Exhibit 8.1
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| | | | One Bunhill Row |
| | | | London EC1Y 8YY |
| | | | T +44 (0)20 7600 1200 |
| | | | F +44 (0)20 7090 5000 |
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| | | | 11 March 2021 |
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| | | | Your reference |
The Directors | | | | |
Royal Dutch Shell plc | | | | Our reference |
Shell Centre London SE1 7NA | | | | WNCW/AMAL Direct line 020 7090 5052 |
Dear Sirs,
Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Royal Dutch Shell plc dated 11 March 2021 (the “Registration Statement”): U.K. Tax Section
We have acted as legal advisers to Royal Dutch Shell plc (“RDS”) as to certain matters of U.K. tax law relevant to the preparation of the section of the Registration Statement entitled “Taxation - U.K. Taxation” (the “U.K. Tax Section”).
In that connection, we have examined the Registration Statement and such other documents as we believe to be necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Based upon the Registration Statement and those other documents and subject to the qualifications set out below and in the Registration Statement, we are of the opinion that the statements contained in the U.K. Tax Section, summarising the material U.K. tax consequences for a U.S. holder of the ownership and disposal of securities that may be offered by RDS or Shell International Finance B.V. (“Shell Finance”) pursuant to the Registration Statement, fairly summarise the matters therein described.
Our opinion is based upon existing statutory, regulatory and judicial authority, all of which may be changed at any time with retroactive effect. Any change in applicable laws or the current practice of HM Revenue and Customs, or any inaccuracy in the documents upon which we have relied, may affect the continuing validity of our opinion. We assume no responsibility to inform you of any such change or inaccuracy that may occur or come to our attention. Finally, our opinion is limited to the tax matters specifically covered in the U.K. Tax Section. We have not been asked to address, nor have we addressed, any other tax consequences for U.S. holders (or, generally, tax consequences for RDS or Shell Finance).
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