Hillmont Partners advises on the successful resolution of a long-standing international tax dispute
Hillmont Partners, together with Astraea Group and Legance – Avvocati Associati, successfully advised the client, an oil and gas operator based in Eastern European and Central Asian region, on settlement negotiations and conclusion of an agreement with the Italian tax authorities, bringing a long-running tax dispute to a close.
The dispute concerned the payment of registration tax in connection with the recognition in Italy of a substantial arbitral award. Since 2021, the client has been challenging the tax assessment on multiple legal and procedural grounds. The proceedings progressed through the Italian court system and ultimately reached the Supreme Court.
In July 2025, the client submitted a settlement proposal seeking the application of a reduced registration tax rate and requesting a reassessment of the late-payment penalty. The matter was resolved by way of an out-of-court settlement, resulting in a reduction of the tax liability by more than 60%.
Hillmont Partners’ team advising on the case included Managing Partner James Hart, Senior Associate Iryna Nahorniak and Associate Luiza Kurtish.
