‘I lead a multifunctional team of 1500 people: 400 lawyers plus paralegals accountants insolvency practitioners tax specialists and other professionals.’
Alan Evans is talking about his job in HMRC to which he returned in 2019 as general counsel. He is responsible for all of HMRC’s litigation including tax litigation from the First-tier Tribunal up to the Supreme Court. ‘We have around 40 000 cases with a success rate of around 90% protecting billions of pounds in tax. The litigation and settlement strategy is well embedded. We also handle statutory reviews providing taxpayers with an impartial review of decisions and an opportunity for a second opinion without the cost and stress of an appeal to the tribunal – although of course it doesn’t preclude the exercise of the right of appeal.’ ...