Simon Bowden assists clients with navigating the complexities and challenges of Australian taxation law. His combination of technical legal capability with a commercial approach to resolving issues has helped clients successfully complete matters ranging from $1.8 billion mergers in the steel industry, to $6 billion road projects, to $600 million cross-border financing tax disputes.
Simon's nearly 20 years of experience covers income tax, GST (goods and services tax), FBT (fringe benefits tax), and state taxes, including transfer pricing, anti-avoidance and integrity measures, capital gains tax, employment taxes, trusts, and withholding taxes. He advises on the structuring and advisory aspects of transactions and on the audit, objection, and dispute resolution processes prior to litigation.
Simon has advised clients across many industries and sectors, including oil and gas, electricity, mining and heavy industrial businesses, entertainment ventures, life insurance, real estate developments, major infrastructure projects, external administrators, government authorities, high net wealth individuals and private groups, and not-for-profits. He has advised on M&A transactions, cross-border financial arrangements, offshore procurement hubs, public-private partnerships, inbound and outbound investments, and restructures.
Simon has a particular interest in charities and not-for-profits law and also has experience in energy and resources and climate change law.
He is a member and former chair of The Tax Institute's Not For Profit Subcommittee and a member of the Law Institute of Victoria and the International Fiscal Association.
Experience
- University of Melbourne (LL.M. 2010); Griffith University (LL.B. and Bachelor of International Business 2001)
- Supreme Court of Victoria and High Court of Australia
Best Lawyers in Australia: recognized in Tax Law (2021-2025)
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: recommended lawyer in Taxation (2023-2024)