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 Stephen Hignett
Partner

Stephen Hignett

Languages
  • English
Social media

Stephen advises on all UK taxes in both contentious and non-contentious situations.  He advises businesses of all sizes, management teams, owner managers, executives and high net worth individuals, including those who are not domiciled in the UK. He has particular experience in the media and gambling sectors.  

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Stephen Hignett advises on contentious and non-contentious work for private and corporate clients. He has niche expertise advising high-profile individuals on their tax affairs. Sources say that he is a “great person to work with and gives sound advice.”
    Chambers UK 2017
  • Quote
    Stephen Hignett is a "strong tax practitioner" who "always works in a very sensible and collaborative manner," say sources. He is a seasoned tax lawyer active in the TV, music and gambling sectors, and has handled a large amount of work for Warner Music Group.
    Chambers UK 2016
  • Quote
    The "very creative" Stephen Hignett "is a market-making tax lawyer. He wants to get stuff done," say interviewees. His broad practice includes a strong interest in work for media clients.
    Chambers UK 2015
  • Quote
    The "very capable" Stephen Hignett attracts particular praise for his ability to "understand a client's commercial reasoning." He specialises in transactional matters, and is taking on an increasing amount of contentious work.
    Chambers UK 2013

Relevant experience

Demergers and restructurings

  • Galliford Try Plc on the demerger and sale of its Linden Homes and Partnerships & Regeneration businesses for GBP 1.075bn to Vistry Plc.
  • The Gamesys Group on the demerger and sale of its online gaming business for c.£490m sale to JPJ Group plc and, previously, the demerger and sale of its Jackpotjoy gaming business to Intertain for circa GBP 425m.
  • Ministry of Sound Group on the demerger and sale of Ministry of Sound Recordings to Sony Music UK Limited.

Media

  • The founders and UK management team of Moonbug on the UK tax aspects of its acquisition by Candle Media.
  • Warner Music Group on numerous projects including the acquisition of Parlophone Label Group from Universal Music Group for GBP 487m and the creation of a royalty distribution model enabling music royalties from digital sales to be accounted for to repertoire owners worldwide.
  • WarnerMedia group members on acquisitions including TT Games, Playdemic, Big Pixel Studios and Eyeworks Group.
  • Annabel Jones and Charlie Brooker, the creators of Black Mirror, on setting up their production entity Broke and Bones and the subsequent investment by Netflix.
  • Andy Harries on the creation of Left Bank Productions, subsequent investment by Sony and the creation of Left Bank Media
  • Jeremy Clarkson on the creation of a joint venture rights holding company with BBC Worldwide to hold and exploit the “Top Gear” rights, the subsequent sale of his holding to BBCW and on the arrangements with Amazon in connection with the "The Grand Tour".

Gambling

  • A large online gambling group on its exposure to income tax from offshore receipts in respect of intangible property (“ORIP”).
  • Sportech Plc (owner of The Football Pools) on its successful VAT litigation in connection with Spot The Ball.
  • Assisting numerous gambling clients with remote gambling duty issues (general betting duty, pool betting duty and remote gaming duty) and VAT including product design and HMRC enquiries.

Other 

  • Assisting clients with diverted profits tax (“DPT”) disputes with HMRC and making transfer pricing disclosures pursuant to HMRC’s Profit Diversion Compliance Facility (“PDCF”).
  • A client on a material VAT dispute which was settled favourably following two mediations, the first before an independent mediator with HMRC and the second before an HMRC mediator.
  • High net worth non-UK domiciled families on their relocation to London, buying residential property, UK business interests, importing and exporting artworks, general remittance planning and establishing trusts.

Publications

  • Stephen is co-author of the gambling duty, VAT and tax chapters of the 'The Law of Gambling' Smith and Monkcom (4th edition), the leading text on UK gambling law.  Stephen frequently writes articles and speaks on the subject of UK gambling taxes.

Memberships & Roles

  • Chartered Institute of Taxation

Education

  • 1997 – Admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales
  • 1995 – Legal Practice Course, Nottingham Law School
  • 1994 – BA in Jurisprudence, Oxford University