Kingsley Napley has hired Paul Davidoff as a partner to lead its international tax desk in the private client team.
Paul advises UK-based and international high net worth individuals, families, trustees and beneficiaries on tax, trusts and estate planning. He has expertise in the UK’s residence and domicile rules and the UK tax implications of asset ownership or transfer for individuals, companies and trusts. He also assists with the structuring and administration of UK and offshore trusts, as well as drafting UK and cross-border wills and succession strategies.
Paul has joined from New Quadrant Partners where he has been a partner since 2018.
James Ward, head of private client, said: ‘The evolving tax landscape for UK and international HNWs means we are seeing unprecedented demand for tax-related advice and planning services. Paul’s expertise will be invaluable and I am delighted to welcome him to the firm.’
Paul added: ‘It has been a busy start already and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues across the firm and getting to know our clients, as the country heads into yet another period of change with the impending Budget less than three months away.’
RSM UK has appointed Shannon Dowdles as a tax partner in its corporate tax team. She has more than 20 years’ experience advising large businesses in the energy sector on domestic and international tax. She is based in the Aberdeen office and will support clients throughout the UK.
Shannon advises on corporate tax issues including entry into the UK, tax provisioning and compliance, optimising tax attributes and incentives, tax implications of structuring and financing, tax governance and engaging with HMRC.
She began her career as a tax adviser at Deloitte before moving to EY where she progressed through the ranks to partner. She has also worked in industry as a tax director for an international drilling company.
Shannon said: ‘I love the fact that my role gives me a window into so many businesses within the energy sector, and it’s a privilege to support them in assessing and implementing their plans.’
Thomson Snell & Passmore has appointed Lisa Bryson as a trust and tax manager. She joins from HaysMac LLP, where she has spent the past four years in the private client department. Lisa’s expertise includes overseeing tax compliance, trust management and inheritance tax returns for high net worth individuals and families, landed family groups, entrepreneurs, charitable trusts and estates.
Menzies has promoted Matthew Watkins to partner in its tax disputes service. He joined Menzies in September 2022 to establish and lead the firm’s tax disputes team, bringing with him experience from senior roles at BDO, Moore Stephens, and Grant Thornton. Matthew provides clients with strategic guidance across the full spectrum of tax investigations and helping to resolve cases swiftly and effectively.
Johnston Carmichael has appointed Alison McGlashan as director in its Inverness office. She joins from a big four firm, and has more than 20 years’ experience in corporation tax.
She will work with clients to help them to obtain tax reliefs from property investment or fixed asset investment more generally, taking into account the interaction with other taxes and the taxpayer’s self-assessment obligations.
Alex Hall has been promoted to partner at Claritas. He joined the firm in 2021.
Alex said: ‘I am extremely proud to be promoted to partner in a business that demands excellence but is also extremely fun to work for.’
Matt Hodgson, partner and Manchester office lead, said: ‘Alex is a highly-valued member of our team and this promotion is, quite rightly, recognition for his total commitment to growing our valuations and equity reward team on a national basis.’
Addleshaw Goddard has launched a tax disputes and investigations practice and hired Steven Porter as partner to lead it.
Steven, who was previously with Pinsent Masons, has more than 15 years’ experience advising corporates and high net worth individuals on HMRC interventions, from routine enquiries and complex investigations to litigation, alternative dispute resolution and crisis-related matters.
He brings with him Sam Wardleworth, legal director, Amy Roe, managing associate, and Sophie Warren and Rachel Jones, both senior tax managers.
Paul Concannon, partner and head of tax and structuring, said: ‘Alongside his team, Steven significantly enhances our tax and disputes offerings, addressing a key gap in our capabilities. His broad experience across direct and indirect tax, property, and employment tax, and high net worth individual matters will be central to building a leading tax disputes and investigations practice.’
Andrew Orgill has joined BDO as a tax partner specialising in international corporate tax and advising large multinational groups. He will be responsible for supporting IP-rich organisations in the technology, life science and consumer sectors. Andy will be based in the firm’s London office and joins from EY.
Independent private wealth and corporate services provider Praxis has appointed Wayne Mollet as client services director in its Guernsey private wealth team. He has 20 years’ experience in trust and private wealth management.
He acts as principal relationship manager for a portfolio of private clients, overseeing the administration of trusts and companies holding a wide range of international assets.
Associate director, Natasha Tauckoor, has also joined the Guernsey team, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the fiduciary and private wealth sectors. Beginning her career in Mauritius, Natasha has since held senior roles at both bank-owned and independent firms in Mauritius and Guernsey.
She specialises in estate planning and multi-jurisdictional structuring, supporting families to manage and transfer wealth in line with their long-term objectives.
Trident Tax has recruited Dan Smitten as a senior manager in tax dispute resolution. Based in Solihull, he started his career at HMRC before moving into the private sector at the start of 2024 where he has focused on tax disputes and resolutions, assisting clients in navigating HMRC enquiries across all tax heads, and supporting clients with litigation up to the Court of Appeal.
Lu Gao has also joined as a senior manager in the firm’s Manchester office. She was previously with EY. Lu specialises in advising internationally mobile clients on residence, historic domicile issues, offshore structuring, securities taxation and estate planning. She also has experience in the alternative investment funds sector.
In addition, the firm has hired Rohan Manro as a manager also in Manchester. Rohan has worked in independent advisory firms and at Grant Thornton. He advises UK and international families on wealth structuring, trusts, and residence and historic domicile matters, and has experience in HMRC investigations and tribunal processes.
Edward Ullathorne has been promoted to tax director in the Birmingham office. He joined the firm in 2023 from KPMG and has more than 15 years’ experience in private client taxation, advising on residency, historic domicile matters, double tax treaties and offshore structures, as well as supporting UK entrepreneurs with succession and exit planning.
Heather Self has been appointed a non-executive director at HMRC. She is a consultant and former partner at Blick Rothenberg.
Promotion at Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons has promoted existing partner Jake Landman to head the tax disputes and investigations team. He has extensive practical experience of dealing with HMRC and all aspects of the tax litigation process and has worked on the team’s most high profile cases involving both direct and indirect tax.
Jake said: ‘With developments in tax law showing no sign of slowing and further boundary pushing from tax authorities, it’s an exciting time to take over leading the team as we continue to continue to provide exceptional advice to those of our clients who are navigating this shifting landscape.’
Sibylle Schumacher, partner and co-head of litigation, regulatory and tax, said: ‘With nearly two decades of experience in advising clients on their most complex and pressing tax disputes, Jake is poised to lead with an impressive depth of knowledge and expertise. We look forward to continuing to advise clients on the full range of contentious tax matters, including those with cross border elements.’
New partner appointed at S&W
Vicki Weston has joined S&W as an indirect tax partner in London. She was formerly with KPMG where she was part of the fintech leadership team involved in growing and developing the fintech and crypto practice. With more than 20 years’ experience in VAT advisory, mainly in big four firms and including a year in-house at Barclays Bank, Vicki’s expertise includes advising financial services businesses, as well as M&A and real estate transactions.
Mark Webb, head of business tax, said: ‘Vicki has experience working with fast-growth financial services and fintech businesses which aligns with a key strategic focus for us as a group. I’m looking forward to working with Vicki as we continue to strengthen our tax advisory practice.’
Boodle Hatfield welcomes new private client and tax partner
Boodle Hatfield has recruited Dom Rothbarth as a partner in its private client and tax team. He joins from Taylor Wessing.
Dom advises individuals, private banks, family offices and trustees on a range of issues with a particular focus on structuring, succession and estate planning, often involving cross-border elements. He acts for entrepreneurs and early-stage investors throughout the lifecycle of their businesses and regularly supports senior executives and financial services professionals in relation to remuneration, carried interest and co-invest arrangements, HMRC investigations and disputes.
Senior partner Andrea Zavos said: ‘Dom is a great addition to our team. His technical ability, coupled with his commercial instincts and personable approach put him in an excellent position to provide valuable advice to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of our clients.’
