Willy leads the firm's tax practice and is New Zealand's only specialist indirect taxes practitioner. He is recognised as an expert in all aspects of goods and services tax.

He advises on GST-efficient structures and GST in mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, as well as GST issues associated with securitisations, partnerships and joint ventures.

Willy has successfully lobbied for changes to GST legislation and is involved in resolving disputes and negotiating settlements with the Inland Revenue Department on behalf of clients.

His expertise in GST has also been enlisted by a broad range of Australian clients and since 1998 he has assisted the Australian government, and advised a broad range of corporate clients and legal and accounting practitioners on Australian GST issues. Willy has presented papers on GST to professional bodies throughout New Zealand and Australia.

He is a barrister and solicitor of the High Court in New Zealand, a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and a chartered accountant and member of the New Zealand Institute. He is also an advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa.

World Tax 2012 names Willy as a leading tax practitioner. He is also highly recommended in AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers 2010.

Chambers Global 2011 names Willy as a leading tax lawyer, and he is noted for "his considerable expertise in the field of GST."

Qualifications

B Juris, LLB, South Africa
CA, New Zealand

Admitted

1985 South Africa
1994 NZ
1999 Australia

International Career

  • Deloitte, Cape Town
    1982-1987