We're a Baker Tilly network member
About Baker Tilly
Craig Whatman

Craig Whatman

Partner, Melbourne

Craig heads up Pitcher Partners’ Transaction Taxes Team, which advises on all aspects of Goods and Services Tax, Stamp Duty (nationally), Land Tax (nationally), Windfall Gains Tax, the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution and Fuel Tax Credits. He is highly skilled in working with businesses in the property industry, and also advises clients in manufacturing and distribution and international trade amongst other industries.

As a qualified lawyer with experience practising as a solicitor, Craig has an astute grasp of taxation matters and is quick to pinpoint issues and opportunities. His practical and commercial advice around GST, stamp duty, land tax and other indirect taxes ensures clients avoid costly mistakes and minimise their indirect tax liabilities.

Craig is a strong communicator with an ability to motivate and guide that stems in part from his early career as a professional tennis umpire. Following 10 Australian Opens, three Wimbledons, and a number of events in the US on the ATP tour, he is calm under pressure and relishes interacting with a wide variety of professionals. Today, he hosts webinars and presents formally to clients and government bodies on tax legislation and related issues.

Craig plays a leading role in taxation discussions more broadly, which enables him to advocate for decisions that positively impact middle-market businesses. He is a member of the Property Council of Australia’s Victorian Tax and Economic Trends Committee and the State Revenue Office’s State Taxes Consultative Council. Having dealt with state taxes outside of Victoria, Craig assists on projects all over Australia.

With a vision to build up a specialist GST and state taxes practice, Craig joined Pitcher Partners in July 2005 as a Client Director. Prior to this, he worked in New Zealand and Australia for both Big 4 accounting firms and a top tier law firm, including undertaking GST implementation for Telstra. He became a partner in 2007.

Memberships and qualifications

  • Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (Victoria University of Wellington)
  • Barrister and Solicitor, Supreme Court of Victoria
  • Member of the Law Institute of Victoria
  • Chartered Tax Advisor of The Tax Institute
  • Affiliate Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
  • Member of the Property Council of Australia’s Victorian Tax and Economic Trends Committee

Pitcher Partners insights

Get the latest Pitcher Partners updates direct to your inbox

Thank you for you interest

How can we help you?

Business or personal advice
General information
Career information
Media enquiries
Contact expert
Become a member
Specialist query
Please provide as much detail to ensure appropriate allocation of your query
Please highlight a realistic time frame that will enable us to provide advice within a suitable and timely manner. Please note given conflicting demands with our senior personnel, we will endeavour to respond to you within the nominated time frame. If you require an urgent response, please contact us on 03 8610 5477.
Responses to queries submitted via this form (“Response”) are produced by Pitcher Partners Advisors Proprietary Limited and are prepared for the exclusive use and benefit of those who are invited, and agree, to participate in the CRITICAL POINT NETWORK service. Responses provided, or any part thereof, must not be distributed, copied, used, or relied on by any other person, without our prior written consent. Any information provided is intended to be of a general nature and prepared without taking into account your objectives, circumstances, financial situation or particular needs. Any information provided does not constitute personal advice. If you act on anything contained in a Response without seeking personal advice you do so at your own risk. In providing this information, we are not purporting to act as solicitors or provide legal advice. Any information provided by us is prepared in the ordinary course of our profession and is based on the relevant law and its interpretations by relevant authorities as it stands at the time the information is provided. Any changes or modifications to the law and/or its interpretation after this time could affect the information we provide. It is not possible to guarantee that the tax authorities will not challenge a transaction or to guarantee the outcome of such a challenge if one is raised on the basis of the information we provide. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Pitcher Partners will not be liable for any loss, damage, liability or claim whatsoever suffered or incurred by any person arising directly or indirectly out of the use or reliance on the information contained within a Response. We recommend you seek a formal engagement of our professional services to consider the appropriateness of the information in a Response having regard to your objectives, circumstances, financial situation or needs before proceeding with any financial decisions. Pitcher Partners is an association of independent firms. Pitcher Partners is a member of the global network of Baker Tilly International Limited, the members of which are separate and independent legal entities. Liability limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation.
CPN Enquiry
Business Radar 2025
Dealmakers 2025
Not-for-profit survey 2025
Search by industry