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Gravita has bolstered its team with the appointment of corporate and international tax specialist, Fiona Cross, as partner. She brings several years of experience at partner level in tax advisory, working with start-ups to large multinational groups.
In addition, Fiona advises on navigating enterprise investment schemes, seed enterprise investment schemes, employee management incentives and employee ownership trust schemes.
Chief executive officer Caroline Plumb said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome Fiona to the team. Her expertise in international tax, including transfer pricing, will be particularly valuable for many of our international clients.’
Noting that Gravita now has 44 partners, of whom 30% are female, Caroline added: ‘I’m particularly proud of our female talent within the company, and we hope to increase female representation at partner level further in the years to come.’
Fiona said: ‘When I started out in my career over 30 years ago, on average, only 4% of partners were female. I’m proud to join a firm with such impressive female talent at a leadership level. The opportunity to join Gravita presented an exciting opportunity to join a larger firm, with a broad and varied client base across many sectors and geographies.’
Saffery has announced that Nigel Burke has been elected as its new chairman, succeeding James Sykes, who has been chairman since 2016. Nigel been with Saffery since the establishment of the firm’s film and TV unit in 2012. He specialises in providing financial, accounting, audit and taxation advice to businesses in the media and entertainment sector.
Based in the firm’s London office, Nigel will continue to advise clients from across the film and television sector alongside his duties as chairman. This will include continuing to serve on the firm’s partnership committee which he has done since 2019, as well as helping to oversee the management of the firm in close collaboration with managing partner Matthew Burton.
Matthew said: ‘Ever since joining the firm, Nigel has been a constant source of expertise, insight and leadership – and he has been instrumental in helping to integrate and grow our media and entertainment offering which continues to go from strength to strength and is a key pillar within our long-term strategy. We are very pleased to have him serving as the new chairman of Saffery.’
Nigel added: ‘I am pleased and honoured to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as the new chairman. I look forward to working with Matthew and the wider leadership team, and helping to drive forward our strategic plan through the next stage of the Saffery journey.’
Azets has appointed Ian Beaumont as regional senior partner for the north east and Yorkshire. He recently retired as head of KPMG in the north east.
Ian started his career with Haines Watts before going on to become office senior partner at RSM Robson Rhodes, BDO and KPMG.
He has a wealth of experience across privately owned, private equity-backed, family owned and regional listed businesses across the two regions.
Russell Turner, regional managing director for north east and Yorkshire, said: ‘To attract a heavyweight business advisor of Ian’s calibre is a coup.’
Ian said: ‘I am delighted to be joining the firm to support a strong regional leadership team.’
Shorts has recruited Craig Walker as tax partner. He has more than 20 years' experience at large regional firms and a top 15 firm, and he rejoins Shorts 12 years after previously completing his early tax training at the firm.
Craig will be based out of the firm’s offices at Ashgate Road in Chesterfield and will advise clients on all areas of UK taxation with a particular focus on private client work.
Craig said: ‘I am thrilled and honoured to be joining the team at Shorts, during such an exciting time in the firm’s growth and history, and I am proud to take this next step on my professional journey.’
Senior tax partner Chris Chambers said: ‘Craig’s passion for Chesterfield and our wider region, experience and expertise makes him a great appointment for Shorts, and it is testament to the strength of the firm that we can attract an individual of Craig’s calibre. Craig will focus on private client advice as well as business tax matters as required, using his experience of having previously provided the full range of tax advice to a similar client base to ours. Craig will be a fantastic addition to our partner group whilst also forming an important part of our succession planning.’
Scott Burkinshaw, tax partner, added: ‘I am delighted that Craig has agreed to join us at Shorts. We have enjoyed significant growth over the last decade and have ambitious plans for the future, and this appointment further strengthens our position as we head into the next chapter of our long history.’
The transaction services team at Dow Schofield Watts in the Thames Valley has appointed Marius Pretorius as transaction services director.
He joins from Kroll, where he was director of transaction advisory services. In his new role, Marius will become an integral part of the current management team, and help to deliver the strategic goals, including growing the team, enabling it to deliver a more diverse and sophisticated service, and building a bigger presence in the region.
Marius said: ‘This role will give me a sense of autonomy, which will allow me to have a better work-life balance and do things I wouldn’t get the chance to do at a larger firm. It’ll be great to get stuck in and work with the team to take the business to the next level and beyond.’
Steve Holmes, partner, said: ‘Having worked with Marius previously, I knew when we started thinking about growing the team that he would be the perfect person for the job.’
Phineas Hirsch has joined Payne Hicks Beach’s private client team adding his international expertise of onshore and offshore tax and estate planning. Being fluent in French and Spanish, he has developed significant experience working with a network of local advisers in Europe in dealing with foreign assets and estates.
Johnston Carmichael has promoted Max Chassels to partner. He has been with the firm since 2019 and is based in Aberdeen.
Max is responsible for overseeing the firm’s private client business in the north east of Scotland and leading local private client teams. He specialises in transaction work, working closely with colleagues across the business and is responsible for managing more than 75 clients throughout the UK.
Ryan has hired Tom Shave as president of Europe and Asia-Pacific (EAP) division. Based in the London office, Tom will be responsible for organic and inorganic expansion and accelerating growth in EAP markets while attracting top talent.
Tom was formerly head of tax at a large accounting firm.
‘We are pleased to welcome Tom as we look forward to the strategic vision he’ll bring to the Firm while expanding the EAP region,’ said chairman and chief executive officer G Brint Ryan.
Thomson Snell & Passmore has promoted Kyle Barford in the trust and tax management team to senior trust and tax manager.
MHA has appointed James Smith as head of global mobility. With nearly 20 years’ experience, he will be responsible for leading teams in delivering multidisciplinary projects on the wider aspects of having an international workforce including social security, immigration, employment law, reward and benefits.
Rakesh Shaunak, managing partner and group chairman, said: ‘James joins the firm with a fantastic pedigree in global mobility and his knowledge and expertise will be a huge asset to the firm and to the businesses which we serve.’
James who is a qualified tax consultant and graduate of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand said: ‘I’m incredibly excited to join MHA to take up this new role. I'm passionate about global mobility and providing global solutions in an increasingly complex world for my clients.’
Angela Mikola has joined Clive Owen LLP as tax director. She brings nearly 20 years’ expertise in corporate tax, working with owner-managed and entrepreneurial businesses across the region.
Angela has significant experience advising on a wide range of tax matters, from research and development and patent box schemes to group restructuring and pre-sale planning.
Partner Phillipa Symington said: ‘Angela’s expertise in corporate tax and her dedication to client service make her an invaluable addition to our York team. Her experience with owner managed businesses will further enhance our service offering across the region.’
Irwin Mitchell has hired will, trust and estate disputes specialist Tara McInnes as partner to its team in the Thames Valley region. She has practiced in will dispute teams at firms including Shoosmiths, Gardner Leader and The Burnside Partnership. Tara advises high net worth and high profile individuals as well as trustees, not for profit organisations and charities in all types of contentious probate matters.
Paula Myers, national head of will, trust and estate disputes, said: ‘With the changes to inheritance tax rules announced in the recent Budget, wills, trusts and estates are being more closely monitored by family, friends and other people expecting to inherit, and we expect to see a significant increase in private client disputes over the coming year.’
Chartered tax adviser James Barry has joined PKF Smith Cooper as personal tax manager. He brings more than seven years’ experience in personal tax at a top ten UK firm and he has also spent two years at one of the top research and development consultancy firms.
With experience in dealing with high value capital disposals and remuneration planning, James is knowledgeable on income tax and capital gains tax issues, including unincorporated businesses, specifically partnerships, sole trades and rental properties.
James said: ‘I’m looking forward to joining the team and contributing to its success and continued growth.’
Dean Castledine, private client director, added: ‘James is a great addition to the tax department and wider firm. His expertise in personal tax will be an asset to both our team and clients.’
