Moore Kingston Smith LLP has appointed Lynn Lin as a partner and head of its dedicated China and Asia-Pacific desk.
A chartered management accountant and ATT-qualified tax adviser with over 15 years of commercial and technical experience across a range of industries, Lynn specialises in helping businesses expand internationally, from setting up overseas subsidiaries to managing accounting and compliance, securing funding and navigating cross-border tax issues.
She covers corporate and personal tax issues for business owners and managers, employee incentives and complex transactions. She has a strong track record in guiding businesses through their international growth and helping them achieve their goals.
Managing partner Matt Meadows said: ‘Helping businesses achieve their ambitions is what drives us, whether their goals are to expand internationally, attract UK investment or bridge operations across regions. To be successful requires experts like Lynn, whose genuine understanding of business culture in both markets supports ambitious clients to grow their global footprint.’
Lynn’s career began in industry, where she held commercial finance roles before transitioning into professional services.
Tim Walford-Fitzgerald has joined HaysMac as private client director.
Tim brings over 20 years’ experience advising high net worth individuals and families, entrepreneurs and business owners on a range of personal tax and trust matters. He specialises in complex UK tax planning, including individuals with international aspects to their lives. Throughout his career, Tim has built a reputation for delivering commercially astute and technically rigorous advice, with a particular focus on helping clients manage succession planning, navigate regulatory change and structure wealth across generations.
Natasha Frangos, managing partner, said: ‘Tim brings deep expertise and a commercial mindset that will add real value to our clients and our team through his approachable manner.’
Blick Rothenberg has promoted Simon Lewis to partner in financial services. He joined the firm in 2019 when Blick Rothenberg acquired Rees Pollock.
Simon said: ‘I work in financial services audit, focusing on asset managers such as private equity and venture capital firms. It’s an exciting time for the industry. Tax changes, including to carried interest, are unwelcome but the government’s policy agenda to encourage investment in UK start-ups is positive.’
Armstrong Watson has made a series of appointments and promotions in its senior tax team.
Gary Rowson has been appointed as a partner in its private client tax team.
He trained as a tax inspector with HMRC and brings more than 25 years’ experience in the tax profession, including time as a partner at Baker Tilly and in specialist tax advisory businesses. In recent years, he has focused on advising individuals and businesses in the music, entertainment, and sports sector.
The firm has also promoted Hayley Deeming to tax partner in Newcastle and, in Leeds, Becky Fraser has been promoted to tax director; meanwhile, Hannah Laidlaw-Keggans who trained with the firm has been promoted to senior manager in Dumfries.
Ari Zak has joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP’s New York office as a partner in the tax practice.
Ari focuses his practice on the taxation of investment funds and their investors, particularly on matters relating to mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, business development companies and variable insurance funds. He also advises on matters relating to private investment funds, including debt funds and private equity funds, in addition to transactional matters involving clients in the financial services industry.
‘We are very excited to have Ari join us. His deep legal acumen across the full spectrum of tax issues impacting registered funds will immediately benefit our long-standing asset manager clients,’ said Nancy Mehlman, co-head of the firm’s tax practice.
Ari said: ‘I look forward to working with my new colleagues across tax, registered funds and the rest of the firm.’
RSM UK has recruited Stephen Harrison to lead the internal controls and technology risk service in Scotland.
With a career spanning over 24 years, mainly in big four firms, and also in industry, Stephen brings extensive financial service and large corporate experience, advising boards and c-suites on regulatory compliance, internal controls, technology process improvement, policy and standard implementation, programme and change risk, and data risk assurance.
Alex Tait, head of risk and governance, said: ‘As businesses increasingly invest in AI and digital solutions, Stephen’s skillset will be integral in helping them manage emerging risks and embed good governance.’
UHY International has added Buus Jensen Public Accountants, a Danish audit and advisory firm, to its global network. This addition marks UHY’s expansion into Denmark, growing its international presence to 97 countries and more than 10,000 staff across 320 offices.
Based in Copenhagen, Buus Jensen is a full-service firm with 60 employees and eight partners, serving over 2,000 clients. It offers expertise across audit, tax, accounting, and advisory. The firm is known for high-quality support tailored to SMEs and growing businesses.
Following its integration into UHY International, Buus Jensen, which was founded more than 60 years ago, remains fully independent while also benefiting from international knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Russell-Cooke launches Spanish law offering
Russell-Cooke has recruited Roger Longarón, a Spanish-qualified lawyer and experienced tax adviser, to lead the development of the firm’s Spanish legal and tax services. He will also contribute to broader international private client work.
The firm’s Spanish offering responds to increasing demand from clients with ties to Spain, one of the UK’s most significant international markets and home to the largest community of British nationals residing in the EU – according to official statistics.
Roger qualified in Barcelona in 2019 and is a member of the Spanish Bar Association. He began his career advising on tax litigation at a law firm in Barcelona before moving to a major accountancy firm to focus on private client tax matters. Since relocating to London in 2020, Roger has worked in specialist tax advisory roles at Blevins Franks and most recently at Bolt Burdon, advising clients on complex cross-border tax issues, including UK and/or Spanish pre-emigration and pre-immigration tax planning, trusts, and succession planning. He has recently been admitted to the Association of Tax Technicians.
Andrew Godfrey, partner, said: ‘Launching a dedicated Spanish capability is a natural and exciting progression for our international private client practice. Roger’s appointment will allow us to provide specialist advice on Spanish law and tax matters while complementing our existing French and Italian offerings. With several team members already fluent in Spanish, Roger’s arrival reinforces our ability to offer seamless cross-border advice. Spain is a key destination for many of our UK clients, and we are now even better positioned to support them.’
Roger added: ‘I’m excited to help the launch of the firm’s Spanish legal and tax services. There is a growing need for co-ordinated cross-border advice – particularly between the UK and Spain – and I look forward to helping clients navigate the complexities of both jurisdictions.’
New partner for BCLP
International law firm BCLP has appointed David Klass as a partner in the tax advice and controversy practice in London. He began his legal career at Slaughter and May and has since held partnership roles at top international law firms, most recently at Hill Dickinson.
David maintains a broad tax practice, covering corporate and commercial transactions, debt financing, restructurings and reorganisations and tax advisory work. He advises across a range of transactions, including corporate matters, banking and finance, fund structuring and general commercial contracts.
Elizabeth Bradley, partner and global practice group leader – tax, employee benefits and private client, said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome David to the team. With a strong pipeline of UK corporate tax work and growing demand for structuring in M&A transactions, David brings precisely the experience needed to meet this demand and ensure high-quality delivery across complex, high-value matters.’
Carol Osborne, global department leader for corporate and finance transactions, added: ‘David’s appointment reflects our commitment to building the capabilities needed to support complex corporate and cross-border transactions. His broad experience will help strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional service and advance our firm’s goals.’
