challenger
(from the Oxford dictionary)
/ˈtʃalɪn(d)ʒə/
noun
We are former ATO litigation lawyers who have a deep understanding of how the ATO works and unique insights into how decisions are made by the ATO and the courts and tribunals. We use our specialist expertise to help even the playing field against the ATO and to position our clients to obtain the best possible outcome.
Our lawyers have acted in tax disputes for high wealth individuals and privately owned groups (including in the ATO’s Top 500 and Next 5,000 programs), ASX-listed companies, small to medium (SMEs) enterprises and superannuation funds. We are also trusted advisors to a number of boutique and mid-tier accounting and business advisory firms.
Tuan has over 17 years of experience in tax disputes and litigation including a role as the Executive Director of the ATO’s Legal Services Branch (now known as ATO Litigation and Legal Services) where he managed the ATO’s litigation department in Victoria and Tasmania.
Prior to commencing in private practice, Tuan was appointed a Judicial Registrar and the Appeals Registrar of the Federal Court of Australia, the National Coordinating Registrar for the Taxation National Practice Area and the Secretariat of the Judges’ National Practice Committee.
Tuan’s unique experience allows him to provide deep insights and strategic value throughout the whole life cycle of a dispute from audit through to objection and litigation. The most common words used by his clients to describe him are highly strategic, practical and committed to the cause.
Tuan was included in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in Australia for Tax Law & Litigation, the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Legal 500 for Dispute Resolution: Litigation and the 2023 and 2024 editions of Who’s Who Legal in corporate tax.
He is a senior fellow at Melbourne Law School and is also a member of the Tax Committee of the Law Council of Australia and its representative on the ATO Private Groups Stewardship Group.
We are not tax advisory lawyers. We are the lawyers who roll up our sleeves, who use our previous experience as ATO officers to seek the evidence or to formulate the legal arguments that will satisfy the ATO and, if required, we will take your matter to the Federal Court of Australia or the Administrative Review Tribunal.
We excel where there is uncertainty in dealing with the ATO because we can give a level of insight that our competitors just can’t. We provide strategic advice and add value throughout the whole life cycle of a dispute.
We are engaged in complex audits and/or reviews to:
We are engaged in the objection process to:
We are engaged in all types of litigation that involve the Commissioner of Taxation, including:
We are not lawyers who over-promise and under-deliver and we will not take advantage of what you are going through to secure your work. We will give you the respect of telling you our honest opinion, at all times, even if it may not be what you want to hear.
We know that in order to achieve outcomes with the ATO, a combination of matters will need to be addressed depending upon your circumstances, the ATO’s view of your compliance history, the issues and the revenue at stake. Everything we do is purposeful, with a view to protecting your short-term and long-term interests. We strive to give you options and we want you to be invested in the strategy just as much as we are.
Having a dispute with the ATO is difficult and challenging and it will have a significant impact upon you or your business whether reputationally, financially or on your health. Some lawyers will promise you the world and act aggressively towards the ATO, while achieving very little. Others will advise their clients that there is no way to fight the ATO and to try to not make them upset.
We achieve results for our clients because of our specialist expertise but also because we are determined and resolute beyond our competitors.
We have no trepidation about taking your matter to litigation because we believe in the rule of law that all people are equal before the law and must obey the law, including the ATO.
I had the pleasure of working with Tuan from Challenger Law, and I can confidently say that they provided immaculate knowledge and legal support throughout my case. From the moment I reached out, their team was responsive, professional and honest. Tuan would answer every question I had and stood by me every step of the way.
What stood out most was their ability to simplify complex legal matters, ensuring that I always understood my options and the best course of action. The team’s commitment to achieving the best possible outcome was clear, and I’m so grateful for their hard work and dedication.
Thanks to Challenger Law, I was able to navigate a difficult situation with peace of mind, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the results. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of skilled and compassionate legal representation.
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Get a free honest opinion about your tax dispute today, please complete our in take form: