The team at Pinsent Masons LLP is entrusted by FTSE 100 companies, institutional investors and entrepreneurs, as well as government bodies; it has particular experience advising clients from the technology, healthcare and diversified industrials, infrastructure, energy, financial services, and real estate, as well as retail & consumer sectors on the full spectrum of tax matters. Group head Peter Morley specialises in tax aspects in corporate transactions including M&A, restructurings, and IPOs. Senior associate Andrew McCarthy is sought after by private equity clients.
Corporate tax in Yorkshire And The Humber
Pinsent Masons LLP
Practice head(s):
Peter Morley
Other key lawyers:
Andrew McCarthy; Lois Dale
Testimonials
‘Very strong team. They own issues and are solutions driven.’
‘Clear advice. Take ownership of issue.’
‘They are very well rounded team covering all aspects of the tax concerns. Due to their longstanding relationship with us, they are able to quickly identify the issues and provide proactive (rather than reactive) advice and are thoughtful in their approach.’
‘Andrew McCarthy is quick and understands, in M&A work, for what to fight and what to concede. A joy with whom to work.’
Key clients
DCC plc
Kids Planet
MML Capital
Kerv Group
Halma plc
Rampion Offshore Wind
Bricks Group
Grainger plc
Huntsworth (incorporating UDG Healthcare)
Aviva Investors
Work highlights
- Advised Turner & Townsend on the acquisition by CBRE of a 60% stake for approximately £960m.
- Advised the management team of VC backed Wave Optics on its sale to Snap Inc., the company behind SnapChat.
- Advised Palatine Private Equity and Icelolly.com on their joint venture with TravelSupermarket, bringing both brands together into a new combined group called Ice Travel Group.
Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs offers tax support in the areas of corporate and finance, property, employee share incentives, employment and pensions, VAT, contentious and private client. It is particularly well versed advising national and international companies on tax aspects of their corporate finance, private equity and property transactions. Practice head Mark Simpson
specialises on the interface to real estate and handles matters for developers, investors, public sector bodies and funders. Timothy Jarvis also covers VAT planning and administration.
Practice head(s):
Mark Simpson
Other key lawyers:
Timothy Jarvis; Emma Perez
Testimonials
‘Better value than others but still very good advice and service.’
‘Mark Simpson consistently efficient, sound advice.’
Key clients
Prescient Healthcare Group
Saica
Postlane Partners
FORE Partnership
Hackman LLC
Octopus Real Estate
Man GPM Community Housing
Sweco
Altrad UK
Aptamer Group plc
Work highlights
- Advised Postlane Partners on the acquisition from Shell of an oil refinery in Denmark.
- Advised Octopus Healthcare Group on a fund raising (bringing the total fund value to £1bn) and the restructuring of one of its funds.
- Advised Aptamer Group plc on its legacy share option plans in relation to its AIM IPO.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper's tax team is led by David Smith who is noted for being 'very intelligent and highly commercial'. The group covers tax aspects in connection with transactional M&A, private equity and management structuring, global mobility, employment intermediaries and employee equity incentives. Senior associate Richard Johnson is well versed in private equity matters and transactions in the clean energy sector.
Practice head(s):
David Smith
Other key lawyers:
Richard Johnson
Testimonials
‘Consistency from top down.’
‘David Smith – absolutely brilliant – very intelligent and highly commercial, a most unusual combination!’
Key clients
Reach plc
Greencoat Capital
Lloyds Development Capital
Robert Half Limited
Sun Capital
Bank of Ireland PLC
Brickability Group PLC
NCC Group plc
Aptitude Software Group PLC
Sytner Group Limited
Work highlights
- Advised the management team of Medivet on their sale and reinvestment as part of CVC Capital Partner’s investment in the Medivet Group.
- Advised Brickability Group PLC in relation to its conditional acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Taylor Maxwell Group (2017) Limited.
- Advised Altus Group UK Limited on the recent changes to the IR35 off-payroll working regime, including helping Altus develop its strategy, providing training and redrafting their suite of contractual provisions to reflect this.
Walker Morris LLP
Walker Morris LLP covers tax assistance in M&A, real estate, employment, and litigation matters. The team has notable expertise in share schemes, SDLT and VAT advisory work, and (cross-border) assistance for private equity clients. Director Nicola Parkinson leads the practice. Directors Simon Slade and John Christian are also active practitioners.
Practice head(s):
Nicola Parkinson
Other key lawyers:
Simon Slade; John Christian
Key clients
Kirkland & Ellis
Endless LLP
Unite Students
Swarco AG
Mattioli Woods
Proactis Holdings
Work highlights
- Worked alongside Kirkland & Ellis to provide clients in the UK and USA with due diligence advice relating to share schemes and incentives.
- Provided advice and assistance in the disposal of Adare International to HH Global, acquisition of Bibby Supply Chain Services and the acquisition of Findel Education Limited from Studio Retail Group plc.
- Providing support to the tax team at Unite, including advice in connection with VAT and SDLT.
Addleshaw Goddard
Addleshaw Goddard
is instructed by family owned businesses, local and international companies as well as private equity houses. It specialises in corporate M&A and real estate taxation, employment tax and incentives. Regional practice head Martin Griffiths often supports SMEs through its life cycle.
Practice head(s):
Martin Griffiths
Other key lawyers:
Jade Chan
Testimonials
‘Excellent team, very clear advice well delivered for a complex problem. Highly recommended.’
‘Versus other lawyers, I always get the impression Martin Griffiths attempts to do the thinking for me. He will never enter a call without several options and solutions to work through – and during such a discussion he does not shy away from giving his opinion as to both the likelihood of the risk and the severity of its impact. His notes are always high quality, high impact and easy to follow. He cuts through noise and fluff to deliver the advice and analysis I want in the quickest, simplest and most concise form.’
‘Martin Griffiths in Leeds, in particular, is a sharp and pragmatic lawyer who I have used for many years (and many deals).’
Key clients
AsdaMarks & Spencer
Alpha FX Group Plc
Alpha Financial Markets Consulting Plc
Deutsche Leasing
Primark Stores Ltd
North Edge
LDC
West Midlands Combined Authority
Diageo Plc
Work highlights
- Advised Infinity Works, a digital technology business, on £50m sale to Accenture.
- Advised shareholders on the US$100 million disposal of the 6Point 6 group to a bid co led by private equity house, ICG, who took a minority stake.
- Advised shareholders on the £62m disposal of Sneak Energy Limited to a bid company led by private equity house, True Capital.
Freeths LLP
Freeths LLP is regularly involved in tax structuring of and advice relating to corporate and property transactions, mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate reorganisations and restructurings. It often acts for private equity funds, property funds and local councils. Bob Neal leads the practice, which also includes Adrian Hackett and director Claire Boyce.
Practice head(s):
Bob Neal
Other key lawyers:
Adrian Hackett; Claire Boyce
Key clients
Linley and Simpson
James Ian Parker/The Gym King (Holdings) Limited
Twenty20 Midco 1 Limited
Checkmate Holdings Group Limited
Twenty20 Midco 1 Limited
International Public Partnerships
Kevin Newby & Paul Margerison