Paul McNab is a senior Australian tax lawyer whose career spans more than three decades across government, professional services, and global legal practice. He is best known for his work in tax controversy, multinational advisory, and complex litigation, as well as for his later involvement in civil legal disputes connected to PwC Australia.
This article brings together all verified and publicly available information to present a complete, factual account of Paul McNab’s professional background, his senior roles at PwC and DLA Piper, his experience with the Australian Taxation Office, his involvement in major tax disputes, and the legal and parliamentary scrutiny that followed the PwC tax advisory controversy.
This profile refers solely to Paul McNab, the Australian tax lawyer and former PwC partner, and is not related to other individuals with the same or similar names, including the technology executive at VIAVI Solutions or UK-based professionals.
Early Career Foundations and Australian Taxation Office Experience
Paul McNab’s professional career developed at a time when Australia’s tax system was becoming increasingly complex, driven by globalisation, multinational expansion, and rising regulatory scrutiny. A formative stage of his career included nearly eight years working with the Australian Taxation Office, an experience that shaped his understanding of tax administration, compliance enforcement, and dispute resolution from the regulator’s perspective.
This early exposure to the ATO provided McNab with insight into how tax law is applied, interpreted, and enforced in practice. It also informed his later work representing taxpayers in disputes, where knowledge of regulatory processes and decision-making proved critical.
Following his time at the ATO, McNab transitioned into private practice, focusing on taxation law and disputes involving complex commercial structures and cross-border arrangements.
Rise to Partnership at PwC Australia
Paul McNab later joined PwC Australia, one of the Big Four accounting firms, where he became a partner in the firm’s tax practice. Over time, he emerged as a senior figure within PwC’s Tax Controversy group, advising corporate and multinational clients on disputes with the Australian Taxation Office and other revenue authorities.
His work at PwC involved managing audits, objections, investigations, and litigation arising from contested tax positions. These matters often carried significant financial and reputational consequences for clients and required a combination of legal analysis, negotiation, and strategic planning.
McNab’s role extended beyond dispute resolution. For a four-year period, he also led PwC Australia’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector practice, advising multinational companies operating in industries shaped by digital business models, intellectual property, and cross-border operations.
Advising the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Sector
The TMT sector posed unique challenges from a tax perspective, particularly as digitalisation blurred traditional concepts of physical presence and profit allocation. As sector lead, McNab worked with multinational clients addressing issues such as permanent establishment risk, transfer pricing, and the taxation of intangible assets.
This work coincided with growing global concern about how large technology and media companies structured their operations across jurisdictions. McNab’s advisory role required close coordination across tax, legal, and commercial teams to manage regulatory exposure while supporting business objectives.
Multinational Advisory Work and Globalisation Pressures
As multinational business structures became more complex, Paul McNab advised clients navigating commercial restructures prompted by globalisation. His work focused on aligning business operations with evolving tax laws while responding to market pressures such as supply chain reorganisation, intellectual property centralisation, and cross-border expansion.
During this period, tax authorities globally increased scrutiny of multinational arrangements, leading to a rise in disputes and enforcement action. McNab’s practice increasingly sat at the intersection of advisory work and dispute management.
Engagement With OECD BEPS Reforms
A significant part of McNab’s later career involved advising clients responding to the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) initiatives. These reforms represented a coordinated international effort to address tax avoidance strategies used by multinational enterprises.
BEPS reforms reshaped transfer pricing rules, substance requirements, documentation standards, and information sharing between tax authorities. For multinational organisations, the reforms created uncertainty and heightened enforcement risk.
McNab advised clients on restructuring operations, managing compliance obligations, and preparing for disputes arising from BEPS-driven changes. His work reflected a broader transformation of tax practice, where international policy developments increasingly influenced domestic enforcement outcomes.
Extensive Tax Litigation Experience
Unlike many tax advisers whose work remains primarily advisory, Paul McNab developed extensive litigation experience. He has acted in contested taxation matters before state courts, federal courts, and the High Court of Australia.
Litigation at this level requires not only technical knowledge of tax law but also strategic judgement, as outcomes can shape future interpretations of legislation. McNab’s courtroom work involved complex evidentiary issues, statutory interpretation, and the interaction between domestic and international tax principles.
This experience placed him among a relatively small group of Australian tax practitioners with exposure to high-level judicial proceedings.
Transition to DLA Piper
After leaving PwC, Paul McNab joined DLA Piper, a global law firm, as a Partner and Solicitor in the Sydney office. His move reflected a broader trend in the profession, where senior tax specialists increasingly shifted from accounting firms into legal practice as disputes and enforcement became more prominent.
At DLA Piper, McNab continued to practise in tax controversy, regulatory enforcement, and complex disputes involving multinational clients. The firm’s global platform aligned with the cross-border nature of many of the matters he handled.
PwC Tax Advisory Controversy and Public Scrutiny
Paul McNab later became publicly associated with civil legal proceedings involving PwC Australia, arising from the firm’s handling of confidential government tax information. PwC publicly named McNab among former partners connected to the matter.
The issue attracted significant public attention and was examined through Australian Senate committee processes, where PwC disclosures and governance practices were scrutinised. McNab’s name appeared in parliamentary material as part of PwC’s own reporting to government bodies.
Subsequent reporting confirmed the existence of civil litigation between PwC and McNab, involving claims and counterclaims. These proceedings included disputes relating to professional conduct and partner entitlements, including retirement and exit arrangements. The matters were pursued through civil courts, including proceedings in New South Wales.
McNab has denied wrongdoing, and no criminal findings were made against him. The issues were addressed through civil legal processes rather than criminal prosecution.
Legal Context and Professional Implications
The PwC controversy and associated litigation formed part of a broader examination of governance, confidentiality, and ethical standards within Australia’s professional services sector. Parliamentary scrutiny and media reporting highlighted tensions between commercial advisory work and public policy objectives.
While McNab’s individual dispute was one element of this wider story, it occurred against a backdrop of increased regulation and oversight of tax advisory practices.
Professional Standing and Industry Context
Across his career, Paul McNab has worked at the centre of Australia’s tax system during periods of significant change. His professional background includes experience within the ATO, senior partnership at a Big Four firm, leadership of a major industry sector practice, advisory work on international tax reform, and litigation before the nation’s highest courts.
His career reflects how tax practice has evolved from traditional compliance into a field shaped by global policy coordination, regulatory enforcement, and public scrutiny.
The Changing Nature of Tax Controversy Work
McNab’s career illustrates the changing nature of tax controversy work in Australia. Earlier disputes often centred on domestic statutory interpretation. In more recent years, disputes increasingly involve international coordination, data sharing between tax authorities, and global standards such as BEPS.
Senior practitioners operating in this environment are required to navigate legal complexity alongside governance, reputational, and regulatory challenges.
Conclusion
Paul McNab’s professional journey spans more than thirty years at the forefront of Australian tax law and dispute resolution. From his early experience with the Australian Taxation Office to senior leadership at PwC Australia and partnership at DLA Piper, his work has focused on managing complex disputes, advising multinational organisations, and litigating taxation matters at the highest judicial levels.
While civil legal disputes linked to PwC brought heightened public attention, McNab’s career remains defined by long-standing engagement with Australia’s tax and legal frameworks during a period of profound regulatory change.
FAQs
Who is Paul McNab?
Paul McNab is an Australian tax lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in tax controversy, dispute resolution, and multinational advisory work. He has held senior roles at PwC Australia and is a Partner and Solicitor at DLA Piper in Sydney.
What areas of tax law does Paul McNab specialise in?
Paul McNab specialises in tax controversy and disputes, including audits, investigations, litigation, and regulatory enforcement matters involving multinational organisations and revenue authorities.
Did Paul McNab work at PwC Australia?
Yes. Paul McNab was a partner at PwC Australia, where he was a senior member of the Tax Controversy group and led the firm’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector practice for four years.
What role did Paul McNab have at DLA Piper?
Paul McNab is a Partner and Solicitor in the Sydney office of DLA Piper. His work focuses on tax disputes, regulatory matters, and complex litigation involving multinational clients.
Has Paul McNab litigated cases in Australian courts?
Yes. Paul McNab has acted in taxation matters before state courts, federal courts, and the High Court of Australia, giving him extensive courtroom experience in complex tax litigation.
Was Paul McNab involved in the PwC tax advisory controversy?
Paul McNab was publicly named by PwC among former partners connected to the firm’s handling of confidential government tax information. The matter involved civil legal proceedings and parliamentary scrutiny.
Has Paul McNab denied wrongdoing in relation to PwC?
Yes. Paul McNab has denied wrongdoing, and the issues involving PwC were addressed through civil legal processes rather than criminal proceedings.
Is Paul McNab connected to the VIAVI Solutions executive with the same name?
No. Paul McNab, the Australian tax lawyer, is not connected to the Paul McNab who is an executive at VIAVI Solutions. They are different individuals with separate professional backgrounds.
