National law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth has bolstered its taxation practice group by appointing a partner from rival firm Ashurst.
Corrs Chambers Westgarth has added Costa Koutsis, a seasoned tax specialist with more than two decades of experience, as a partner in its Sydney office to further strengthen its tax practice.
Koutsis joins from rival national firm Ashurst, where he had been a partner since 2020 and, for the past three years, served as the global co-head of the firm’s tax practice.
He also brings nearly a decade of experience from both big four firm PwC and global law firm Baker McKenzie, where he served as a partner.
In a statement, the national law firm stated how Koutsis holds more than 20 years of experience “advising on stamp duty, GST and land tax in relation to complex transactions”.
Additionally, his work spans domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructures, capital raisings, and large-scale property developments.
Most recently, Koutsis advised on one of Australia’s largest direct real estate transactions, supporting Scape Australia in its record $3.85 billion acquisition of Brokerfield’s retirement living business, Aveo.
Speaking on Koutsis’ recent appointment, Gavin MacLaren, senior partner and CEO of Corrs, expressed how his technical expertise and depth of experience will be a valuable addition to the firm’s growing tax practice.
“Costa is very well regarded for his technical ability, strong relationships and extensive experience,” MacLaren said.
“He is one of Australia’s foremost stamp duty and indirect tax lawyers, and he will be another strong addition to our tax team. We are delighted to welcome him to the Corrs partnership.”
This news follows the firm poaching two partners from rival law firm Gilbert + Tobin into its mergers and acquisitions team at the end of August and naming 12 new partners across four of its national offices at the start of June.
