Addleshaw Goddard‘s tax and structuring practice continues to maintain its dominant position in the market, advising on real estate, private equity, and share incentive tax matters. The practice is noted for its strong credentials on significant property projects, including funds, joint ventures, property development, and forward funding. Co-head Justine Delroy advises clients across the real estate, financial services, and life sciences sectors, regularly advising on the tax and structuring elements of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and reorganisations. Fellow co-head Michael Hunter covers corporate M&A, real estate structuring and advisory, VAT, tax disputes and acquisition finance. Catherine Concannon advises on a wide range of taxation matters, specialising primarily in corporate tax and employment tax.

Counting venture capital funds, financial institutions, domestic and international companies among its key client roster, the corporate tax group at DLA Piper UK LLP handles a steady stream of high-profile instructions, including VAT on civil aircrafts, outsourcing, international commercial contracts, and reorganisations. The team is led by David Thompson, who advises on the tax aspects of acquisitions and disposals, mergers, demergers, group reorganisations and reconstructions. Stephen Jones has left the firm for Freeths LLP.

By capitalising on the expertise of the firm’s accomplished corporate and real estate teams, the tax practice at DWF is able to offer clients comprehensive guidance in complex transactions. The team advises both national and international clients on a range of issues, from employee incentives and share schemes to real estate and private equity-driven transactions. Co-head James Cashman, who splits his time between Manchester and Liverpool, is noted for his focus on complex M&A transactions, demergers and re-organisations, as well as the structuring and implementation of employee incentives and employment related tax issues. Birmingham-based co-head Jon Stevens is recommended for his ability to advise on all aspects of tax planning related to corporate and property transactions.

Highlighted for its ability to ‘communicate complex issues clearly’, the ‘highly talented’ tax group at Squire Patton Boggs advises national and international corporates on major corporate finance, private equity and property transactions. The team earns further praise for its ability to provide employment-tax related advice. Practice head Patrick Ford, who is praised as ‘responsive, pragmatic and commercial’, stands out for his expertise in employment, pensions and insolvency tax related issues. Victoria Murphy advises on a range of taxation matters relating to corporate acquisitions, private equity transactions and management buyouts. Alice Jenkinson continues to support the team on leading transactions.

MSA Law Limited, a specialist corporate tax firm, is routinely instructed by corporates, owner-managed businesses and individuals on a range of issues, including M&A transactions, exit planning, reconstructions and reorganisations. Fiona Sutherland leads the practice and specialises in transactional tax, particularly reorganisations, reconstructions and exit planning. She is supported by Bernard McIlroy, who has extensive experience in all aspects of transactional tax, advising on exit planning, reorganisations and reconstructions and the structuring of private equity-backed transactions.

The tax group at Weightmans LLP advises corporates, financial institutions and professional advisers on the tax aspects of corporate acquisitions, disposals and investments. Tax efficient corporate restructurings, including demergers and capital reductions, are also a key workstream for the firm. Other areas of expertise include the design and implementation of employee incentives, with a particular expertise in relation to EMI scheme. The practice is steered by Haydn Rogan who regularly advises management teams, companies, private equity houses and investors on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions.