The tax and structuring practice at Addleshaw Goddard is noted the breadth of its expertise, including in real estate, private equity, and share incentive tax-related matters. The team is particularly focused on significant property projects, including funds, joint ventures, property development, and forward funding. Justine Delroy leads the practice, working with a number of clients on structuring issues related to private equity transactions. Michael Hunter is known for his real estate-related advisory work and acts for several institutional companies. Catherine Concannon provides support on private equity matters. All named lawyers are based in Manchester.
Corporate tax in North West
Addleshaw Goddard
Practice head(s):
Justine Delroy
Other key lawyers:
Michael Hunter; Catherine Concannon
Key clients
Aviva Investors
Co-op Group
Bruntwood SciTech
Federated Hermes
Peel Group
Royal London
Inflexion
Angelo Gordon
Diageo plc
Work highlights
- Acted for Co-op on its strategic disposal of its petrol filling station business to Euro Garages.
- Advised on the structuring of a joint venture between Aviva and Allianz for the development of two over-station developments at Liverpool Street and Moorgate.
- Advised Phoenix on its equity investment in, and acquisition of, Dufrain Group Limited.
DLA Piper
Turned to by local and national companies, both listed and privately owned, the Manchester-based team DLA Piper is best known for its international corporate tax services, with a broad focus that spans private equity, M&A, reorganisations, and restructurings. In particular, the practice is noted for its expertise in certain niche areas including VAT on civil aircrafts, outsourcing, and international commercial contracts. David Thompson - who heads the practice - handles the tax aspects of various transactions, including M&A deals and management buyouts. Stephen Jones is noted for his considerable experience in the taxation of multinationals and on land-based deals.
Practice head(s):
David Thompson
Other key lawyers:
Stephen Jones
Key clients
Analysys Mason Limited
RGI S.p.A.
Airties Kablosuz Iletişim Sanayi ve diş Ticaret A.Ş
Duke Street LLP
Azrieli Group
Alpha Biolaboratories Limited
Denstu Aegis
Suttons Transport Group
Lloyds Development Capital
YM&U Group
Work highlights
- Advised Analysis Mason Limited on management equity treatment across UK, Norway, Sweden and other jurisdictions.
- Advised RGI S.p.A on management equity treatment across Italy, France, Germany and other jurisdictions.
DWF
Working across multiple offices, the North West tax team at DWF advises national and international clients on issues across a range of focus areas, from employee incentives and share schemes to real estate and private equity-driven transactions. Notably, the team advises major private equity houses on the tax aspects of their investments, restructurings, disposals, and management incentive packages. James Cashman, who operates out of Liverpool, regularly works on M&A transactions and employment-related issues. He co-heads the national practice with Birmingham-based Jon Stevens, who provides tax advice on private equity deals. Also based in Liverpool, James Collinson advises on a host of property structuring and M&A transactions, most recently for a number of clients in the financial services sector.
Practice head(s):
James Cashman; Jon Stevens
Other key lawyers:
James Collinson
Key clients
Home REIT PLC
Assura PLC
Whitbread Group PLC
Crisp Thinking Group Limited
Future Planet Capital (UK) Limited
MJ Quinn Integrated Services Limited
RSK Environmental Limited
Plan Communications Limited
BT Group PLC
Shell PLC
Equiniti Limited
Costa Coffee
Work highlights
- Advised the shareholders of Crisp Thinking Group Limited on the disposal of the entire issued share capital of Crisp Thinking Group Limited to Kroll International (UK) Limited.
- Provided significant tax advice on all of Home REIT PLC’s real estate acquisitions including complex tax structuring advice.
- Advised Nycomm Holdings Limited on the tax structuring in relation to the transaction to sell the entire issued share capital of Nimans Limited to Midwich Group PLC.
Squire Patton Boggs
In addition to advising on major corporate finance, private equity and property transactions, the tax strategy and benefits team at Squire Patton Boggs regularly provides employment-tax related advice on employee share incentive and pensions matters. Praised by clients for their 'speed, efficiency and clarity', key names to note include practice chair Patrick Ford, who brings to bear significant experience in the tax implications of corporate finance and property transactions; Victoria Murphy, experienced in management buy-outs and employee benefit schemes; and Alice Jenkinson, whose recent engagements include multi-jurisdictional management share incentive plans. All named lawyers are based in Manchester.
Practice head(s):
Patrick Ford
Other key lawyers:
Victoria Murphy; Alice Jenkinson
Testimonials
‘I am very impressed with the speed, efficiency and clarity of the SPB team as we continue to seek their advice across a range of topics globally.’
‘Partners are quick to respond and make time available to discuss issues. Subject level knowledge is high.’
‘A particular thanks to Patrick Ford, Alice Jenkinson, and Victoria Murphy for being extremely helpful and great also for recommending legal advisors in each location.’
Key clients
EDF Renewables
Co-operative Group
Greggs plc
Grafton Group plc
GB Group plc
Watkin Jones plc
Hurst Point Group
Lucite International
Chiltern Capital
H2 Equity Partners
Highview Enterprise
Clear Group
Prospero Recruitment
ECI Partners
Smiths Group
Superdrug
Veolia
Jury’s Inn
Hippo Digital
Work highlights
- Acted for insurance broker Clear Group and its shareholders and management on the sale of the company to Goldman Sachs and the reinvestment of management into the buying vehicle.
- Acted for EDF on the acquisition of Aquila Nuclear Engineering from Calder Group.
Weightmans LLP
The team at Weightmans LLP is best known for advising on the tax aspects of corporate acquisitions, disposals, investments and restructurings. Beyond its corporate capabilities, the team frequently works with owner-managed businesses on the design and implementation of employee incentive schemes. The practice is headed by Manchester-based Haydn Rogan, an experienced adviser to management teams, who draws considerable praise for his ‘extremely knowledgeable‘ and ‘very commercial, proactive‘ approach.
Practice head(s):
Haydn Rogan
Testimonials
‘We work with Haydn Rogan, who provides advice to us on M&A projects on the tax side. He’s extremely responsive and practical in his approach.’
‘We have worked with Haydn Rogan for a number of years and he provides support to our firm and our clients in relation to a variety of matters. He is extremely knowledgeable and takes a very commercial, proactive approach when working with us. We can always trust him to find a solution to a problem and and will always go the extra mile to work within what are sometimes very tight deadlines. He is much more than an external supplier of services to our firm, he is seen as a valuable member of our team.’
‘Haydn is very knowledgable, pragmatic and easy to work with.’
Key clients
Sonoco
ANS Group Limited
Bestway National Chemists Limited t/a Well pharmacy
Bruntwood
DSW Angels LLP t/a DSW Ventures
Europium World (UK) Limited
S Norton & Co Limited
Waste Expert Limited
LDC (Lloyds Development Capital)
MBL (Seminars) Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised the shareholders of Edge Picture Co Limited on the sale to Zinc Media Group PLC.
- Advised the shareholders on the sale of Strategic North Limited to Prescient Healthcare Group.
- Assisted in carrying out a corporate reorganisation for Europium which involved the creation of a new group structure prior to putting in place an EMI Scheme to incentivise key staff.
Brabners LLP
‘A very specialist team‘ for whom ‘no matter is too complex or messy to handle‘, Brabners LLP‘s tax capabilities span a number of areas including VAT, real estate, employee incentives, litigation and transaction support. The practice also provides tax advisory services to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and owner-managed businesses and has further experience in advising on transactional as well contentious matters, including disputes with HMRC and claims under tax covenants. Mark Whiteside left the firm to join CMS in August 2023.
Testimonials
‘They’ve definitely “been there, done that”. A very specialist team who have experience of working for and with the Big Four. No matter is too complex or messy to handle.’
Key clients
Bridgestone Tyres
Beaverbrooks The Jewellers
Begbies Traynor Group plc
Rhenus Logistics
Chase de Vere Group
Omni Partners LLP
Seddon Group Limited
Asertis Limited
Codeweavers Ltd
Httpool Holdings UK Limited
Parcel2go.com Limited
UK Meds Direct Limited
NorthWest EHealth Ltd
Electric Glass Fiber UK Ltd
HR Healthcare t/a Treated.com
Innox Trading Ltd T/A Chemist-4-U
Fleetsolve Limited
The Wine Society
Sykes Seafood Holdings Limited
All About Children
Parcel2go.com Limited
UK Meds Direct Limited
NorthWest EHealth Ltd
Arnold Clark
Glenbrook
Home Bargains
ION Property Developments
Morrisons plc
NWF Group plc
Peel L&P
Peel Ports Group
Primark
Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool
Cains Brewery Village
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Work highlights
- Acting for the All About Children Limited group on its acquisitions since 2010.
- Advised the shareholders of CRP Subsea Holdings Ltd on their sale to Advanced Innergy Solutions.
MSA Law Limited
With a dedicated focus on corporate tax, MSA Law Limited advises a host of corporates and owner-managed businesses active across a broad range of sectors, from healthcare to social media. In a business context, the practice handles tax-related issues on M&A transactions, exit planning, reconstructions and reorganisations. Key names to note include Bernard McIlroy, a seasoned practitioner who frequently works on matters relating to property and employee ownership trusts. He works alongside Fiona Sutherland, a specialist in transactional tax law whose recent highlights include disposals and share option reviews. All named lawyers are based in Manchester.
Other key lawyers:
Fiona Sutherland; Bernard McIlroy
Testimonials
‘The team at MSA is very strong and extremely competent. For tax advisers, they are also very commercial!’
‘Fiona Sutherland is always available and always very helpful.’
Key clients
Komi Group Limited
Maurice McLoughlin, CEO of Veincentre
The former shareholders of Working Time Solutions Limited
Work highlights
- Provided lead tax advice to Komi Group on the investment in Komi Group by BGF.
- Provided lead tax advice to Maurice McLoughlin on the investment in Veincentre by CBPE Capital.
- Provided lead tax advice to the former shareholders of Working Time Solutions on their sale of the company to Totalmobile.