Simone Bridges
Biography
Simone is the Head of Tax in the Australian office of Baker McKenzie. Her extensive technical knowledge and experience on complicated matters makes her one of Australia's most sought tax lawyers specialising in cross border and international tax issues especially in a controversy context. She is known as a tax technician with the right demeanour to help clients navigate disputes with Australian tax and revenue authorities. She is consistently ranked as 'Highly Regarded' and a ‘Women in Tax Leader’ by the International Tax Review and a 'Next Generation Partner' by Legal 500.
Simone has significant experience in representing clients in tax disputes and tax audits with Australian tax and revenue administrations, particularly involving anti-avoidance assertions.
Her technical expertise is also reflected in her role as a University teaching academic and guest lecturer. She is also a contributor to global and local tax publications including Thomson Reuters, CCH and Bloomberg Tax.
Practice Focus
Representative Legal Matters
- Acted for a multinational company in the Federal Court in relation to royalty withholding tax and Australian anti-avoidance legislation.
- Defended a multinational on the application of Australia’s diverted profits tax and GAAR provisions.
- Advising a large software seller on the application of royalty withholding tax and transfer pricing outcomes.
- Represented a multinational technology company with an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
- Advising a large technology client in the data centre industry in a stamp duty dispute the New South Wales Office of State Revenue.
- Advising several large technology multinational clients in audits, combined assurance reviews and risk reviews with the ATO in relation to the Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law (MAAL), GST, royalty withholding tax and transfer pricing.
- Advising a large US tech company on an acquisition of an Australian technology company and representing the client in post-acquisition integration and audit defence.
- Advised Broadcom on its acquisition of Symantec and post-acquisition matters.
- Represented a listed Australian property fund in relation to an appeal regarding land tax dispute.
- Advised Elanor Commercial Property Fund on its successful listing on the ASX.
- Advised AccorInvest on the disposal of a 23-hotel portfolio.
- Represented numerous clients in audits and risk reviews with the Australian Taxation Office.
Professional Honors
- Highly Regarded, International Tax Review (2018 – 2024)
- Next Generation Partner, Legal 500 (2018 – 2024)
- Women in Tax Leader, International Tax Review (2016 – 2024)
- Tax Partner of the Year - Women in Business Awards (2021)
- Indirect Tax Leader of the Year - International Tax Review (2020)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Law Society of New South Wales
- International Fiscal Association
Admissions
- New South Wales~Australia (2009)
- High Court of Australia (2009)
Education
- University of Sydney (LLM) (2017)
- University of Wollongong (LLB Business Commerce (Honors & Distinction)) (2008)
Languages
- English