Louisa Wu

Clayton Utz
Special Counsel Sydney

Louisa Wu provide[s] attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond.

– Legal 500 Asia Pacific

Overview

An Australian and international tax law specialist with over 20 years' experience, Louisa specialises in corporate and banking and finance transactions. She provides clear and practical advice on complex tax principles to a diverse clientele spanning financial services, extractive, and manufacturing sectors. In addition, she has technical expertise in securitisation transactions and actively contributes to the Australian Securitisation Forum. Louisa assists clients with private rulings, tax audits, and dispute resolution, ensuring successful outcomes through effective communication with the Australian Taxation Office.

Notable Work
  • Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG): advising on the tax aspects of an $8.5 billion project finance facility for the APLNG coal seam gas project, including a $1.4 billion note issuance.
  • Barrick Gold Corporation: assisted on various transactions, including the $1.1 billion sale of joint venture interest in the Kalgoorlie superpit.
  • Employee share schemes: providing tax advice on the income tax implications of various employee share and option schemes for both employers and employees.
  • High net worth individuals and family groups: advising on their tax affairs, including small business capital gains tax concessions.
  • Not for profit sector: advising numerous charities, including obtaining test case funding for The Hunger Project Australia and acting in a precedential case.
  • Western Sydney University: advising on campus redevelopment initiatives.
  • Reinsurance (various clients): advising on the income tax implications of various reinsurance arrangements.
  • Gerbr Knauf KG: advising Gerbr Knauf KG on a series of divestments.
  • Macquarie Bank: advising on the income tax implications of Macquarie's acquisition of the Esanda dealer finance portfolio for $8.23 billion.
  • Australian Government subsidiary: advising on the income tax treatment of nearly $1 billion of government grants in a dispute with the ATO, successfully resolved in mediation.
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