Liesl Fichardt, who specialises in complex tax, finance and debt related investigations and disputes was most recently 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 practised, skilful 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. She has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax.
Liesl leads this international practice from London. Previously, Liesl was head of the Tax Investigations and Disputes practice at Clifford Chance. She is one of the leading experts advising corporates and multi –nationals and high net individuals. Her experience is wide-ranging as solicitor, advocate, arbitrator and former acting judge.
Given the complex and sensitive nature of the work, she often provides strategic guidance to Boards and how to assess, manage, minimize or mitigate risks and exposure. In the past few years, she has been very active in the following areas: tax and debt structuring / debt instrument disputes; disputes on taxation relevant to the Sport industry; the Media and Entertainment industry; the taxation of partnerships; private equity, funds and asset managers and disputes in that area; complex cross border taxation, financing and regulatory issues for corporates including the finance, insurance, asset management, hedge funds, mining, oil and gas sectors. She conducts many tax disputes against HMRC and multiple other tax authorities and regulatory bodies.
Liesl is former Chair of the British Branch of the International Fiscal Association and also sits on the International Taxes Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales. She has published widely in this field.
- Notre Dame
(LLM, International Law and Legal Studies, cum laude, 1991)
- Stellenbosch University
(LLB, Bcom, Law, 1989)
- University of Cape Town
(H (Dip) Tax, Tax Law/Taxation, 1999)
- Chartered Institute of Taxation
(Advanced Diploma in International Taxation, 2008)
- Solicitor, England & Wales
- Solicitor-Advocate, England & Wales
- Advocate, The High Court of South Africa
- Afrikaans
- Clifford Chance LLP:
- Partner, Head of Tax Disputes, 2013-2017
- Partner, Head of Tax Disputes, 2013-2017
- Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP:
- Partner, Head of Tax Disputes, 2007 -2013
- Partner, Head of Tax Disputes, 2007 -2013
- Dorsey & Whitney:
- Partner, 2006-2007
- Partner, 2006-2007
- High Court of South Africa:
- Judge, 2004
- Advocate High Court
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators Guide 2023, International Investigations, esp. Tax; Russia Disputes
- Chambers Global 2023: UK: Tax: Contentious – Band 1
- Who’s Who Legal 2023: Thought Leaders Global Elite, Corporate Tax – Controversy
- Listed in Legal 500 UK as a “Hall of Fame” for Tax Litigation & Investigations, 2023
- Euromoney’s 2022 Expert Guides, Women in Business Law
- Named a Law360 MVP in Tax, 2022
- UK Legal 500 2022: Tax Litigation & Investigations
- Hall of Fame
- Chambers 2021, 2022, 2023: Global and UK-Wide, Tax: Contentious
- Band 1
- International Tax Review (ITR): Women in Tax Leaders Guide (2020)
- Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax 2019-2020
- The Lawyer Hot 100
- UK Legal 500 2020: Tax Litigation and Investigations
- Leading Individuals
- International Tax Review (ITR): Tax Controversy Leaders (2020, 7th Edition)
- Advisory Board and Governance, MSc in Taxation, Oxford University
- Trustee Stellenbosch University Trust, UK
- Taxation Seminars Committee, London School of Economics
- British Branch Committee of the International Fiscal Association (IFA) and former British Branch Chair
- International Taxes Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales
- Contemporary Arts Society: Gold Patron
- Norval Foundation Education: Patron