Qualifications
BCom, LLB (Hons), University of Auckland
Admitted
1998, New Zealand
As the head of our national Tax practice, Bevan advises on a wide range of tax matters.
Bevan's experience includes restructuring, international transactions and transfer pricing, significant mergers and acquisitions (M&A), financing and capital raising transactions, tax disputes and tax risk management.
His extensive financial services sector experience sees him regularly advising financial services businesses on tax rules applicable to banking, insurance and investments/funds management (including PIE rules).
Prior to working at Chapman Tripp, Bevan was with ASB Bank where he had overall responsibility for the tax affairs of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's New Zealand group, including ASB and Sovereign Life Assurance. This, combined with his experience in private practice, means Bevan is uniquely placed to understand clients' tax requirements.
Bevan is recognised as a Leading Lawyer by Chambers Asia Pacific 2025.
Recent highlights
- Pepper New Zealand Limited (Pepper Money) on all tax aspects of its acquisition and securitisation funding of HSBC’s NZ$1.4 billion New Zealand home loan business.
- Heartland Group Holdings Limited on New Zealand tax matters relating to funding and other matters relevant to the acquisition of Australian assets including the treatment of cross-border equity and debt investments and withholding tax matters.
- New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited (NZGIF) on tax aspects related to the establishment of the NZGIF Solar Programme.
- New Ground Capital Limited on the design and establishment of a housing fund, set up to address housing shortages, including tax advice on design of the fund and application of New Zealand’s tax rules to investment funds.
- Vector Limited on tax aspects relating to the sale of 50% of its New Zealand and Australian metering business (Vector Metering) to investment vehicles managed and advised by QIC Private Capital Pty Limited (QIC) for an EV of NZ$2.5b and gross proceeds to Vector of NZ$1.7b.
- Multinational groups on a range of complex and in some cases novel New Zealand tax issues arising from cross-border arrangements including permanent establishment, transfer pricing, withholding tax and Goods and Services Tax implications.
- Advising on implementation and review of tax risk management frameworks and policies.
- Advised on all aspects of significant tax disputes with Inland Revenue, including preparing relevant dispute documents, preparing and/or reviewing court documents, managing the discovery process, briefing witnesses, liaising with external counsel and appearing as counsel in High Court proceedings.
- Obtained binding rulings and advance pricing agreements from Inland Revenue on complex commercial, funding transactions and cross-border related party transactions.
Affiliations
- Co-chair of the Financial Services Council Tax committee.
- Member of the IFA NZ committee.
- Member of the Institute of Directors.
- Regular presenter at domestic and global tax conferences.
- Previous Chair of the New Zealand Bankers’ Association Tax Working Group.
