Sara Sinfield

Partner

London

+44 20 7859 2725 | +44 7823 340 852

Sara.Sinfield@ashurstperkins.com

Overview
Experience

Introduction

Sara acts for a range of clients on complex, high value tax litigation matters and has deep knowledge and experience of corporate taxation, particularly on real estate transactions.

Sara Sinfield is a partner in the London tax team. She is currently listed in Chambers 2026 as Up and Coming and in the Legal 500 2026 as a Next Generation Partner for Tax Litigation and Investigations.

Sara obtained Higher Rights of Audience in 2014 giving her the rights of audience for civil cases before the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Along with her extensive experience in the Tax Tribunals, Sara continues to advise on judicial review claims, a growing area of importance in the contentious tax sphere.

Outside of the Courts, Sara advises specialist tax insurers, premium corporates and public sector clients on their approach to tax risk and dealing with enquiries from HMRC. Her transactional tax practice ensures she is well placed to understand technical tax issues, with a view to achieving pragmatic and commercial solutions for clients.

Sara also has experience advising on a variety of transactions with a real estate focus, including development and development finance, commercial leasing, and both corporate and asset acquisitions and disposals.

Professional Experience

Wood Engineering (North Sea) Limited in relation to an FTT appeal in respect of a potential employer NIC assessment for periods from 2011 to 2013 in respect of offshore crews provided by the group from offshore employers to clients operating oil rigs in the North Sea.
Odfjell Drilling on its appeal to the FTT and subsequent appeal to the UT in relation to a long running NICs dispute, as well as its claim for judicial review relating to the same liability.
NHS IoW Trust in its successful appeal to the FTT relating to the application of the VAT medical exemption.
Imperial Brands in challenging the European Commission’s state aid decision concerning the UK CFC financing exemption.
Hastings Insurance Services in relation to their appeal to the FTT Tribunal in which Hastings successfully recovered £16m of input VAT over a four-year period on the basis that HMRC’s introduction of the “Offshore Looping Rules” was incompatible with EU law (notably the Principal VAT Directive).
A confidential client on a long-running and complex HMRC enquiry into their reorganisation.
A confidential client in respect of the latest information notice issued in relation to an unallowable purpose enquiry currently being carried out by HMRC.