Neil Russ

Neil specialises in corporate and international income tax issues, as well as structured transactions. Neil also has extensive experience in relation to GST matters, and is the author of the 11th edition of GST - A Practical Guide (CCH/Wolters Kluwer, June 2025), the leading text on GST in New Zealand.  In addition to his tax expertise Neil has a multi-jurisdictional background in banking, capital markets, structured finance, venture capital and private equity transactions.

Neil is currently advising a number of New Zealand and offshore clients about the tax consequences of available structuring options, and the tax aspects of investment transactions and asset disposals.  He advises a number of clients, other law firms and accounting practices on the development of new business structures and products, and regularly assists clients with tax investigations, binding and non-binding ruling applications and tax risk reviews.

Neil is the Convenor of the New Zealand Law Society’s Tax Law Committee, a role he has held since 2013.  He has experience as an expert witness in proceedings in New Zealand and New York in relation to New Zealand tax law and practice.

Neil is involved in tax policy, and is frequently dealing with Inland Revenue and Treasury officials on tax technical matters and proposed law changes.

Neil is also involved in AML/CFT advice, and independent audits, for a range of phase I and phase II clients. He is a member of the AML/CFT Industry Reference Group, and in 2023 he undertook a vulnerabilities analysis for the Law Council of Australia, in relation to the introduction of AML laws for the Australian legal profession.