1. Investing in business

We advise a wide range of investors and target businesses on tax efficient structuring, restructuring and realization of investments. Our practice extends far beyond our market leading work on real estate and funds and covers all areas of private equity fund and investment structuring (including management incentives), hedge funds and investments by sovereign wealth funds, pensions funds, life companies and insurers.

2. Growing business

Make sure that tax does not put the brakes on your growth. Your business may be expanding organically by opening new premises, hiring more senior management or setting up operations in a new territory overseas. Or, your plans may involve corporate or asset acquisitions or a merger.

All of these steps will have tax consequences that need to be carefully considered. We understand the importance of getting the tax right without interfering with your commercial goals.

3. Running a business

We can help ensure that the complexity of the UK tax system does not get in the way of you running your business or maximizing the returns on your investment. Our operational tax experience includes VAT planning, employment tax issues, tax on imports and exports and guidance on operating offshore structures properly. We can help you build, buy or lease your business premises and lease your plant and machinery in the most tax efficient way.

4. Financing a business

The depth and breadth of our financing tax experience is unmatched. Eight of our tax partners regularly advise on finance matters, covering  acquisition finance, complex securitizations, equity fundraisings, debt funds, real estate finance, tax structured finance and regulatory capital structures. Whatever your financing needs, we can advise you on the most tax efficient way to meet them.

5. Restructuring a business

Restructuring is part of corporate life as businesses evolve. Whether you are looking to expand overseas, hive off part of your group, effect a full demerger, reorganize internally, or restructure a fund, we can help you develop the right solution for your business and avoid unexpected tax costs. We also have experience of advising on the full range of insolvency proceedings and can help make sure that tax does not make Restructuring business a difficult situation worse.

6. Managing tax disputes

Every business wants to avoid tax litigation if it can and our advice on tax risk management, handling HMRC investigations and Alternative Dispute Resolution can help you do that. Where litigation cannot be avoided the technical excellence and tactical acumen of our dedicated contentious tax team will give you the best chance of a successful outcome. Our team has extensive experience of advising on VAT and direct tax disputes heard at all levels of the UK court system and the European Court of Justice.

7. Exiting a business

Whatever the form of your exit, we can help minimize the tax drag on your return. We have extensive experience of advising trading groups, institutions, management teams and intermediaries on floats, public to privates, secondary buyouts, MBOs, trade sales, business disposals and pre-sale reorganizations.