SCTP: Explore East Asia’s Evolving Tax Disputes Terrain (In-Person. FOC for Members.)

Ryutaro Oka has significant experience in the finance, trade, energy and manufacturing industries, where he has developed and maintained good client relationships. He regularly advises on complex international tax issues, working extensively with colleagues in the US, UK, Netherlands, China, Singapore and Thailand. Mr. Oka is a frequent speaker on international tax issues, having been invited to speak on international taxation and cross-border private equity investments at events sponsored by the Association of Taxation Analysis, among others. Prior to joining the Firm in 2006, Mr. Oka was a tax director at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's Tokyo office, where he advised on international tax issues. Mr. Oka is fluent in English. 

Mr. Oka's main practice focus is cross-border M&A taxation. In this connection, he routinely advises on overseas holding company schemes, including the formulation of worldwide tax-efficient acquisition structures, tax due diligence issues, as well as other international taxation matters. He advises as well on the structure of international PE funds and hedge funds. Mr. Oka also advises large family owned companies, and provides succession planning strategies for the founding owners of those companies. Additionally, Mr. Oka handles general taxation matters, including organizational restructuring, and advises regarding Japan's consolidated taxation system. 

Luke Tanner is a Tax & Transfer Pricing partner. He is based in Tokyo, and is also responsible for Asia Pacific regional transfer pricing.  

  

Luke is an experienced tax lawyer, and has advised clients on international tax matters and cross-border M&A transactions, including reorganisations, due diligence, reviewing financial models and legal agreements, financing and structuring, tax effective profit repatriation and exit strategies.  

Luke also has extensive experience in transfer pricing including over a decade of practicing transfer pricing in a Big 4 accounting firm. His experience includes pricing policies involving profit splits and intellectual property transactions, permanent establishment profit attribution and intra-group financing. He has a particular focus on transfer pricing controversy, including assistance with tax and transfer pricing audits and obtaining bilateral APA and MAP agreements involving many jurisdictions including Singapore and Japan. 

 

Luke has practiced in several Asia Pacific jurisdictions, including Australia and Japan.

John Kwak is a partner leading the tax practice of Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm. John's practice focuses on the tax aspects of a wide range of cross-border corporate transactions and investments. 

John is a seasoned lawyer with over 20 years of experience in international taxation and cross-border transactions. He has successfully represented multinational corporations in tax audits, tax litigation, dispute resolution, transfer pricing, M&A tax structuring, and overseas investment strategies. 

 

John is particularly skilled in navigating corporate tax and transfer pricing challenges for foreign companies operating in Korea, while also resolving complex tax and regulatory issues for Korean companies expanding abroad. His expertise has been essential in helping multinational clients manage tax risks and optimize compliance in an increasingly complex global tax landscape. John also provides high-net-worth individuals and their private businesses with tailored cross-border tax and estate planning solutions. 

Seonhye is a Senior Associate at Tax Practice of Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm. Her practice focuses on tax dispute resolution, including tax litigations, administrative appeals to tax tribunals, Mutual Agreement Procedures, etc.  

As a qualified Korean attorney, Seonhye has represented numerous domestic and international corporations in tax audits, appeals, and litigation and advised on a wide range of cross-border tax matters. Her expertise in international taxation spans multiple industries, including ICT and digital business, virtual assets, and industrial and consumer goods.