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Paul Sokolowski awarded 'Chartered Tax Adviser of the Year'

Taxation
Paul Sokolowski CTATAOTYA
Arnold Bloch Leibler Partner Paul Sokolowski has been named the 'Chartered Tax Adviser of the Year' for 2019, the top award in the Tax Institute of Australia’s prestigious Tax Adviser of the Year Awards.

The award “recognises inspirational and successful tax professionals who hold leadership roles”, and in the citation, the Institute explains that it is presented to “a tax professional who has consistently demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business expertise and innovative ideas”.

This latest recognition comes off the back of Paul winning the 2018 Lawyers Weekly ‘Tax Partner of the Year Award’.

Paul has been a partner of Arnold Bloch Leibler since 2001 and is the national practice leader of the firm’s renowned taxation practice. Before joining ABL, he held various positions with the ATO. 

He advises clients, including high-net-worth individuals, large private groups and public entities in tax reviews, audits and disputes, and for domestic and international transactions. 

In his nomination, Paul described his work this way: 

“I love tax; all aspects of it. I love reading and writing about it. I love the way it works and doesn’t work. I love how maddening it can be. I love navigating its myriad pathways, dealing with its problems and finding solutions. Importantly, I love explaining it, in an understandable and practical way, to clients, colleagues, other advisers, junior lawyers, students, and just about anyone else who might be prepared to listen.

“That passion informs my approach to my work for the broad range of domestic and foreign clients we act for: corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, major companies, inbound and outbound investors, wealthy private clients and not-for-profits. We are there when it matters.”

In accepting the award in a ceremony in Hobart, Paul thanked senior partner Mark Leibler, who he described as his mentor, for giving him a chance over twenty years ago.

He also thanked his other partners at ABL, in particular fellow tax partner Clint Harding. “We have each other’s backs, which is important to have in the cut and thrust of professional practice.”

Paul paid tribute to ABL’s tax team, including lawyer Peter Scott (pictured with Paul below) who was a finalist for the Emerging Tax Star Award, and said it was an honour to be considered along with the other two finalists in his own category, Jennifer Batrouney QC and Richard Hendriks.

Paul finished his short speech by thanking his family, commenting that “after all these years they still don’t understand what I do!”

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