Unlocking Tax Value in M&A - Part 3: Planning for success - Pre-deal and post-merger tax strategies

Oxana is a Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Partner based in Dubai, UAE, with over 20 years of experience. She previously worked as an International Tax Partner at Deloitte UK and spent 19 years at Deloitte Corporate Intelligence Services (CIS). Oxana focuses on building client relationships and delivering high-value projects across multiple service lines.

As a seasoned tax professional with over two decades of experience in international tax and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), Ashish has consistently delivered strategic tax guidance and tailored solutions to multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in diverse industries. His expertise spans a wide range of tax matters, including corporate tax, transfer pricing, and value-added tax (VAT). Ashish has a proven track record of successfully navigating complex tax landscapes, building strong relationships with cross-functional teams and clients, and leading high-performing teams. As a Director at Deloitte Middle East, Ashish handles complex multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions, advising on international tax matters, and spearheading initiatives to optimize tax efficiency for clients in the Middle East and beyond. Ashish is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and a qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants - AICPA).

George is a Director in Deloitte’s Transfer Pricing team in the United Arab Emirates, with over 12 years of experience across Latin America and the Middle East. He has worked across multiple tax jurisdictions spanning Central and Latin America as well as the Middle East. Over the past seven years, George has been at the forefront of implementing transfer pricing frameworks across KSA, Qatar, Jordan, and, most recently, the UAE. George advises multinational and Middle East-headquartered groups on complex transfer pricing matters, with a strong focus on advisory and operating model design. His work centers on aligning legal and operational structures with value creation, including the delineation of functions, assets, and risks, and the development of intercompany arrangements that reflect the arm’s length principle. He supports clients in structuring and optimizing their operating models in light of the UAE Corporate Tax regime, with particular emphasis on substance, governance, and the practical execution of transfer pricing policies. George has deep expertise in proprietary intangibles and complex profit split analyses. His experience includes advising on M&A transactions to ensure transfer pricing alignment and support post-deal integration. He has also contributed to broader international tax matters, including restructuring initiatives and strategic planning projects. George holds dual bachelor’s degrees — a B.A. in Business Administration and a B.S. in International Business and Finance from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. He also holds a Master’s degree in Corporate Finance from EAE Business School in Barcelona. George is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation in the United Kingdom and holds an Advanced Diploma in International Taxation.