The team at Addleshaw Goddard differentiates itself by offering real estate, private equity and share incentive tax specialists in collaboration with its Leeds and London offices. The firm’s international reach also ensures that it is regularly instructed to handle mandates at the intersection of domestic and non-UK tax mandates. Justine Delroy oversees the national practice, while Michael Hunter acts as the local department head. Legal director Catherine Concannon – whose broad workload spans advising on the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and reorganisations of companies, as well as assisting with tax efficient structures for commercial operations – is another key contact.

At DLA Piper, private equity, M&A and reorganisations are the core areas of focus. Funds, portfolio companies and management teams make up a significant proportion of the firm’s client roster, as do local and national listed and larger privately owned businesses. Recently, the team has been increasingly acting for US corporations and other overseas companies with investments in the UK and EU; legal director Stephen Jones has been instrumental in leveraging his strong links with the firm’s US and Italian offices to develop this area. David Thompson heads up the practice.

Employee incentives and share schemes form the cornerstone of the practice at DWF – this expertise is driven by North West practice head James Cashman‘s extensive experience in these areas. Tax issues with a nexus to private equity, M&A and real estate are also areas of strength; the arrival of senior associate James Collinson, formerly of DLA Piper, in August 2021 has further strengthened the team’s offering in these fields. The Birmingham-based Jon Stevens, who heads up the firm’s UK-wide tax group, regularly collaborates with the department.

As well as its established proficiency in mandates relating to major corporate finance, private equity and property transactions, the team at Squire Patton Boggs is also noted for its expertise in employment-related, employee share incentive and pensions-related tax advice. Sectors in which the group is particularly knowledgeable include energy, technology, recruitment, chemicals, real estate and sport. Practice head Patrick Ford is capably supported by CTA-qualified senior associate Victoria Murphy. The firm is also able to leverage an international network spanning five continents to provide seamless assistance with cross-border matters.

Under the leadership of Haydn Rogan, the Weightmans LLP team expertly advises on the tax aspects of corporate acquisitions, disposals and restructurings. Assisting owner-managed businesses with the design and implementation of employee incentives is another area of strength, as is providing tax support to other professionals, including accountants.