew in your corner – he is a trusted adviser and a safe pair of hands." In a previous edition, he is described as "technically brilliant, and is one of the leading litigators when it comes to arguing complex tax technical issues."

Chambers Asia Pacific 2023 also ranks Mathew as a leading tax lawyer. In a previous edition, one client described Mathew as a "safe pair of hands," whose strengths include "technical knowledge of tax, service delivery and communication skills." Clients have also said in previous editions that “he is very technically sound and good at articulating complex problems and making things simple for clients," and praise Mathew for his ability to "quickly scope out potential issues" and to provide "well-considered and concise advice."

Mathew is recognised as a leading tax practitioner in World Tax 2023.

In the Who's Who Legal: Corporate Tax 2018 publication, Mathew is nominated among the top New Zealand practitioners in the Tax Controversy directory.

Work highlights

IRD disputes and litigation
Advised many clients on IRD audits and investigations and in litigation with the IRD, including:

clients involved in disputes with the IRD on tax positions adopted on hybrid funding arrangements to fund their New Zealand operations including Alesco New Zealand, Telstra New Zealand and many other large organisations.
Sovereign Assurance Company on the tax treatment of its reinsurance arrangements with international reinsurers.

Corporate tax advisory work

Fletcher Building sale of Pacific Steel to Bluescope Steel
Acted for Fletcher Building on all New Zealand tax aspects of the sale of the downstream long-products rolling and marketing operations of Pacific Steel to BlueScope Steel in a transaction valued at approximately NZ$120 million.

Sale of Carter Holt Harvey pulp, paper and packaging business
Advised Rank Group and its subsidiary Carter Holt Harvey on the taxation aspects of the sale of the New Zealand pulp, paper and packaging business to the Oji Holdings Network Corporation and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan for NZ$1.037 billion. In particular, advising on pre-sale restructuring, transaction sequencing and negotiating tax clauses in the sale and purchase documentation.

Crown Fibre Holdings ultra-fast broadband initiative
Advised Crown Fibre Holdings on the tax aspects of New Zealand's ultra-fast broadband initiative.

Contact Mathew

Work highlights

Corporate tax advisory work

Insights by Mathew