NBCC were pleased to introduce to you our member, Rhys Bane, Senior Associate at Lubbers, Boer & Douma.

1. Introduction and Background:

Can you introduce yourself and your role at Lubbers, Boer & Douma?
I’m Rhys Bane (1995), Senior Associate with Lubbers, Boer & Douma. I am specialized in international tax law, with a focus on taxation of multinational enterprises. I also have a background in academia: I am an external PhD candidate at Leiden University (my doctoral thesis focuses on international tax dispute resolution) and have regularly published in renown Dutch and international tax law journals. I was recently nominated for the Stevensprijs 2024 for my publications, which is awarded to young authors who can explain complex tax matters in simple terms.

Can you give us a brief overview of Lubbers, Boer & Douma’s history and core mission?
Lubbers, Boer & Douma was founded in 2013 by Allard Lubbers and Koos Boer as Lubbers & Boer and originally focused on assessments for tax lawyers, (second) opinions and litigation. In 2017, Sjoerd Douma joined, adding an international and EU tax law focus to the firm. Today Lubbers, Boer & Douma is a boutique firm aimed at making complex tax questions and risks transparent and manageable for both individuals and businesses.

2. Expertise and Services:

Lubbers, Boer & Douma describes itself as a tax consultancy specializing in advice for business owners and their enterprises. What sets your approach apart from other tax advisory firms?
We distinguish ourselves from tax advisory firms through our approach and through the nature of our work. We have a background in both academia and practice (including the Big Four firms, law firms and the judiciary), through which we combine in-depth knowledge with a practical, hands-on approach to prevent or resolve tax disputes. Our work is focused on preventing and resolving tax disputes.

The firm emphasizes working with both Dutch and international companies. How does your team navigate the complexities of cross-border tax regulations?
We navigate the complexities of cross-border tax regulations through our knowledge of and experience with international tax law. Our extensive networks make it easy to find advisors in other jurisdictions in case specialist local advice is necessary.

3. Client Relationships and Impact:

At Lubbers, Boer & Douma, personal attention and tailored advice are key pillars. Can you share a story or example of how this philosophy has made a difference for a client?
We pride ourselves in the quality of the work product we deliver to our clients and do not share ‘success stories’ or participate actively in rankings. Our key focus is solving the complex tax issue that is being faced by our client as effectively and efficiently as possible. It is the result that counts.

What types of businesses or industries do you primarily work with, and what are the most common challenges they face? And How are you overcoming it?
Personally I primarily work with multinational enterprises, both Netherlands-based multinationals as well as multinationals headquartered outside of the Netherlands. At Lubbers, Boer & Douma we generally assist these clients with complex and often unique matters. The common denominator is usually the complexity of the applicable tax legislation.

My personal focus is on international tax disputes, tax disputes with an international angle and (international) tax policy.

Lubbers, Boer & Douma, however, also advises non-profits and high net worth individuals. We also advise renown tax advisory firms and law firms. In general, the challenges of these clients are the same: the complexity of the applicable tax legislation, which we aim to make transparent and manageable. We manage to do this through our unique approach and strong focus on the quality of our advice.

4. Innovation and Market Trends:

How has the tax consultancy landscape evolved in recent years, and how does Lubbers, Boer & Douma stay ahead of these changes?
The tax consultancy landscape has seen an increase in the number of smaller boutique firms, often started by experienced practitioners from larger (law) firms. Lubbers, Boer & Douma, however, differentiates itself from these firms by our focus: (second) opinions and (complex) tax litigation, with a unique value proposition within the Dutch market.

5. Company Culture and Values:

Lubbers, Boer & Douma prides itself on being a close-knit team. How does your company culture contribute to the quality of your services?
Our company culture and the fact that most of us have a background in academia means that we often discuss ongoing cases with one another, leading to new and different insights into how to resolve the most complex tax issues. It also means we frequently attend and speak at conferences and seminars, both within the Netherlands and abroad, where we hear about similar solutions to similar problems internationally.

Can you share more about the role that collaboration and long-term relationships play in your approach to working with clients?
Although the nature of our work generally means our work for our clients is more one-off than a continuous advisory relationship, we keep in touch with our (former) clients and often act as a sounding board. That being said, especially in the case of tax disputes, the ‘one-off’ may last for years if a case is litigated.

6. NBCC Membership and Future Vision:

As a member of the NBCC, what excites you most about this membership?
Being able to contribute to the Netherlands-British (economic) ties through my background excites me the most. I’m also excited about connecting with others in the NBCC community.

How do you see Lubbers, Boer & Douma contributing to the NBCC community, and what do you hope to gain from this membership?
Given our expertise in Dutch and international tax law, I see Lubbers, Boer & Douma contributing to the NBCC community through the Economic & Fiscal Forum and by sharing our insights in Dutch tax legislation. I became a member of the NBCC also because of my personal connection with the UK, being both a Dutch national and British citizen.

7. Closing Thoughts:

What advice would you give to businesses navigating tax and administrative complexities in the Netherlands or internationally?
I would advise businesses navigating tax and administrative complexities in the Netherland or internationally to join a community such as the NBCC, which consists of peers that have likely gone through similar challenges and may have invaluable experience they can share about facing those challenges. If that does not resolve the complexity being faced, Lubbers, Boer & Douma is there to give a helping hand.

Is there anything additional you'd like to share about Lubbers, Boer & Douma's mission, values, or unique services that set your firm apart? Could you also provide your contact details for those who might be interested in your services?
As mentioned previously, I think we have a unique approach to solving our clients’ tax problems with a team consisting of advisors with a breadth and depth of experience and knowledge unrivalled by many other firms.

My contact details are:

Rhys Bane
T: +31(0)6 41 86 67 61
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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