Willow Tax & Legal launches in the UAE as PGP expands beyond tax amid rising GCC regulatory complexity

PGP (recognised in international rankings, including ITR World Tax, Chambers and Partners, and Best Lawyers) is expanding from a tax-focused practice into an integrated tax and legal advisory firm in response to rising demand for joined-up support across the Gulf. Reflecting this change, it will now operate under a new name, Willow Tax & Legal.

The firm will now advise on tax structuring, transfer pricing, tax compliance and disputes, alongside legal support in corporate, commercial, employment and transactional matters. The firm’s focus will remain on areas where legal and tax analysis intersect most directly, including market entry, group structuring, M&A execution, cross-border operations and ongoing compliance.

“We see a clear shift across the UAE and the wider GCC,” said Maria Nikonova, managing partner at Willow Tax & Legal. “For many businesses, especially those entering the region or executing cross-border transactions, it is no longer enough to address legal issues and tax issues separately. The most expensive mistakes often arise at the intersection of the two.”

The move comes when tax and regulatory rules are becoming more complex across the Gulf, increasing the compliance burden on both regional groups and international investors. Over the past several years, the UAE alone has introduced a 9% corporate tax in 2023 and domestic minimum top-up tax on multinational enterprises with a minimum effective tax rate of 15% in 2025. VAT legislation has also been amended, with tighter compliance and audit requirements. Meanwhile, a nationwide e-invoicing system, set for phased implementation from 2026, will introduce real-time reporting and fundamentally change how transactions are monitored.

“Historically, it was relatively easy for companies to navigate local legislation compared with more mature markets such as Europe or the US. That is no longer the case,” Nikonova noted. “Regulations are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the region. We often see clients who complete deals successfully from a legal standpoint but overlook key tax considerations. As a result, they miss out on available incentives and can incur significant financial losses. Our goal is to help clients address these issues earlier, with more integrated advice.”

Alexey Myagchenkov, partner at Willow Tax & Legal, said: “The UAE tax landscape has transformed fundamentally over the past years. From one of the most straightforward jurisdictions to operate in, to one that demands genuine expertise at the intersection of legal structure and tax consequence. Each regulatory development brought new complexity, and with it, clearer demand for advice that addresses both dimensions together. Willow was built to meet exactly that demand”.