Timothy D. Neilson is associated with Geelong, Victoria, where his father, Geoff Neilson, was a prominent accountant and community leader. Neilson later established his professional career in Melbourne as a commercial and taxation lawyer, while maintaining connections with the Geelong community, including through philanthropic support for Melbourne Law School scholarships.
Neilson studied law at the University of Melbourne, completing an LLB with honours in 1983. He subsequently undertook postgraduate legal study at the University of London, where he completed an LLM. His academic work was followed by a career focused on Australian income tax, capital gains tax, financing, major projects and mergers and acquisitions. He later contributed to the University of Melbourne's postgraduate legal education as a Senior Fellow in its Master of Laws program and as a guest lecturer.
Neilson began practising as a lawyer in the mid-1980s and was working at Blake Dawson Waldron in Melbourne by 1988, when he was identified as a senior associate; he subsequently became a partner of the firm. He later practised as a partner at Freehills, advising on Australian taxation issues including the repatriation of corporate funds and other commercial transactions. By the late 2000s he was a special counsel at Greenwoods, later Greenwoods & Freehills and Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills, where he practised primarily in income tax and capital gains tax. His work involved large business and international clients, particularly in financing, major infrastructure projects and mergers and acquisitions. Documented matters included advice connected with major public-private partnerships, transport infrastructure, energy and resources transactions, corporate restructurings and acquisitions. In October 2020 he joined White & Case in Melbourne as counsel in its Australian Taxation practice.
Served as President of The Tax Institute in 2019 after holding national, state and technical committee leadership roles within the organization.
Built a long career advising large business and international clients on income tax, capital gains tax, financing, major projects and mergers and acquisitions.
Contributed to postgraduate legal education at the University of Melbourne as a Senior Fellow and guest lecturer in its Master of Laws program.
Supported access to legal education through a documented donation to Melbourne Law School scholarships.
(Presentation addressing the relevance and application of ...)
2011(Article on the Full Federal Court decision in Energy Reso...)
2004(Article by Tim Neilson, then Special Counsel at Blake Daw...)
1999(President's report discussing the need for tax profession...)
2019(Neilson's first President's report for Taxation in Austra...)
2019(Article discussing the broader professional capabilities ...)
2019(Article discussing extra-statutory concessions and their ...)
2009Neilson has participated in professional tax and legal organizations throughout his career. He served on revenue-law-related committees of the Law Council of Australia, The Taxation Institute of Australia and the Law Institute of Victoria. He became a National Councillor of The Tax Institute in 2013, served as a member of its Victorian State Council and held senior committee responsibilities before serving as the Institute's President in 2019. He subsequently remained involved in the Institute's governance as a director until December 2020.
National Councillor from 2013; served on the Victorian State Council and national committees, and was President in 2019.
The Tax Institute , Australia
2013 - 2020
Member of revenue law-related committees.
Law Council of Australia , Australia
Member of revenue law-related committees.
The Taxation Institute of Australia , Australia
Member of revenue law-related committees.
Law Institute of Victoria , Australia
Neilson is the son of accountant and community leader Geoff Neilson. The Neilson family has been associated with Geelong civic and philanthropic life, and Timothy Neilson has supported legal education through a documented donation to Melbourne Law School scholarships.
