Howard is an experienced specialist in tax, excise and other customs duties, public law, business crime, anti-money laundering regulations, health & safety, and regulatory work. He is regularly instructed in the Tax Tribunals, Administrative Court, and Crown Court.
Howard’s significant tax practice has seen him advise on and appear in cases concerning most aspects of VAT. Howard also has an increasing direct tax practice and is currently instructed in various corporation tax and pension scheme cases.
Complementary to his tax practice, Howard has significant expertise in business crime. He specialises in advisory and advocacy work in civil and criminal fraud cases, with particular expertise in allegations of fraud and other wrongdoing associated with VAT, excise and other customs duties.
Howard also has a significant Health and Safety practice and is experienced in both advisory and advocacy work in regulatory cases including consumer protection, trademark and copyright infringement, compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations and compliance with Charity Commission requirements.
Howard is a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel.
Ranked as a Leading Junior - Tax: VAT and Excise, Legal 500 2023
Howard has a significant tax practice, with an emphasis on indirect tax, VAT, and excise and other customs duties. He is regularly instructed in the Tax Tribunals and Administrative Court.
Howard’s advisory and litigation experience includes appearing in VAT cases involving: treatment of charities, zero rating of construction supplies on major developments, food zero rating, aircraft parts, partial exemptions special methods, bespoke retail schemes, invalid invoices, time of supply, apportionment, agency, evidence of supply, compliance with export/dispatch requirements, MTIC and supply chain fraud, penalties, personal liability notices, default surcharges, legitimate expectation, the impact of human rights on tax litigation and costs orders.
Howard has regularly appeared in cases involving excise duties arising from failure to follow customs procedures and customs powers, AWRS and WOWGR approvals, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, onward supply relief and cases involving allegations of diversion and other excise fraud.
Notable cases:
Howard specialises in advisory and advocacy work in civil and criminal fraud cases, and those involving other allegations of financial wrongdoing and ancillary proceedings. Howard’s practice has ranged from advising individuals to prosecuting and defending high value frauds in the Crown Court.
Howard has particular expertise in significant and complex matters concerning fraud and other wrongdoing associated with VAT, excise and other customs duties.
Howard also advises on and is instructed in cases concerning regulatory compliance, particularly in relation to the Money Laundering Regulations and anti-bribery and corruption legislation.
Notable cases:
Howard’s experience includes:
Notable cases include:
Howard also accepts instructions in Professional Discipline & Regulatory cases. Having acted as disclosure counsel for the FRC in a case involving allegations against an accountant within an AIM listed plc which was involved in a share ramping scheme, Howard has a good insight into the investigative process.
Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel
SFO Prosecution and Proceeds of Crime Panel B
CPS Organised Crime, Specialist Fraud and Proceeds of Crime Level 2
Appointed as a fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber)
Hardwicke Scholar & Lord Denning Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn
BVC (Outstanding), BPP Law School
BA Hons in English (1st Class), Peterhouse, Cambridge University