Expertise
Gerda advises clients on a broad range of indirect tax matters across the UAE and wider GCC region, with a particular focus on VAT and excise tax. She supports multinational groups, private equity firms, financial institutions, real estate developers and businesses operating across a wide range of sectors, providing both transactional and advisory support as well as assisting clients with tax authority engagements and dispute resolutions.
Her practise includes advising on domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, tax due diligence, corporate restructurings, supply chain structuring, VAT recovery, and tax governance. Gerda also has extensive experience assisting clients with FTA audits, refund claims and tax disputes, as well as advising on the indirect tax aspects of complex commercial arrangements.
Experience
- Advising Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) on its successful bid for the development of a steam and power generation plant in Saudi Arabia.
- Advising a UAE-based sovereign wealth fund on the proposed share acquisition of a leading producer and supplier of fire protection and alarm systems.
- Advising Public Investment Fund (PIF) on its acquisition of Diriyah Gate Development Company.
- Conducted comprehensive VAT reviews for businesses across multiple sectors, assessing compliance frameworks, identifying areas of exposure, and developing recommendations to improve internal tax controls and governance.
- Assisted clients in addressing technical tax matters arising from FTA assessments, information requests, and official correspondence by interpreting UAE tax legislation, evaluating potential implications, and formulating practical resolution strategies.
- Advised clients throughout FTA audits and compliance reviews, managing communications with the authorities, compiling supporting evidence, and overseeing the timely submission of responses to regulatory requests.