Independent law firm Farrer & Co has recruited Alex Ruffel as a partner in its private client team.
She joins from Irwin Mitchell, where she also served as a partner.
For more than 20 years, Alex, has specialised in complex cross-border tax, structuring and succession planning.
She advises multinational families, trustees and family offices on tax issues and the transfer of wealth including establishing and running trusts and other structures. She has particular experience in acting for clients with links to the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region. Most recently, she has advised non-domiciled individuals, non-UK trusts and foundations on the impact of the 2025 changes to the non-dom regime.
Private client partner Sarah von Schmidt said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Alex to the firm as she brings with her more than 20 years of experience looking after significant global families.
'Alex has a strong reputation blending deep technical expertise with a focus on acting as trusted adviser across generations and so is perfectly suited to our approach.’
Alex added: ‘I am delighted to be joining Farrer & Co. I am looking forward to working with colleagues across the whole firm to support clients.’
Macfarlanes has promoted Iskra Doukova, Sarah Ling and Mark Stichbury to partner.
Iskra focuses on cross-border tax, structuring, succession planning, family governance and transparency initiatives.
Sarah specialises in group and international tax advice, complex reorganisations and demergers, and early stage tax disputes.
Mark advises internationally based individuals, entrepreneurs, family offices and trustees on cross-border tax, trust and succession planning issues.
Saffery LLP has promoted the following directors to partner.
Based in London, in the firm’s film and television team, Stephen Lee advises clients on all aspects of statutory reporting, financing and tax compliance, with specific expertise in accessing creative sector tax reliefs. His portfolio includes numerous high-profile projects for film and television.
Also based in London, Tom Alun-Jones advises commercial clients, including owner-managed and international businesses across multiple sectors. His portfolio spans professional practices as well as fast-growing, entrepreneurial businesses. Tom has been at the firm since 2014 when he joined as a graduate. His key areas of expertise include providing audit, assurance and corporate/partnership tax compliance services to professional practice and financial services firms.
Based in Manchester, Suzanna Ingham is a tax specialist with experience across corporate taxes, advising clients on the availability of incentives such as capital allowances, research and development tax credits, and the patent box regime.
Nick Hart is a VAT specialist based in Bristol and a member of the national VAT advisory team, advising clients on complex and high-value land and property transactions, as well as helping businesses maximise VAT efficiencies within their international supply chains. With a VAT career spanning 20 years, including four years at HMRC, he works with clients across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, financial services, e-commerce, estates and construction.
Wilson Wright, part of BKL, has made three new appointments in its tax practice.
Susie Mullin joins as a private client tax partner having held senior roles at one of the big four and a London accountancy firm. She has more than 20 years' experience advising entrepreneurs and business owners at all stages of their business journey.
She is joined by Sehjal Gupta, another private client tax partner. Sehjal brings more than 19 years’ experience advising non-UK domiciled individuals, high net worth clients and those with cross-border tax considerations.
Luigi Lungarella has joined as VAT partner. He has more than 25 years’ experience of indirect taxation, advising both UK and international businesses and not for profit organisations on a broad range of issues to ensure they are compliant, identifying risks, taking advantage of VAT reliefs and maximising VAT recovery.
The firm has also appointed a chief growth officer Juliet Shaw. She has more than 20 years’ experience in business development, strategic sales and change leadership. This includes senior roles at EY, Frost & Sullivan and PA Consulting.
HaysMac has promoted Stephen Patey, who joined from HMRC in 2008, to VAT director. He specialises in VAT advisory for both commercial and not for profit organisations. His expertise covers a broad range of VAT issues, including partial exemption, property developments and overseas transactions.
RSM UK has appointed new service line heads from within its ranks to lead three of the firm’s key tax service lines.
Helen Relf heads private client services, advising the firm’s high net worth clients, while Rowena Cliffton leads the indirect tax team which spans advisory, global compliance and digital reporting, and VAT technology. Martin Cooper leads employer solutions, comprising employment tax, global employer solutions and share plans and reward teams.
Helen joined the firm almost 15 years ago as a tax director, before becoming partner in 2015. She currently oversees a team which advises ultra-high net worth clients on succession and estate planning and business exits.
Rowena joined in 2016 as an indirect tax director, progressing to partner in 2019. She specialises in advising large and listed businesses on a range of international indirect tax issues, with a specific interest in VAT function effectiveness, tax governance, technology tools and compliance processes.
Martin focuses on delivering solutions to reward clients’ employees using shares, share options and cash-based incentives. His clients include private equity-backed businesses and listed plcs as well as high-growth companies and family-owned businesses.
Ali Sapsford, head of tax, said: ‘I’m thrilled to see Rowena, Martin and Helen take the reins to lead our tax teams through this next phase of growth, and I’m confident that our tax offering to clients will continue to be enhanced under their watch. I’d also like to say a big thank you to the outgoing tax heads – Gary Heynes, Anne-Marie Welch and Ian Carpenter –who have been fantastic leaders and role models for their teams and who will each continue to play essential senior roles as tax partners at RSM.'
In addition to the new service line heads, RSM UK has also promoted two new regional heads of tax, Elaine Shiels will lead the tax team in the Midlands, while Anthony Cox will lead the team in the North. Also, corporate tax expert Chris Alderman and VAT compliance specialist Joost Willemsen have been promoted to partner.
Nick Wright has been promoted to head of corporate tax at Jerroms Miller Specialist Tax, which provides specialist advice on the taxation of corporate transactions, such as management buyouts, demergers and sales to employee ownership trusts, as well as employment-related securities and share schemes. Nick has been with the firm since it was formed in 2022 and will be responsible for leading the team.
Along with presenting regular webinars and seminars, Nick is also host of the ‘tax hour’ podcast, discussing various tax issues with industry experts.
Nick said: ‘I am looking forward to leading the team and driving our strategic initiatives. With Pete’s continued technical support, I look forward to continuing to build a reputation for providing expert tax advisory services to our diverse client base.’
Nick takes over from Pete Miller, co-founder of Jerroms Miller, who is well-known to readers of this magazine. Pete takes on the role of technical director and will concentrate on maintaining the firm’s reputation for technical excellence and on mentoring the younger members of the team. Pete explained that ‘the time was right to pass on the mantle to Nick. It has been a pleasure to lead the team for the last three years and I am excited to see Nick take it to the next level’.
McDermott Will & Emery has recruited Alex Jupp as a partner and UK head of tax in its London office.
A seasoned tax lawyer, Alex covers a range of UK and cross-border tax matters. His experience includes acquisitions and integrations within large multinational groups, public takeover offers, restructurings, capital raisings for investment banking and asset management groups, and the design and implementation of asset management structures and joint ventures. He also advises on tax governance, equity plans, real estate investment, and all aspects of dispute management and resolution with tax authorities, including proceedings involving advance pricing agreements and mutual agreement procedures.
‘Alex is a top transactional tax lawyer known for his exceptional client service and ability to deliver tailored solutions,’ said Timothy Shuman, global head of the tax practice group. ‘He will be a tremendous asset for our UK tax team and will significantly elevate our capabilities in this key market.’
Midlands-based accounting and advisory firm PKF Smith Cooper has appointed Kate Donlon and Lucy Brooks to its employment tax and VAT team.
Kate joins as employment tax manager in the firm’s Derby office after spending four and a half years at a big four firm in the East Midlands. She has previously specialised in employment tax governance for clients within the senior accounting officer regime and has also worked on a range of employment tax matters including off-payroll working, PAYE settlement agreements and expenses.
Lucy joins as assistant indirect tax manager also at the Derby office, primarily working with businesses in the manufacturing, transport and logistics and ecommerce sectors. Lucy currently specialises in overseas businesses trading in the UK, varying from sole traders to large corporations. She has experience working with clients through HMRC compliance checks and advising on the tax implications of contracts specifically relating to import terms.
Employment tax director Jack Bonehill said: ‘It’s not every day that someone like Kate joins the team. In her first two weeks, she’s shown how lucky we are to have her join us.’
VAT and indirect tax partner Gavin West said: ‘We are thrilled to have Lucy on board at PKF Smith Cooper and her experience will be invaluable to the rest of the team.’
