Advising investors and investee companies on enterprise investment schemes (EIS) and venture capital trust-compliant investments is at the core of Shoosmiths LLP
‘s tax offering in Reading, with the team’s client roster consisting of multi-national corporates, serial investors, owner-managed-businesses and commercial property investors. Daniel Kennedy has vast expertise in the tax aspects of acquisitions, disposals, lettings, and the development of commercial and residential property. Practice head Tom Wilde is particularly adept at advising on tax-efficient investments, reorganisations and exits, ensuring compliance with the enterprise investment scheme (EIS) and venture capital trust (VCT) regimes, often assisting companies and individuals with one-off business transactions and compliance issues.
Corporate tax in South East
Shoosmiths LLP
Practice head(s):
Tom Wilde
Other key lawyers:
Daniel Kennedy; Kate Garcia
Testimonials
‘Clear, concise and straightforward advice, efficient work delivered promptly, and a friendly, responsive service.’
‘Very good availability of our lead partner, Tom Wilde, who deals with all matters swiftly even at the busiest times, and as efficiently for us as possible.’
‘Highly responsive with advice delivered with real commercial application. Daniel Kennedy is simply stand out. ’
‘Daniel Kennedy is our go-to for all things real estate tax. He is head and shoulders above the rest of the property tax practitioners we have encountered. His excellent background and understanding of all things real estate ensures his advice has real commercial bite. Responsive, pragmatic, sensible and easily understood advice. An absolutely excellent operator.’
‘The team is partner-led; they are always in the detail and everything delivered by associates is thoroughly checked. The team demonstrates exceptional expertise in the area of VCT and S/EIS investments (both investor and company side) and are unequivocally market leading. ’
‘Tom Wilde is an exceptional lawyer and market leader in the corporate tax space. He is uniquely academic, but very commercial and thoroughly understands the intersection between all areas of corporate tax and HMRC policy & implementation.’
‘Excellent market knowledge of all incentive programmes used throughout a company lifecycle. Proactive team with good relationships across the market.’
Key clients
Octopus Investments Limited
Laverock Therapeutics Limited
Beringea LLP
Gresham House Asset Management Limited
StudentCrowd Limited
INGKA Centres Services AB
Leftfield Logistics III Limited
North Atlantic Value GP 5 LLP
EG Group Limited
Maven Capital Partners UK LLP
Puma Private Equity
Calculus Capital Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Octopus Investments Limited on the EIS and VCT eligibility of its lead role in the $13.9 million Series A funding investment into the green technology company Puraffinity.
- Advised INGKA (the real estate arm of IKEA) on the real estate tax aspects of its £145 million acquisition of the Churchill Square shopping centre in Brighton.
- Advised Leftfield Logistics III Limited on the corporate tax aspects of their £30 million acquisition of the entire share capital of the owner of a significant logistics facility.
Stevens & Bolton LLP
Noted for its strong expertise in the tech sector, Stevens & Bolton LLP is well regarded for providing tax support on a wide variety of transactions, including M&A with equity incentive structures, and exit planning. Practice head Kate Schmit has a strong track record of advising entrepreneurs on equity incentive design and implementation. Sarah Cardew focuses on real estate and construction-related mandates, assisting clients with VAT, stamp duty land tax, the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and capital allowances. Sarah Balchin regularly advises on the tax aspects of growth capital matters, as well as employee share schemes and shareholder issues. Melanie Shone left the firm in 2023, and John Forde joined from Fladgate LLP in late 2024.
Practice head(s):
Kate Schmit
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Cardew; Sarah Balchin; John Forde
Testimonials
‘Our experience with this firm goes back many years, and we remain extremely pleased with the service received.’
‘Timely professional response in each of these areas is a key strength.’
‘A fabulous team. Responsive, client focused, and dynamic in their approach. Always willing and able to collaborate with other professionals to deliver a bespoke solution for clients.’
‘Very good value – incredible breadth and depth of knowledge.’
‘Sarah Cardew has been engaging, approachable and very commercial. A pleasure to deal with. Her knowledge, experience and wisdom combined with an ability to communicate effectively and in a way that is accessible to all make her our go to.’
‘Straight forward and simple advice for what is a complicated practice area. Crucially, also, commercial focused on what we were seeking advice on, not just theoretical.’
‘They are particularly good at distilling complex advice into a user-friendly form and bring a wealth of experience relevant to high net worth individuals in a range of sectors.’
Key clients
Spiritmen Limited
Management shareholders of Future Biogas
Krystal Kleen Heritage Ltd
Shareholders of Africa Matters Limited
Aquability (UK) Ltd
Cloobees SP. Z O.O.
HFMC Wealth Holdings Ltd
Pearson Ham Consulting Ltd
PUIG UK Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised the management shareholders on Future Biogas’s sale to 3iInfrastructure plc.
- Advised on the sale of Africa Matters Ltd to J.S. Held.
- Advising the management team of a household name spirit brand in connection with exit planning and complex issues in connection with exercise of share options.