Hello
I am a Tax Advisory Partner, specialising in Innovation and Property Taxes here at PKF Smith Cooper, based in our Derby Office, in addition to being the UK tax service line lead for the business.
With over 20 years of experience, I have an in-depth and varied direct tax background and provide proactive tax advice that never loses sight of the commercial and personal interests of both the business and stakeholders.
What can I do for your organisation?
As Head of Innovation and Property Taxes, I advise clients across a range of sectors, helping them access vital funding through tax incentives to enable growth, increase profitability, reduce risk and enable further investment in R&D and capital investments.
Innovation Taxes
I undertake R&D tax credit and Patent Box claims for both innovative SME and large corporate clients, helping them thrive commercially through their innovation.
During my time at PKF Smith Cooper, I have undertaken many R&D consultancy projects for clients in a range of sectors, including:
- Health
- Software development
- Food
- Automotive
- Construction
- Agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Cosmetics
- Life and sport sciences
- Defence
Property Taxation
In terms of property, I have an in-depth knowledge of the commercial and tax drivers affecting the sector and have extensive experience advising clients on the complexities governing property ownership and also how to claim capital allowances in respect of fixtures within a commercial property, whether this relates to historic assets, refurbishments, purchases or sales.
Capital allowances are an understated form of tax relief in relation to commercial property owners of all types and can assist the claimant significantly in terms of managing the tax burden associated with property ownership. I have significant experience in dealing with claims for offices, data and call centres, hotels and leisure properties, industrial and manufacturing sites and sports stadia.
Other specialisms in the property sector are:
- Structuring to separate valuable property assets from the core business to de-risk the asset (demergers)
- Structuring in advance of land developments to manage the tax burden for the participants
Experience counts
I have worked in a number of firms from small independents, Top 10 and most recently in the Big 4. This experience has given in depth practical and technical tax experience, but more importantly the exposure to different industries and personalities has given me a balanced view of what works for my clients.
I help clients implement tax-efficient solutions that meet both personal and commercial needs, seeking to build lasting relationships and working collaboratively with clients to deliver advice that is robust and practical, whilst remaining sensitive to the overall strategy of a business and its owners.
Deeper knowledge
I also have significant experience in most other areas of Direct taxation and this includes the following areas of expertise:
- Transactional tax – Including Business Asset Disposal Relief and shareholder tax advice, pre-transaction structuring, legal document reviews and tax due diligence
- Management incentives – Advice regarding incentive structures for management teams
- Corporate governance – Advice regarding corporate criminal offence (“CCO”) for all businesses and senior accounting officer and tax strategy advice for large corporates
- Investor incentives – Enterprise and Seed Investment Scheme advice
Personally speaking
I love most sports, but particularly cricket, F1, boxing and horse racing. I love attending these events and seeing live-action… or I used to! Now I’ve retired from playing cricket, I have taken up cycling which I love and playing golf… which I don’t!
Much of my spare time is now however taken up with my three young children who keep me on my toes!
