Transfer Pricing

APA, Controversy, and Litigation Support

APA, Controversy, and Litigation Support

NERA's conflict resolution capabilities build on our staff's established reputation as expert witnesses and their ability to apply sound, creative economic theory in the resolution of tax disputes. We have substantial experience providing economic advice through partnerships with leading law, tax, and audit firms in tax planning matters, as well as litigation and controversy support.

Advance Pricing Agreements and Competent Authority Negotiations

NERA experts have particular expertise structuring the economic framework of advance pricing agreements (APAs) and assisting competent authority (CA) negotiations between tax authorities involving the US, Canada, Japan, China, the EU, Australia, and other countries. While key negotiation issues may vary among cases, NERA experts provide a broad range of support services including: 

  • Developing negotiation strategy based on a clear understanding of tax authorities’ position and potential points of conflicts. 
  • Providing economic analysis and evidence to reinforce support for the taxpayers’ position, and advising tax authorities about underlying economic theories and business practices.
  • Developing alternative methodologies or preparing options to facilitate discussion and resolve "standoffs" in negotiation.

Transfer Pricing Audit Support

NERA experts have substantial experience in assisting clients who are undergoing transfer pricing audits in a variety of countries. NERA experts have worked extensively and successfully with taxpayers and their attorneys to address needs arising in a variety of audit support cases. Our work has included:

  • Conducting objective and fact-based analysis in the early stages of the audit in order to assess the strength of a tax authority case, and assisting in developing the overall negotiation strategy based on that assessment.
  • Assessing the purpose of data requests by tax authorities and preparing strategic responses with appropriate supplemental explanations.
  • In cases when income adjustments may be proposed by the tax authorities, providing economic analysis of factors that should be considered in assessing such adjustments, which may reduce or eliminate the potential adjustments.
Name Title Location Phone Email
Dr. Yves Hervé Senior Managing Director Frankfurt +49 69 710 447 508 yves.herve@nera.com
Dr. Harlow Higinbotham Senior Managing Director Chicago +1 312 573 2803 harlow.higinbotham@nera.com
Dr. Emmanuel Llinares Senior Managing Director
Head of Global Transfer Pricing
Paris
Geneva
London
+33 1 70 75 01 93
+41 79 517 6895
+44 20 7659 8650
emmanuel.llinares@nera.com
Philip de Homont Managing Director Frankfurt +49 69 710 447 502 philip.de.homont@nera.com
Dr. Vladimir Starkov Managing Director Chicago +1 312 573 2806 vladimir.starkov@nera.com
Tom Braukmann Director Frankfurt +49 69 710 447 511 tom.braukmann@nera.com
Alexis Jin Consultant Chicago +1 312 573 4804 alexis.jin@nera.com
Dr. Alexander Voegele Affiliated Consultant Frankfurt +49 69 710 447 501 alexander.voegele.affiliate@nera.com
Title Type Author
Referentenentwurf zur Funktionsverlagerungsverordnung: Erhöhtes Risiko von Streitverf... Published Article Dr. Jens Rubart and Ronald Bernstein
‘Coca-Cola’ vs. Section 482: Is It Time to Refresh the Regulatory Guidance? Published Article Dr. Harlow Higinbotham and Dr. Niraja Srinivasan
NERA Experts Contribute Chapter to "The Future of the Profit Split Method" Book Dr. Harlow Higginbotham and Dr. Vladimir Starkov
Transfer Pricing Roundtable in Financier Worldwide. Expert QA Dr. Vladimir Starkov and Philip de Homont
Amount B: Facts and Circumstances Matter—Even for Routine Distributors Published Article Dr. Harlow Higinbotham and Dr. Vladimir Starkov
Dr. Yves Hervé’s Interview in Financier Worldwide Report Dr. Yves Hervé
Taxation of the Digital Economy: Analysing User Base Value Published Article Dr. Yves Hervé and Philip de Homont
NERA Experts Comment on the OECD Proposal on Pillar One Blueprint Brief Dr. Harlow Higinbotham, Dr. Vladimir Starkov, Ralph Meghames, and Dr. Emmanuel Llinares
NERA Experts Author a Chapter in New Book on Transfer Pricing Developments Around the... Book Amanda Pletz
Assessing the Transfer Pricing Treatment of COVID-19 Restructuring Published Article Dr. Yves Hervé and Philip de Homont