Addleshaw Goddard‘s tax and structuring practice continues to maintain its dominant position in the market, advising on real estate, private equity, and share incentive tax matters. The practice is noted for its strong credentials on significant property projects, including funds, joint ventures, property development, and forward funding. Co-head Justine Delroy advises clients across the real estate, financial services, and life sciences sectors, regularly advising on the tax and structuring elements of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and reorganisations. Fellow co-head Michael Hunter covers corporate M&A, real estate structuring and advisory, VAT, tax disputes and acquisition finance. Catherine Concannon advises on a wide range of taxation matters, specialising primarily in corporate tax and employment tax.
Corporate tax in North West
Addleshaw Goddard
Practice head(s):
Justine Delroy; Michael Hunter
Other key lawyers:
Catherine Concannon
Testimonials
‘Longstanding relationship between the client and this practice. They have dealt with corporate and commercial work for many years and so have an excellent understanding of the client group and its businesses. Their background knowledge of the client gives them an advantage which they consistently use for the client’s benefit.’
Key clients
Federated Hermes Group of Companies
Royal London Asset Management Limited
Equistone
Bruntwood Group of Companies
Lothian Pension Fund
abrdn Group of Companies
Muse Developments Group Companies
Peel Land and Property Group Companies
SGN Group Companies
Watkin Jones Plc Group of Companies
Phoenix Equity Partners
Work highlights
DLA Piper
Counting venture capital funds, financial institutions, domestic and international companies among its key client roster, the corporate tax group at DLA Piper UK LLP handles a steady stream of high-profile instructions, including VAT on civil aircrafts, outsourcing, international commercial contracts, and reorganisations. The team is led by David Thompson, who advises on the tax aspects of acquisitions and disposals, mergers, demergers, group reorganisations and reconstructions. Stephen Jones has left the firm for Freeths LLP.
Practice head(s):
David Thompson
Key clients
Carlyle European Technology Partners
Beech Tree Private Equity
Phytome Life Sciences Limited
Duke Street LLP
Lloyds Development Capital
Digital Bridge Group Inc
Lightico Limited
NearForm
Blue Gem Secondary LP
Carlyle European Technology Partners
Work highlights
- Advising Carlyle European Technology Partners on the structuring disposal of Livingstone technology business (tax led from Manchester).
- Advising Beech Tree Private Equity on various acquisitions, including CovertSwarm.
- Acted for Digital Bridge Group (along with Munich Re (MEAG) and Infranity) in the investment in EUR2.5 billion Data Centre assets alongside Vantage.
DWF
By capitalising on the expertise of the firm’s accomplished corporate and real estate teams, the tax practice at DWF is able to offer clients comprehensive guidance in complex transactions. The team advises both national and international clients on a range of issues, from employee incentives and share schemes to real estate and private equity-driven transactions. Co-head James Cashman, who splits his time between Manchester and Liverpool, is noted for his focus on complex M&A transactions, demergers and re-organisations, as well as the structuring and implementation of employee incentives and employment related tax issues. Birmingham-based co-head Jon Stevens is recommended for his ability to advise on all aspects of tax planning related to corporate and property transactions.
Practice head(s):
Jon Stevens; James Cashman
Other key lawyers:
James Collinson
Key clients
Whitbread PLC
Wincanton PLC
Growth Partner LLP
Crisp Thinking Group Limited (and its shareholders)
Tesco PLC
Assura PLC
Costa Coffee
Adidas (UK) Limited
NorthEdge Capital LLP
BT Group PLC
Pivotal Growth Limited
Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP
Unbound Group PLC
Work highlights
- Advised Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP and the management shareholders of Mobica Holdings Limited on the sale of the entire issued share capital of Mobica Holdings Limited to Cognizant Worldwide Limited.
- Advised Crisp Thinking Group Limited on the tax consequences for the shareholders on the disposal of their shares in Crisp Thinking Group Limited to Kroll Inc. and the receipt of deferred consideration and equity incentives.
- Providing advice on the general asset management of Tesco’s property portfolio of more than 3,000 stores, leasing arrangements where Tesco is landlord and store lease renewals.
Squire Patton Boggs
Highlighted for its ability to ‘communicate complex issues clearly’, the ‘highly talented’ tax group at Squire Patton Boggs advises national and international corporates on major corporate finance, private equity and property transactions. The team earns further praise for its ability to provide employment-tax related advice. Practice head Patrick Ford, who is praised as ‘responsive, pragmatic and commercial’, stands out for his expertise in employment, pensions and insolvency tax related issues. Victoria Murphy advises on a range of taxation matters relating to corporate acquisitions, private equity transactions and management buyouts. Alice Jenkinson continues to support the team on leading transactions.
Practice head(s):
Patrick Ford
Other key lawyers:
Victoria Murphy; Alice Jenkinson
Testimonials
‘The SPB team is a group of highly talented, diligent and humble people. They are commercially minded and experts in their field. We have had a long standing relationship with them as our chosen legal advisors and don’t envisage that changing. Their expertise ranges across all areas of the legal spectrum including cross-border acquisitions.’
‘The sole purpose of a legal advisor is to relinquish their clients from the stress and complexity of an acquisition process. Squires understand the mandate and will always offer their advice and opinion when assessing complex matters.’
‘The team provides cost-effective and pragmatic tax advice in the context of our corporate transactions.’
Key clients
Greggs plc
GB Group plc
Watkin Jones plc
Hurst Point Group
LMAX
H2 Equity Partners
Cushon Group
The Brandtech Group Ltd
Twinkl Limited
Knighthead Capital Management
Clear Group
Highview Power
ECI Partners
LDC
Hippo Digital
Chiltern Capital
The Progeny Group
Work highlights
- Advising Knighthead Capital Management on its acquisition of Birmingham City Football Club.
- Advising Instem plc on the recommended takeover of the company by Ichor Management Limited, a company incorporated by funds controlled by global investment firm Archimed SAS.
- Advising The Brandtech Group Limited on its acquisition of Jellyfish Digital Group Limited and its subsidiaries from Fimalac.
MSA Law Limited
MSA Law Limited, a specialist corporate tax firm, is routinely instructed by corporates, owner-managed businesses and individuals on a range of issues, including M&A transactions, exit planning, reconstructions and reorganisations. Fiona Sutherland leads the practice and specialises in transactional tax, particularly reorganisations, reconstructions and exit planning. She is supported by Bernard McIlroy, who has extensive experience in all aspects of transactional tax, advising on exit planning, reorganisations and reconstructions and the structuring of private equity-backed transactions.
Practice head(s):
Fiona Sutherland
Other key lawyers:
Bernard McIlroy
Key clients
The shareholders of Enterprise Blueprints Limited
Arc (U.K.) Systems Limited and its shareholders
TEN Operations, Services and Holdings Limited
The shareholders of Wammee Holdings Limited
CGL Trustee Limited
Work highlights
- Provided lead tax advice to the shareholders of Enterprise Blueprints Limited (EBL) on the disposal of 100% of EBL to Bain & Company.
- Provided lead tax advice to Arc (U.K.) Systems Limited and its shareholders on the sale of a majority interest to a buyer backed by Beech Tree Private Equity.
- Provided lead tax advice to TEN Operations, Services and Holdings Limited on the tax issues associated with the company’s majority ownership by an employee ownership trust and its all employee share incentive plan in the context of the sale of the company to Acrisure.
Weightmans LLP
The tax group at Weightmans LLP advises corporates, financial institutions and professional advisers on the tax aspects of corporate acquisitions, disposals and investments. Tax efficient corporate restructurings, including demergers and capital reductions, are also a key workstream for the firm. Other areas of expertise include the design and implementation of employee incentives, with a particular expertise in relation to EMI scheme. The practice is steered by Haydn Rogan who regularly advises management teams, companies, private equity houses and investors on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions.
Practice head(s):
Haydn Rogan
Testimonials
‘What makes Haydn stand out from the rest are his response times, his availability, and his pragmatic commerciality.’
‘We feel that Haydn is part of our team – he is responsive to our timescales and extremely reliable – he has never let us down and this enables us to provide a seamless service to our own clients. Haydn is extremely transparent with regard to his charges and so there are no surprises either for us or our clients.’
Key clients
Sonoco
ANS Group Limited
Bestway National Chemists Limited t/a Well pharmacy
Business Growth Fund
DSW Angels LLP (t/a DSW Ventures)
Healthnet Homecare UK Limited
S Norton & Co Limited
Royal Mail Group
Oliver Kinross Limited
Bluegyp Limited
Work highlights
- Advised the shareholders of Oliver Kinross, a leading global organiser of construction tradeshows, on its sale to fast-growing exhibitions platform Nineteen Group.
- Advised a social housing provider on the tax aspects of the expansion of its housing portfolio involving the acquisition of properties in Greater Manchester.
- Approached by BTMR Limited, existing accountants and financial advisers to the company, to assist them in putting in place an equity incentive scheme for key staff.