Pinsent Masons backs Chair in Tax Law at Oxford University

The Pinsent Masons Chair in Tax Law will be held by Professor Judith Freedman CBE. Judith’s particular focus is on corporate and business taxation, but she has a continuing interest in related areas of corporate law, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, the interaction between law and accounting and small businesses.

The news marks the latest development a relationship dating back to 2004 when partners from legacy firm McGrigors established funding first for a Career Development Fellowship, and then for the University Lecturership currently held by Dr Glen Loutzenhiser.

Since then the firm has further increased its support for Law in Oxford by funding the Chair. Funding from Pinsent Masons has also made it possible to expand tax teaching in Oxford to comprise two BCL/MJur/MLF courses, teaching on the MLF corporate transactions course, a full undergraduate option and a tax module on Justice and Taxation within the Jurisprudence course.

Pinsent Masons also supports the University’s UNIQ Summer Schools programme that offers residentials in July and August for Year 12 students currently studying at UK state schools.

David Ryan, Managing Partner of Pinsent Masons, said:

"We have much in common with Oxford, in particular given our international focus in Asia, where the Law Faculty has also developed very strong relationships. Our mutual commitment to diversity and our hugely successful joint venture through UNIQ - to both of which Judith Freedman makes a substantial contribution - provide an added incentive to work together."

James Bullock, Head of Litigation & Compliance at Pinsent Masons added:

"Having been involved in the original funding by McGrigors in 2004, I am delighted that Dr Glen Loutzenhiser will continue to work alongside Judith, enabling the teaching of tax to thrive at Oxford - both at the University's Faculty of Law and Centre for Business Taxation."

Timothy Endicott, Dean of the Faculty of Law, said: 

“McGrigors played a crucial role in developing the study of tax in the University, and we are delighted that Pinsent Masons has not only sustained but increased that strategic investment. We are putting the problems of tax law where they belong – at the centre of legal studies. The firm’s support has enabled us to build a leading group of tax law scholars, whose work is integrated with our Law and Finance programme, and with the Centre for Business Taxation in the Business School. This is a major step forward for the Law Faculty.”