UK Tax Strategy Statement

Approach to UK Tax

Hogan Lovells International LLP (“Hogan Lovells International”) is a limited liability partnership organised in the United Kingdom and registered in England and Wales. We provide legal services as our principal activity.

This statement describes the firm's policy and approach to conducting our UK tax affairs and dealing with UK tax uncertainties and risk, which align with the responsible and sustainable manner in which we carry out all business operations. Driving professional and business ethics, accountability and responsibility is very much part of who we are and how we behave. As one of the world's leading law firms, we have a responsibility to uphold and champion the rule of law and its underlying principles. This statement is made available to all of Hogan Lovells International's stakeholders and will be reviewed annually by the Board of Hogan Lovells International (“the LLP Board”).

This UK tax strategy statement applies to Hogan Lovells International and its affiliated entities for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 and will be republished annually. Management of our tax affairs is in line with our firm values and regulatory requirements and takes into consideration our commercial reputation. The LLP Board therefore requires that the firm's UK tax affairs are managed in accordance with the following principles:

Commitment to Compliance

The firm intends to fulfil its tax obligations in accordance with UK tax laws and practice. We disclose relevant facts and circumstances to HMRC and claim reliefs and incentives where available. We also ensure that we have appropriate arrangements in place to calculate accurately our tax liabilities and to pay the appropriate amount of tax in the right place on a timely basis. Furthermore, it is an expectation of the firm that partners comply with their personal tax obligations on a timely and accurate basis.

Tax Governance and Risk Management

The LLP Board oversees the management of taxes, which is the responsibility of the Management Committee of Hogan Lovells International and accountability is delegated by it to the Hogan Lovells Chief Financial Officer and Group Finance Director supported by the Hogan Lovells Global Head of Tax, the Head of Tax – EMEA & APAC and the internal tax team which is comprised of experienced tax specialists.

Given the scale of our business and the volume of our tax obligations, UK tax uncertainties and risks will inevitably arise from time to time with respect to the interpretation of tax laws and the nature of our compliance obligations. We have a tax risk management process through which we proactively seek to identify, evaluate, manage and monitor tax uncertainties and risks to ensure that they are appropriately addressed and minimised in accordance with these principles.

Responsibility and accountability for the firm’s tax affairs is agreed and decisions will be taken at an appropriate level. We pursue a low-risk approach towards our tax affairs and where the interpretation or application of tax laws is not clear, we will take well-reasoned positions considering legal precedents and administrative positions of HMRC, escalate accordingly and engage external advisors where considered necessary.

Structuring of Commercial Arrangements

Hogan Lovells International is a multinational business and in structuring our commercial activities we will consider the tax laws of the countries in which we operate (in addition to other relevant matters) with a view to maximising value on a sustainable basis for our stakeholders. We do not undertake tax planning unless it is consistent with commercial and economic objectives and we do not undertake any tax planning that is contrived or artificial. 

Relationship with HMRC

We engage with HMRC with openness, honesty, integrity, respect and fairness and in a spirit of cooperative and proactive compliance. Hogan Lovells International provides all necessary cooperation to HMRC where lawfully requested or required and as such we are in regular contact with HMRC. We seek to avoid tax disputes and, wherever possible, to resolve any disputed matter through transparent discussion and negotiation. However, where a tax dispute cannot be resolved through active and transparent discussion, we may consider appeals or other available procedures to determine the correct tax position. We avoid taking positions on UK related tax matters which involve reputational risk or jeopardise our good standing with HMRC.

This statement is published on behalf of Hogan Lovells International LLP and its affiliated entities and is approved by its Board. The publication of this statement is regarded as satisfying the statutory obligation under Paragraph 16(2) and 25, Schedule 19, Finance Act 2016.

31st December 2023