Blake Robertson

Executive summary

Blake is a Director in BDO’s Corporate & International Tax team in Melbourne. He advises managed funds, investment managers, high-net-worth family groups and private businesses on complex Australian and international tax matters, combining deep technical expertise with practical, commercially focused advice.

Blake specialises in the taxation of trusts and collective investment vehicles, cross-border structuring, succession and intergenerational wealth transfer and transactions. He works closely with clients through the full lifecycle of an investment or business, from establishment and acquisition through to restructuring, compliance and divestment.

Clients value Blake’s ability to translate complex tax issues into clear, actionable recommendations. His proactive and solutions-focused approach is supported by a strong commitment to quality, integrity and coordinated service across BDO.

Expertise

• Taxation of trusts, including Managed Investment Trusts and Attribution Managed Investment Trusts
• Taxation of investment funds and collective investment vehicles
• Private wealth, family groups and succession planning
• Australian income tax and capital gains tax
• Inbound and outbound tax structuring and restructuring
• Tax consolidation, value shifting and integrity provisions, including Part IVA
• Private binding rulings and engagement with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
• ATO reviews, audits and assurance programs

Experience

• Managed funds structuring – Advised a leading Australian investment manager on the establishment and operation of a portfolio of managed funds, including fund structuring, Managed Investment Trust and Attribution Managed Investment Trust eligibility, distribution modelling, investor onboarding and carried interest arrangements.
• Private wealth and succession – Assisted a high-net-worth family group with an intergenerational wealth transfer and the restructuring of business and investment interests, including advice on trust taxation, capital gains tax, cross-border issues and succession planning.
• Property investment and development – Advised a substantial property group on the tax-effective ownership, financing and management of a diversified asset portfolio, including managed fund arrangements, acquisitions, divestments, restructures and ongoing tax compliance.
• Cross-border restructuring – Led the Australian tax workstream for a multi-entity, multi-jurisdictional restructure, including advice on income tax, capital gains tax, tax consolidation, controlled foreign company rules and integrity provisions.
• ATO engagement – Assisted a major private group with a complex and commercially significant ATO engagement, including developing the ruling and review strategy, coordinating specialist advice and presenting the client’s technical position to the regulator.

Qualifications and affiliations

• Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Hons)
• Admitted as a Solicitor, Victoria