The tax and structuring practice at Addleshaw Goddard advises on complex tax structuring matters, with a focus on PE-backed transactions and leading property projects. A number of household names rely on the expertise of the team, including Marks & Spencer, British Airways, and Nationwide. Martin Griffiths leads the practice, with a focus on private equity M&A transactions; Griffiths has extensive experience handling employment tax and employee incentives, while also handling high-value real estate transactions. Kyle Rainsford joined the practice from Travers Smith LLP in July 2024.

The tax practice at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is highly skilled at handling complex, high-value work, with particular knowledge of the private capital space. Members of the team routinely advise leading private equity houses on a raft of issues, including pre-sale debt reorganisations and structuring acquisitions, and often acts on matters with an international element. Based in Leeds, Colin Askew heads up the regional tax practice, with experience leading on large, cross-border, corporate reorganisations, and vast experience advising portfolio companies on tax issues. Matthew Cummings advises on VAT and property tax issues, with further experience in tax disputes. Oliver Hartland joined the Leeds team, having relocated from London, while David Jervis has retired from the practice.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s tax practice is highly recommended for its ability to advise on complex, cross-border tax issues, particularly linked to large M&A and public takeovers. Members of the team have extensive knowledge spanning UK private equity work, international reorganisations, asset-backed securitisations, and high-value real estate investments. The team is noted for its sector approach, with particular expertise in technology, infrastructure, and energy spaces. Peter Morley heads up the practice, with over 20 years of experience in business tax; Morley focuses on advising on private equity transactions for investors, management teams, and vendors, and is capable of advising on all aspects of real estate taxation. Also of note are Andrew McCarthy, a real estate tax expert, and Lois Hewson, who has a particular focus on corporate transactions including mergers.

At Squire Patton Boggs, the tax practice is renowned for its expertise providing tax advice across all areas of private equity and finance. Employee share incentives, funds, pensions, and VAT are key strengths of the team, which has particular sector expertise in the renewable energy and technology spaces. The team leverages its strength locally and globally to act for high-profile clients. David Nisbet uses his experience acting as in-house tax counsel to advise on a wide range of transactional and advisory matters, with a particular focus on structuring funds and private equity transactions. Victoria Murphy is highly skilled at handling taxation matters linked to corporate acquisitions, private equity transactions, and management buy outs. Emma Perez and Thomas Barr are also noted.

DLA Piper‘s tax practice offers expertise across a wide range of high-profile mandates, spanning employment tax advisory work, private equity taxation, and major corporate reorganisations. David Smith heads the team, and is a ‘resourceful, trustworthy and highly pragmatic lawyer’, with a focus on the tax aspects of mergers, demergers, and reorganisations. Richard Johnson is also key to the practice.

Freeths LLP’s tax team is known for its work across an impressive range of transactions, spanning distressed M&A, real estate investments, start-ups, and large corporate transactions. Clients including SMEs, international companies, and private equity funds all rely on the expertise of the team. Based in Sheffield, Adrian Hackett leads the practice, specialising in corporate restructurings, tax efficient investment structures, and tax structuring for private equity investments. Alex Angelides is also noted, specialising in corporate restructurings, exit planning, and share incentive schemes, along with Emily Gaffney, who advises on real estate and corporate transactions.

Along with advising UK and international clients on intricate tax questions related to M&A, real estate, and employment matters, the team at Walker Morris LLP is commended for its knowledge of share schemes, and has a focus on real estate tax work, particularly linked to SDLT and VAT issues. Nicola Parkinson leads the practice, with a focus on tax advice, as well as share incentives and share schemes. Natalie Gray left the practice to join Mills & Reeve LLP, while Charlotte Anderson joined from Freshfields.