Issue 3 2020

28 Acquisition International - Issue 3 2020 Jan20009 Innovative Indirect Tax Team Triumph When working out business solutions, it’s useful to have an attorney who has worked on both sides of the table. When it comes to the contentious legal ground that Indirect Tax services can be found in, this is even more true. The assistance of firms like Ashok Dhingra Associates can make an immeasurable difference to the way businesses are run. Wining the prestigious award for Best Indirect Tax Services Firm 2020 - India in Acquisition International’s Accounting Audit and Tax Awards 2020, we profiled the company to find out more. DA has made its name through being able to solve various problems with solutions that are innovative in nature, yet practical enough to be implemented easily. This tightrope of quality is maintained through a knowledgeable staff team who always blend their uncompromising focus on the highest quality with ethical practice. Founded and led by Ashok Dhingra along with Sonia Gupta and Smita Singh, ADA has a principal that brings more than 43 years of expertise to the table, with twenty-two years working in Indian Customs and over 20 with affiliates of big consulting firms like Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young and KPMG. This gives him a thoroughly unique perspective that allows him to guide his team through a number of contentious legal issues with the ability to understand both sides of any argument. This long period of time has given him and his team the opportunity to specialise in a wide variety of areas. These include Goods and Services Tax (GST); erstwhile Indirect Taxes; Customs and Trade including Export Controls and Sanctions; and Regulatory Laws. ADA also handles advisory, training and investigation services under Anti- Corruption Laws and White-Collar Crimes to corporates. ADA has recently seen generational change also with Sonia Gupta taking over as managing partner of the Firm from Ashok Dhingra. We are sure young leader Sonia will take ADA to new heights. Custom and trade plays an important and relevant part, which practice area is led by Sonia Gupta. Customs and trade practice is directed towards issues and challenges regarding classification, valuation and country of origin disputes under Customs Laws, including Export and Import Controls and Sanctions, as well as Foreign Trade Policy and Regulatory Laws. In addition, she assists clients in trade remedies before the Director General of Trade Remedies and the Appellate A Tribunal in case of an adverse order. This enables her to provide a range of advisory and litigation services to clients. Sonia has led the law forward in this field, with pioneering work on the export and import of dual use items, restricted technologies and items covered under the SCOMET List to comply with Multilateral Agreements, and regularly assists clients. Like the other members of ADA’s leadership team, she has undergone training in the intricacies of GST in Canada, giving them a significant advantage over the competition. The third area of Indirect Tax Services is led by Smita Singh, alongside her work in the relatively new field of Goods and Services Tax. In this field, she has had the opportunity to work with many different business clients in impact analysis, migration to GST and reworking supply chains to not only make them more efficient, but compliant with the new legislation. Much of her work has been advising clients on day to day basis and representing clients before the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and GST Council addressing a number of key issues such as anomalies within the law, tax rate inconsistency and business issues, seeking to find clarification and intervention where appropriate. This has allowed Smita the chance to write articles on key issues with Indirect Tax and GST, which have been well received by her peers. When it comes to handling matters of Tax and Customs, there are few better firms than ADA. Its intimate and expert knowledge in these areas is matched only by its steadfast commitment to clients. It rewards the specialisation of each team member, recognising the beauty of each unique person coming together to make a greater whole. Contact: Ashok Dhingra Website: hwww.adalegal.com