One minute with Etienne Wong, barrister, Tax Chambers, 15 Old Square
How did you first get into tax?
I was petrified of being bored, and was looking for something that was always moving and constantly changing. With a Budget every year, tax was an area where constant change was guaranteed. Of course, I was in my twenties then. Now that I’m older, I can see why the (allegedly) Chinese saying about living in ‘interesting times’ is a curse and not a blessing.
Aside from your immediate colleagues, whom in tax do you most admire?
A tax collector may seem a strange choice, but Samuel Adams (1722–1803) went on to sign the Declaration of Independence and become one of the founding fathers of what is today the most powerful country in the world. He was also associated with the Boston Tea Party, which is of course the inspiration behind the Tea Party Movement (both of which are, to an extent, tax-related). He even has a beer named after him, which is an accomplishment I doubt any other person in the tax world can claim!
What advice would you give to someone new to the profession?
Know the law inside out. Question everything. Form your own opinion. Think outside the box.
You have a wealth of VAT experience, having previously headed up the international VAT team at Clifford Chance. Comment on a key challenge you’ve faced in practice.
The biggest challenge was getting the team right. I was so lucky to work with so many talented individuals who not only understood tax, but had that sixth sense as well to navigate through the VAT universe and make sense of the curious topography and its very strange rules. Most have moved on to build their own very successful careers (both within and outside tax), and only a few are still with Clifford Chance, but I keep in touch with all of them, because, quite frankly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
You’ve recently joined 15 Old Square after being called to the Bar last year. Why the change and what are you most looking forward to?
The main reason was because I wanted to do more tax and less admin. Also, I’ve always been drawn to advocacy, and I thought if I didn’t take the plunge then, I never would. The fact I now have a tree outside my window and not a tall glass building was also a factor. I do miss being able to get to the gym or the supermarket just by taking the lift though.
If you could make one change to UK tax law, what would it be?
I would move more towards an approach based on high-level, broadly-stated principles (with less dependence on detailed, prescriptive legislation). I enjoy working my way through the GAAR as much as the next tax practitioner, but for most of my work, I don’t have to worry about it because the GAAR doesn’t apply to VAT. It doesn’t have to because we have the European principle of abuse of rights, which is not written down in any statute book anywhere. Yet, in practice, there is little uncertainty as to its scope or how it applies. It will be interesting to see whether the GAAR and the abuse principle are equally effective in achieving their objectives (but in my heart, I already know which is more efficient).
Tell us a secret.
I’ve written a few screenplays, and am working on a novel and a handful of short stories. One of these days, I’ll have finished as many stories as I’ve started. More ambitiously – and this really is the stuff that dreams are made on – I hope to watch one of my stories on a big screen in a movie theatre. Hope springs eternal…
One minute with Etienne Wong, barrister, Tax Chambers, 15 Old Square
How did you first get into tax?
I was petrified of being bored, and was looking for something that was always moving and constantly changing. With a Budget every year, tax was an area where constant change was guaranteed. Of course, I was in my twenties then. Now that I’m older, I can see why the (allegedly) Chinese saying about living in ‘interesting times’ is a curse and not a blessing.
Aside from your immediate colleagues, whom in tax do you most admire?
A tax collector may seem a strange choice, but Samuel Adams (1722–1803) went on to sign the Declaration of Independence and become one of the founding fathers of what is today the most powerful country in the world. He was also associated with the Boston Tea Party, which is of course the inspiration behind the Tea Party Movement (both of which are, to an extent, tax-related). He even has a beer named after him, which is an accomplishment I doubt any other person in the tax world can claim!
What advice would you give to someone new to the profession?
Know the law inside out. Question everything. Form your own opinion. Think outside the box.
You have a wealth of VAT experience, having previously headed up the international VAT team at Clifford Chance. Comment on a key challenge you’ve faced in practice.
The biggest challenge was getting the team right. I was so lucky to work with so many talented individuals who not only understood tax, but had that sixth sense as well to navigate through the VAT universe and make sense of the curious topography and its very strange rules. Most have moved on to build their own very successful careers (both within and outside tax), and only a few are still with Clifford Chance, but I keep in touch with all of them, because, quite frankly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
You’ve recently joined 15 Old Square after being called to the Bar last year. Why the change and what are you most looking forward to?
The main reason was because I wanted to do more tax and less admin. Also, I’ve always been drawn to advocacy, and I thought if I didn’t take the plunge then, I never would. The fact I now have a tree outside my window and not a tall glass building was also a factor. I do miss being able to get to the gym or the supermarket just by taking the lift though.
If you could make one change to UK tax law, what would it be?
I would move more towards an approach based on high-level, broadly-stated principles (with less dependence on detailed, prescriptive legislation). I enjoy working my way through the GAAR as much as the next tax practitioner, but for most of my work, I don’t have to worry about it because the GAAR doesn’t apply to VAT. It doesn’t have to because we have the European principle of abuse of rights, which is not written down in any statute book anywhere. Yet, in practice, there is little uncertainty as to its scope or how it applies. It will be interesting to see whether the GAAR and the abuse principle are equally effective in achieving their objectives (but in my heart, I already know which is more efficient).
Tell us a secret.
I’ve written a few screenplays, and am working on a novel and a handful of short stories. One of these days, I’ll have finished as many stories as I’ve started. More ambitiously – and this really is the stuff that dreams are made on – I hope to watch one of my stories on a big screen in a movie theatre. Hope springs eternal…
