Corporate tax in North West

Addleshaw Goddard

The tax and structuring practice at Addleshaw Goddard is noted the breadth of its expertise, including in real estate, private equity, and share incentive tax-related matters. The team is particularly focused on significant property projects, including funds, joint ventures, property development, and forward funding. Justine Delroy leads the practice, working with a number of clients on structuring issues related to private equity transactions. Michael Hunter is known for his real estate-related advisory work and acts for several institutional companies. Catherine Concannon provides support on private equity matters. All named lawyers are based in Manchester.

Practice head(s):

Justine Delroy


Other key lawyers:

Michael Hunter; Catherine Concannon


Key clients

Aviva Investors


Co-op Group


Bruntwood SciTech


Federated Hermes


Peel Group


Royal London


Inflexion


Angelo Gordon


Diageo plc


Work highlights


  • Acted for Co-op on its strategic disposal of its petrol filling station business to Euro Garages.
  • Advised on the structuring of a joint venture between Aviva and Allianz for the development of two over-station developments at Liverpool Street and Moorgate.
  • Advised Phoenix on its equity investment in, and acquisition of, Dufrain Group Limited.

DLA Piper

Turned to by local and national companies, both listed and privately owned, the Manchester-based team DLA Piper is best known for its international corporate tax services, with a broad focus that spans private equity, M&A, reorganisations, and restructurings. In particular, the practice is noted for its expertise in certain niche areas including VAT on civil aircrafts, outsourcing, and international commercial contracts. David Thompson - who heads the practice - handles the tax aspects of various transactions, including M&A deals and management buyouts. Stephen Jones is noted for his considerable experience in the taxation of multinationals and on land-based deals.

Practice head(s):

David Thompson


Other key lawyers:

Stephen Jones


Key clients

Analysys Mason Limited


RGI S.p.A.


Airties Kablosuz Iletişim Sanayi ve diş Ticaret A.Ş


Duke Street LLP


Azrieli Group


Alpha Biolaboratories Limited


Denstu Aegis


Suttons Transport Group


Lloyds Development Capital


YM&U Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Analysis Mason Limited on management equity treatment across UK, Norway, Sweden and other jurisdictions.
  • Advised RGI S.p.A on management equity treatment across Italy, France, Germany and other jurisdictions.

DWF

Working across multiple offices, the North West tax team at DWF advises national and international clients on issues across a range of focus areas, from employee incentives and share schemes to real estate and private equity-driven transactions. Notably, the team advises major private equity houses on the tax aspects of their investments, restructurings, disposals, and management incentive packages. James Cashman, who operates out of Liverpool, regularly works on M&A transactions and employment-related issues. He co-heads the national practice with Birmingham-based Jon Stevens, who provides tax advice on private equity deals. Also based in Liverpool, James Collinson advises on a host of property structuring and M&A transactions, most recently for a number of clients in the financial services sector.

Practice head(s):

James Cashman; Jon Stevens


Other key lawyers:

James Collinson


Key clients

Home REIT PLC


Assura PLC


Whitbread Group PLC


Crisp Thinking Group Limited


Future Planet Capital (UK) Limited


MJ Quinn Integrated Services Limited


RSK Environmental Limited


Plan Communications Limited


BT Group PLC


Shell PLC


Equiniti Limited


Costa Coffee


Work highlights


  • Advised the shareholders of Crisp Thinking Group Limited on the disposal of the entire issued share capital of Crisp Thinking Group Limited to Kroll International (UK) Limited.
  • Provided significant tax advice on all of Home REIT PLC’s real estate acquisitions including complex tax structuring advice.
  • Advised Nycomm Holdings Limited on the tax structuring in relation to the transaction to sell the entire issued share capital of Nimans Limited to Midwich Group PLC.

Squire Patton Boggs

In addition to advising on major corporate finance, private equity and property transactions, the tax strategy and benefits team at Squire Patton Boggs regularly provides employment-tax related advice on employee share incentive and pensions matters. Praised by clients for their 'speed, efficiency and clarity', key names to note include practice chair Patrick Ford, who brings to bear significant experience in the tax implications of corporate finance and property transactions; Victoria Murphy, experienced in management buy-outs and employee benefit schemes; and Alice Jenkinson, whose recent engagements include multi-jurisdictional management share incentive plans. All named lawyers are based in Manchester.

Practice head(s):

Patrick Ford


Other key lawyers:

Victoria Murphy; Alice Jenkinson


Testimonials

‘I am very impressed with the speed, efficiency and clarity of the SPB team as we continue to seek their advice across a range of topics globally.’

‘Partners are quick to respond and make time available to discuss issues. Subject level knowledge is high.’

‘A particular thanks to Patrick Ford, Alice Jenkinson, and Victoria Murphy for being extremely helpful and great also for recommending legal advisors in each location.’

Key clients

EDF Renewables


Co-operative Group


Greggs plc


Grafton Group plc


GB Group plc


Watkin Jones plc


Hurst Point Group


Lucite International


Chiltern Capital


H2 Equity Partners


Highview Enterprise


Clear Group


Prospero Recruitment


ECI Partners


Smiths Group


Superdrug


Veolia


Jury’s Inn


Hippo Digital


Work highlights


  • Acted for insurance broker Clear Group and its shareholders and management on the sale of the company to Goldman Sachs and the reinvestment of management into the buying vehicle.
  • Acted for EDF on the acquisition of Aquila Nuclear Engineering from Calder Group.

Weightmans LLP

The team at Weightmans LLP is best known for advising on the tax aspects of corporate acquisitions, disposals, investments and restructurings. Beyond its corporate capabilities, the team frequently works with owner-managed businesses on the design and implementation of employee incentive schemes. The practice is headed by Manchester-based Haydn Rogan, an experienced adviser to management teams, who draws considerable praise for his ‘extremely knowledgeable‘ and ‘very commercial, proactive‘ approach.

Practice head(s):

Haydn Rogan


Testimonials

‘We work with Haydn Rogan, who provides advice to us on M&A projects on the tax side. He’s extremely responsive and practical in his approach.’

‘We have worked with Haydn Rogan for a number of years and he provides support to our firm and our clients in relation to a variety of matters. He is extremely knowledgeable and takes a very commercial, proactive approach when working with us. We can always trust him to find a solution to a problem and and will always go the extra mile to work within what are sometimes very tight deadlines. He is much more than an external supplier of services to our firm, he is seen as a valuable member of our team.’

‘Haydn is very knowledgable, pragmatic and easy to work with.’

Key clients

Sonoco


ANS Group Limited


Bestway National Chemists Limited t/a Well pharmacy


Bruntwood


DSW Angels LLP t/a DSW Ventures


Europium World (UK) Limited


S Norton & Co Limited


Waste Expert Limited


LDC (Lloyds Development Capital)


MBL (Seminars) Ltd


Work highlights


  • Advised the shareholders of Edge Picture Co Limited on the sale to Zinc Media Group PLC.
  • Advised the shareholders on the sale of Strategic North Limited to Prescient Healthcare Group.
  • Assisted in carrying out a corporate reorganisation for Europium which involved the creation of a new group structure prior to putting in place an EMI Scheme to incentivise key staff.

Brabners LLP

A very specialist team‘ for whom ‘no matter is too complex or messy to handle‘, Brabners LLP‘s tax capabilities span a number of areas including VAT, real estate, employee incentives, litigation and transaction support. The practice also provides tax advisory services to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and owner-managed businesses and has further experience in advising on transactional as well contentious matters, including disputes with HMRC and claims under tax covenants. Mark Whiteside left the firm to join CMS in August 2023.

Testimonials

‘They’ve definitely “been there, done that”. A very specialist team who have experience of working for and with the Big Four. No matter is too complex or messy to handle.’


 

Key clients

Bridgestone Tyres


Beaverbrooks The Jewellers


Begbies Traynor Group plc


Rhenus Logistics


Chase de Vere Group


Omni Partners LLP


Seddon Group Limited


Asertis Limited


Codeweavers Ltd


Httpool Holdings UK Limited


Parcel2go.com Limited


UK Meds Direct Limited


NorthWest EHealth Ltd


Electric Glass Fiber UK Ltd


HR Healthcare t/a Treated.com


Innox Trading Ltd T/A Chemist-4-U


Fleetsolve Limited


The Wine Society


Sykes Seafood Holdings Limited


All About Children


Parcel2go.com Limited


UK Meds Direct Limited


NorthWest EHealth Ltd


Arnold Clark


Glenbrook


Home Bargains


ION Property Developments


Morrisons plc


NWF Group plc


Peel L&P


Peel Ports Group


Primark


Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool


Cains Brewery Village


Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council


Work highlights


  • Acting for the All About Children Limited group on its acquisitions since 2010.
  • Advised the shareholders of CRP Subsea Holdings Ltd on their sale to Advanced Innergy Solutions.

MSA Law Limited

With a dedicated focus on corporate tax, MSA Law Limited advises a host of corporates and owner-managed businesses active across a broad range of sectors, from healthcare to social media. In a business context, the practice handles tax-related issues on M&A transactions, exit planning, reconstructions and reorganisations. Key names to note include Bernard McIlroy, a seasoned practitioner who frequently works on matters relating to property and employee ownership trusts. He works alongside Fiona Sutherland, a specialist in transactional tax law whose recent highlights include disposals and share option reviews. All named lawyers are based in Manchester.

Other key lawyers:

Fiona Sutherland; Bernard McIlroy


Testimonials

‘The team at MSA is very strong and extremely competent. For tax advisers, they are also very commercial!’

‘Fiona Sutherland is always available and always very helpful.’

Key clients

Komi Group Limited


Maurice McLoughlin, CEO of Veincentre


The former shareholders of Working Time Solutions Limited


Work highlights


  • Provided lead tax advice to Komi Group on the investment in Komi Group by BGF.
  • Provided lead tax advice to Maurice McLoughlin on the investment in Veincentre by CBPE Capital.
  • Provided lead tax advice to the former shareholders of Working Time Solutions on their sale of the company to Totalmobile.