Ashley Greenbank

Call 2025

“Ashley Greenbank is essentially the smartest man on earth and so any thorny problem is child’s play.”
Legal 500

Ashley joined Devereux in 2025. He has over 35 years’ experience of advising on corporate and business tax issues as a solicitor at leading City law firms. Before joining Chambers, he was a partner in Macfarlanes for over 25 years and head of the tax practice there for 15 years. He has been ranked as a leading adviser in the legal directories (Chambers and Legal 500) for over 20 years.

Ashley advises on the full range of corporate and business tax issues, but particular specializations include:

  • Tax aspects of UK and cross-border corporate finance and public and private M&A transactions
  • Advice on group reorganizations, reconstructions and demergers
  • Group structuring advice including advice on corporate residence, permanent establishment, transfer pricing, CFC issues and implications of Pillar One and Pillar Two of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework.

Much of Ashley’s work has an international element. He also has considerable experience in advising on tax issues for family offices and for large businesses that are closely-held and in private ownership.

Ashley also has broad experience in handling disputes with tax authorities. He is a Deputy Judge in the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), a Fee-paid Judge in the First-tier Tribunal and a CEDR accredited mediator. He was a Deputy High Court Judge between 2019 and 2025.

Ashley is a former chair of the Tax Law Committee of the Law Society. He was a member of its Corporation Tax Sub-Committee for 15 years and its chair for three years. He is currently a member of the committee of the British Branch of the International Fiscal Association and its representative on the committee of the European Region of the International Fiscal Association.

Recent instructions include:

  • Advising a multinational group on a long-running transfer pricing enquiry including representing the client at mediation proceedings with HMRC.
  • Advising on the UK tax implications for investment funds on bids to become major investors in UK infrastructure projects.
  • Advising on the repayment of shareholder funding in large closely-held groups.
  • Advice on the income tax treatment of profits of partnerships and LLPs, including in relation to the MMR rules.
  • Recommendations

    “He is extremely good… and he is highly-respected in the UK and internationally”. - Chambers UK Bar, 2025 and Chambers Global, 2025

    "Ashley is the gold standard for both broad M&A experience and practicality - it's a relief when he turns up because he is just that good." - Chambers UK Bar, 2023

    “Ashley Greenbank is essentially the smartest man on earth and so any thorny problem is child’s play.” - Legal 500, 2023

    "He is brilliant technically, very responsive and fun to work with." - Chambers UK Bar, 2022

    "He knows his stuff extremely well and is really straightforward." - Chambers UK Bar, 2022

Latest from Ashley
For enquiries & instruction please contact

Areas of Expertise

  • Appointments

    CEDR Accredited Mediator 2012

    Deputy Judge Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber)

    Fee-paid Judge First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber)

  • Memberships

    Member of the committee of the UK branch of the International Fiscal Association and its representative on the European Region of the International Fiscal Association

For enquiries & instruction please contact