Appointment: David Tait has joined Johnston Carmichael as tax director in its private client tax team.
He joins from a big four firm in Cambridge and London, where he spent nearly 14 years working in tax advisory services, with a particular focus on real estate and property matters and working with owner-managers of businesses.
Based in Edinburgh, David will collaborate with the firm’s 60-strong private client tax team across the UK, providing tailored tax planning solutions. He will also work with specialist teams in the firm, including wealth management and business advisory.
David said: ‘The property market is becoming more complex, particularly with recent changes to CGT and IHT which will have a significant impact on individuals, businesses and investors alike. I have specialised in working with property-rich individuals and businesses for the majority of my career and it’s great to now bolster Johnston Carmichael’s experience in this space.’
Alex Docherty, partner and head of private client tax, said: ‘It’s fantastic to start 2025 with the announcement of David’s appointment who brings invaluable experience to our team. His rich insight from across the property sector will bring a new dimension to the advice we offer clients.’
Grant Thornton UK LLP has strengthened its tax advisory offering with four new partners and three new directors.
Antoinette Quinlan joins the firm as partner in its innovation tax team. With more than 20 years’ experience, she will be focused on supporting large corporate and multinational businesses in accessing research and development tax incentives and ensure robust governance is in place to support their tax incentive eligibility.
Also joining as partner, Chris Macdonald will lead the firm’s private capital tax team in London. He will be responsible for advising corporate tax to both private and private equity-owned businesses in the capital.
Jack Newton, who joined the firm as a graduate in 2006, has been promoted to tax partner in the Milton Keynes office. He has more than 12 years’ experience specialising in tax due diligence and structuring services and will be part of the national transaction tax team. He will also play a leading role in growing the firm’s regional team, focusing on building and enhancing his relationships with mid-sized to large corporates.
Colin Park, based in the firm’s Glasgow office, has also been promoted to partner. He advises owner-managed businesses and large corporate groups across Scotland and specialises in tax structuring for transactions, shareholder tax planning, group reorganisations and facilitating overseas expansion. Colin will be focused on growing the Scottish tax practice and working closely with privately owned businesses across the country.
The director promotions are Michelle Perry in Birmingham, Cristina Pavel in Glasgow and Michael Cooper in Southampton.
Head of tax Hazel Platt said: ‘We’re thrilled to welcome Antoinette, Chris, Jack and Colin to the firm’s partner group and congratulate our three new directors on their well-deserved promotions. We’re committed to both attracting new talent to the firm but also recognising the brilliant talent we already have within the team and investing in their careers as we look to grow.
‘Five senior internal promotions demonstrate our commitment to supporting the fulfilling careers that people can achieve at the firm as we have individuals now joining the partnership who first started their careers with us as trainees.’
Evelyn Partners has recruited Julie Moore as a tax partner based in Manchester.
She joins from RSM and has more than 15 years’ experience specialising in employee solutions compliance. In her new role, Julie will advise businesses of all sizes on the complexities of employment tax and compliance.
She will lead on the existing pay governance support area, which includes workforce engagement and reward strategies, pay, expenses and benefit structures, incentive planning, international employment matters and global mobility.
Julie said: ‘Compliance in this area can be complicated, but once achieved, can help support and develop other key business growth objectives, and will continue to strengthen a firm’s reputation. I look forward to getting to know my clients and colleagues in the north and helping them to navigate these complexities, which will ultimately maximise value in their business.’
HURST has appointed Ellen Feetum as an associate partner to head the firm's new corporate tax compliance offering.
She joins from KPMG where, as a senior manager in its corporate tax team, she worked with clients ranging from start-ups to listed groups in sectors including retailing, manufacturing, distribution and life sciences.
Partner Simon Brownbill, the firm’s director of practice development, said: ‘The launch of our corporate tax compliance service is a natural next step in our continued growth and commitment to delivering a fully-integrated tax offering for our clients. Ellen’s wealth of experience and deep technical expertise make her the ideal person to lead this new service line.’
Forvis Mazars has promoted Liz Ritchie to head of tax as part of its new executive team. She provides advice and support for clients of all sizes across a range of sectors and specialisms and will be focused on expanding the tax practice across the UK.
Caroline Foulger has joined Hunters as a partner in the private client department.
She specialises in advising on tax planning, trusts, wills and probate and lasting powers of attorney. Additionally, she has extensive experience advising on estate administration and Court of Protection work.
Partner and joint head of the private client department, Mathew Yates said: ‘Caroline’s appointment represents our commitment to sustained growth, as well as strengthening our client offering with our cross-departmental collaboration and expertise. We are thrilled to have Caroline’s extensive knowledge as part of our growing practice.’
PKF Smith Cooper has recruited Harrison Wright as a research and development tax manager in its Birmingham team.
He was previously with CBTax and has specialised in R&D tax relief for almost five years. He also has experience in assessing and identifying the differing tax treatments of R&D expenditure.
Gary Devonshire, tax advisory partner and head of innovation and property taxes, said: ‘Harrison’s expertise is a great asset to the team and our clients, and I am thrilled to have him on board.
Azets has promoted Louise Phillips to director. She specialises in VAT and is based in Newcastle.
BGM has recruited Eugenia Campbell as a private client tax partner.
She provides advice to a range of clients, particularly those with an international aspect to their financial affairs and has experience in supporting clients with their inheritance tax and estate planning.
Eugenia qualified as a chartered tax adviser more than 20 years ago and has worked for a family office, the big four and spent the past ten years working for one of the top six accountancy firms.
Irwin Mitchell appoints new head of private client advisory team
Irwin Mitchell has appointed partner Andrea Jones to a new role as national head of private client advisory services.
The new team brings together the firm’s estate planning, trusts, powers of attorney, will-writing, probate, wealth protection and succession planning expertise.
Andrea is based in Leeds and has 20 years’ experience in private client law. She specialises in advising families, business owners and entrepreneurs on pre and post death succession planning. She established the non-contentious private client team at the Leeds office when joining the firm in 2018, expanding to Newcastle and the north east in 2021 and became a partner in 2020.
Andrea said: ‘This is an exciting time to be taking this role on as we are seeing a significant increase in work due to the changes announced in the budget last year.’
Ros Bever, managing partner of the private client group, said: ‘Andrea will lead our private client advisory teams across the country, liaising with our other complementary private client teams to ensure clients receive tailored advice that meets their needs.’
Burges Salmon appoints director in private wealth team
Burges Salmon has hired Stewart Jordan as a director in the firm’s UK-wide tax and private wealth team. He joins from TLT.
Having held roles in private client tax departments at two of the big four accountancy firms in London, Stewart is an experienced lawyer acting for a range of UK and international trust and fiduciary service providers, private individuals and their families in relation to legal and tax matters. With a specialism in international taxation, he also advises clients on HMRC enquiries, including regularising historic tax issues through voluntary disclosures to HMRC.
John Barnett, partner, said: ‘Stewart’s impressive experience in international work will add additional support to a wide range of our clients – particularly for non-UK trustees. By growing and investing into our team, we ensure our clients continue to receive the best advice and value their experience working with us.’
Catherine Hill joins White & Case as a partner
Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its global tax practice and global private equity industry group with the addition of Catherine Hill as a partner in London.
Formerly with Latham & Watkins, she advises corporates, individuals and funds on their transactional tax matters and strategic tax planning, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. She has experience advising sponsors and management teams on all elements of management incentive schemes, and also advises on international group reorganizations and restructurings, UK employment tax, real estate transactions and structuring and UK and cross-border corporate finance transactions.
Partner Sang I Ji, who leads the firm’s global tax practice, said: ‘Catherine has excellent technical expertise and is well placed to hit the ground running advising clients on the tax aspects of their mergers and acquisitions and finance transactions.’
