Prudence Barker

Profile

Prudence is a commercial barrister with a specialisation in taxation law. With her business background, Prudence combines a sound commercial foundation and a practical understanding of taxation and commercial law. Her accounting background makes her particularly proficient in accounting and financial matters.

Prudence has experience in state taxes, including payroll tax, land tax and the newer Victorian state taxes (windfall gains tax, vacant residential land tax, foreign purchaser duty), and Federal tax matters relating to Part IVC proceedings such as default assessments, capital gains tax, and Part IVA, as well as liquidator obligations, GST and luxury car tax.

Prudence assists with other tax-related matters, such as director penalty notices (DPNs) and superannuation, including self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).

Prudence appears in commercial matters, such as contract law, in the courts and tribunals. She has appeared in the Federal Court, Supreme Court of Victoria, the AAT and VCAT in commercial and tax matters.

Before coming to the Bar, Prudence worked at the Australian Taxation Office in the Tax Counsel Network, providing specialist legal advice on matters under audit, objections and litigation. 

Prudence worked at Ernst & Young in the corporate tax and tax controversy teams, with experience acting for taxpayers in ATO audits and disputes, tax consulting, and compliance, and as CEO of BGP International, a fresh produce export company operating across 26 countries. At BGP, she managed complex shipping and commercial disputes that arose in international business and negotiated settlements on those disputes. 

Prudence read with Catherine Pierce SC, and her senior mentor is Terry Murphy KC.

Qualifications: 

• Currently undertaking a Master of Tax, University of Melbourne
• 2021 Frank Pinkerton Scholarship for Capital Gains Tax: Problems in Practice, University of Melbourne
• Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Finance), University of Melbourne
• Chartered Accountant 
• Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Science, University of Melbourne
• Designing Blockchain Solutions, RMIT