LTN Tax Conference 2025

Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho is a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers where her practice focuses on tax disputes (direct and indirect), commercial disputes and EU law (including state aid).

Her recent matters include VolkerRail Plant Ltd (& Ors) v HMRC [2023] EWHC Civ 210 on group relief, VAT disputes, environmental tax disputes, financial services tax disputes, advising in relation to environmental tax and inheritance tax in innovative biodiversity projects, acting for the British Medical Association in relation to challenges to the tax treatment of defined benefit statutory pension schemes, advising on an expert determination relating to Irish Law on REITS, and co-mediating with HMRC.

She taught tax law courses at King’s College London and Birkbeck for over 10 years. She is called to the Bar in the Republic of Ireland and is a CEDR accredited mediator. She is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

Kevin is a partner at Hardwick & Morris LLP, leading the tax advisory offering of the practice as well as providing tax advice and support to Private Clients and intermediaries/advisers who need additional tax support for themselves and their own clients. His specialisations include:

• Taxation of high net-worth individuals, non-domiciled individuals, international families and their business/investment interests.
• Advice to trustees on international tax matters.
• The international taxation of performance, recording, endorsements/sponsorship and other income/assets for sportspersons/musicians and other entertainers.
• Experience in back duty and Investigation work including negotiating settlements with the UK tax authorities.

He is a regular speaker at international conferences and writes for UK and international professional publications.

Thomas advises and litigates on all aspects of direct and indirect tax with a particular interest in small and medium sized businesses and partnership structures. According to www.pumptax.com, Thomas is representing the Crown in several of the major cases testing the taxation of partnerships and LLPs (BlueCrest; HFFX; Odey Asset Management) and regularly advises on matters of partnership taxation including questions of the existence of a partnership or the consequences of incorporating a partnership into a limited company or transferring a trade to an LLP.

Michael Thomas advises and litigates in relation to all areas of the UK tax code. His practice covers business tax, private client work and VAT. He has a particular interest in property tax and has advised on some of the UK’s largest real estate transactions and development projects.

It has been said that “he has a strong tax record of success in tax litigation”, is “ahead of the game when it comes to property taxation” and “the go-to man for stamp duty land tax.” Michael sits on the tax committee of The Country Landowners Association.

When litigating Michael is mindful that the best result for a client rarely involves a contested hearing. He has a strong track record of achieving favourable outcomes without a trial including in relation to VAT (where a 7- figure repayment was received by a FTSE 100 company) and on employment taxes (where HMRC rescinded an assessment of several hundred thousand pounds following an internal review).

Michael has significant experience of litigating the application of anti-avoidance rules.

His litigation practice also includes defending professional negligence actions, ligating tax deed claims and acting in civil fraud investigations under code of practice 9.

Keith Gordon qualified as a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser before retraining for the Bar. Since 2006, he has specialised in assisting taxpayers in disputes with HMRC and regularly attends courts and tribunals, ranging from the County Court to the Supreme Court. High profile cases include representing Kaye Adams (Atholl House Productions Ltd) and Eamonn Holmes (Red, White & Green Ltd) in their IR35 disputes in the Court of Appeal and Upper Tribunal.

He advises in all tax-related matters, extending to social security contributions and benefits as well as professional negligence matters, where he acts for claimants and defendants alike.

David is a widely known authority, writer and speaker on US tax.

As the first IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent in the UK, David is one of the few in England screened, checked and authorized by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to act on behalf of the IRS in assisting individuals with US Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) applications and completing IRS W-7 forms.

David specialises in the often-complex interactions between American and British tax and is able to draw from over 25 years of international and expatriate tax experience, having worked in London, Chicago and New York. Work includes frequent speaking and writing alongside providing advice to other professionals on US and UK tax issues.

Jemma handles a diverse range of matters including commercial lease transactions, property re-financing, site acquisitions, and landlord and tenant issues. Additionally, she provides property advice for company share and asset purchases involving properties.

Jemma assists individuals with their wills and lasting powers of attorney, and offers guidance on the use of trusts and estate planning. She specialises in cross-border estates, helping clients navigate complex international legal landscapes.

Sangeeta advises individuals and families across generations on wealth, wills and succession planning, as well as disputes regarding trust and estate matters. Her expertise includes the use of estate planning vehicles such as trusts and companies, in order to protect wealth from unexpected events such as incapacity and from claims from third parties, and to manage domestic and international tax concerns.

She also provides succession planning advice to families with businesses, land and property that they wish to pass through the family line, including specialist wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Sangeeta has extensive experience in all types of estate dispute, including challenges to wills, challenging or removing executors, and claims for financial provision under the Inheritance Act.

Stephen is a Tax Partner at Menzies, advising businesses on maximising tax efficiencies. He also heads up the firm’s Technology sector.

Stephen provides proactive advice ensuring that clients they structure themselves in the right way to build value. His tax specialisms, include restructuring, due diligence work and acquisition/sale advice, as well as tax issues affecting scale up businesses (including tax efficient investment funding, such as EIS and share rewards for employees) particularly in the technology sector.