Dr. Philipp Kühner

After more than fifteen years in Transaction Tax and an established career as a Big Four partner, continuing on the path I was on would have been the natural choice. I chose differently. Not because I wanted to leave something behind, but because I was ready to take what I had learned into a different setting – one where I could help shape what comes next.

What motivates me goes beyond technical advice. I enjoy building things – long-term client relationships, strong teams and, now, a new practice. But building also means seeing things develop and last over time. Having worked alongside NEON on shared clients for many years, I already knew and valued the collaboration. So when our exchange eventually turned to me joining, the combination of people, entrepreneurial ambition and the opportunity to actively shape something made it feel like the right move at the right time.

My approach is simple: start with the commercial objective and build the right tax solution around it. I particularly enjoy complex M&A and transformation projects where strategic thinking and practical implementation go hand in hand. This also means being a trusted sparring partner: listening, challenging assumptions and helping clients structure their thoughts, reduce complexity and gain clarity on the way forward. Ultimately, the goal is advice that clients can confidently act on.

Outside the office, I am drawn to things that offer a different perspective – travelling with my family, being outdoors, cooking for family and friends or simply learning something completely new. I have a particular fascination with the frontier spirit: the courage and pragmatism of stepping into unfamiliar territory without knowing exactly where it will lead. And while I take my work seriously, taking the work seriously has never required taking myself too seriously.

Experience has taught me that the best advisors combine great expertise with an open mind. They listen, remain approachable, keep a clear head under pressure and build relationships that last. Long-term commitment matters to me. But commitment should never become an excuse for standing still when the world around you is changing.

That is what I want to help build at NEON: a tax practice combining technical excellence, entrepreneurial thinking and genuine collaboration – and one that clients see as a trusted partner for the long term.