Liesl Fichardt

Liesl Fichardt specializes in complex tax, finance, debt and art related investigations and disputes, and leads this practice for Quinn Emanuel in London. Liesl's expertise has been widely acknowledged by various organizations and publications. Most recently, she was recognized in the Chambers & Partners Global Guide, ranking Band 1 for Tax: Contentious. Chambers wrote, "She is first-class; she is a very good international lawyer who is highly respected, extremely hard-working and a brilliant strategist and tactician." "She is a very practiced, skillful and determined litigator." Further, Liesl has been recognized by Legal 500 in the Tax Litigation & Investigations Hall of Fame. Legal 500 wrote, “Liesl Fichardt is a superb lawyer, for whom there are not enough superlatives. Technically brilliant in the principles and details of domestic and international taxation law, she has a fantastic strategic nous and great skill and experience in dealing with tax authorities.” Liesl was also listed in the Hot 100 List by The Lawyer and has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax.

Liesl is one of the leading experts advising corporates, multinationals and high net-worth individuals on complex disputes. She has published extensively in this field. Her expertise is extensive, having qualified in the US, SA and the UK, holding dual qualifications as a solicitor-advocate and boasting experience as a top rated lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, and former acting judge.

Liesl often provides strategic guidance to Corporate, Institutional and Government Boards on how to assess, manage, minimize or mitigate risks and exposure. Over the past few years, she has been very active in complex cross border disputes relating to taxation, financing and regulatory issues for corporates including in the finance, insurance, asset management, hedge funds, development, as well as the mining, oil and gas sectors. She has particular expertise in alternative dispute resolution including mediation and facilitation of resolution of disputes. More recently she:

• Facilitated the overall settlement of a multi-billion dollar dispute (including taxation, regulatory and finance related matters) between a large multinational corporation in the mining sector and the Tanzanian government and tax authority;
• Participated in alternative dispute resolution between an international group in the insurance sector and HMRC, the UK tax authority;
• Provided strategic guidance regarding resolving complex disputes between African based development corporations and the Gabon government;
• Advised a number of cultural institutions in the US, South Africa and the UK, and their stakeholders regarding resolution of complex funding arrangements impacted by current political issues and sensitivities;
• Guided various corporate, institutional and government boards on ongoing disputes and alternative resolution options.    

Liesl is a leading figure in the legal and tax world. She sits on the International Taxes Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales and the Advisory Board for the MSc (Taxation) at Oxford University. Liesl is a current committee member and former Chair of the British Branch of the International Fiscal Association and was previously head of Tax Disputes at Clifford Chance. She is a Trustee of the Stellenbosch University Foundation UK.

She is also a prominent patron of the arts, and currently serves as a Trustee of the Contemporary Art Society (CAS) and Co-Chair of the Frieze Acquisitions Fund. Additionally, she is a Trustee of the Norval Foundation, and a member of the Advisory Board of Strauss & Co, Africa’s leading auction house.