Till Jouaux, National Legal Lead at In Extenso and Head of the ETL GLOBAL International Tax Group
Till Jouaux serves as the National Legal Lead for the In Extenso Group in France, a leader in accounting, consulting, and professional services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He is responsible for coordinating the legal practice, which involves nearly 400 legal professionals across France.
Since 2022, Till has also been leading the International Tax Group of ETL GLOBAL. His knowledge in tax coordination and legal strategy allows him to offer valuable insights to his peers, supporting them in managing tax-related challenges with compliance and efficiency.
Till Jouaux is also a member of the simplification and taxation committees of the National Council of the Order of Chartered Accountants (Conseil National de l’Ordre des Experts-Comptables) and serves as a visiting lecturer in business law, corporate law, and tax law at Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University.
What first drew you towards this profession or area of work?
After obtaining my scientific baccalaureate, I wanted to continue learning and exploring new fields out of curiosity. I therefore turned to Law at university, a subject I had never studied before, yet one that encompassed history, politics, and economics.
During my studies, I had the opportunity to spend a year at Istanbul University in Turkey and to travel extensively throughout the region. Upon returning to France and completing a thesis on international taxation, I had the opportunity to join the In Extenso Group as a business lawyer.
What personal quality has been most important in your professional life?
Curiosity. The drive to constantly question, probe, and dig deeper, whether it involves a client’s objectives, the meaning of a legal text, or case law has always enabled me to go further and to better understand and grasp situations.
What is a defining strength of your firm today?
A multidisciplinary approach. In Extenso brings together over 7,000 professionals, each a specialist in their field ranging from accounting and taxation to various branches of law (business, corporate, and labor law) as well as wealth management, innovation financing, and many others.
This wide range of specialisations, all focused on the best interests of our micro-business and SME clients, enables us to provide them with comprehensive, 360-degree support.
What does good client service mean in practice in your firm?
Good client service means, above all, ensuring our clients have complete peace of mind regarding the French regulatory framework in which they operate. We do not sell reports or documents; we sell peace of mind, the peace of mind that comes from meeting all their obligations and making the best possible choices, thanks to expert advice.
In your experience, what is the most valuable aspect of being part of the ETL GLOBAL network?
I always find it highly valuable to exchange views with specialists from other countries on technical topics that we share but which may be handled differently under our respective legal systems. Just as analysing a subject with a French chartered accountant, someone who has mastered the topic, allows me to learn and gain a better understanding of my own work, engaging in dialogue with a German, British, Italian, or Australian tax specialist regarding alternative approaches to defining a taxable event or calculating a tax base opens up perspectives that are consistently intellectually enriching.
How would you describe your involvement in ETL GLOBAL beyond your work in the firm?
I am very pleased to co-chair the ETL GLOBAL International Tax Group; my only regret is not being able to bring the brilliant participants of this group together more often.
Which current trend do you think matters most in your area of work?
While I would like to embrace AI and the promise it holds, the level of reliability it currently offers in our fields of specialisation gives me pause. Is it merely a matter of impatience? Time will tell.
Moreover, we are currently witnessing a series of regulatory back-and-forths between two particularly important yet often conflicting concepts: simplification, on the one hand, and the fight against money laundering, on the other. These two imperatives guide the legislator, yet frequently clash. Ultimately, however, these constant shifts keep our field and our professions dynamic.
Looking ahead, what matters most to you in the coming years, whether for your own work, your firm, or ETL GLOBAL where relevant?
Simply ensuring the satisfaction of my colleagues, my clients, and the members of ETL GLOBAL with whom I interact.
What advice would you give to someone entering your profession?
Be curious! Be rigorous in your reasoning and open-minded in your ideas.
