Tax Conference 2022

Caroline is Head of Real Estate and Construction sector and a Corporate tax partner at Crowe UK.

Her clients range within the Corporate world across a number of industries and include property developers, international real estate investors and significant property occupiers (such as hotels and care homes). She has particular expertise in advising on the most appropriate structure taking into the business model, the various stakeholders and all of the taxes involved. Taxation of property has become increasingly complicated over the last few years with more taxes and higher rates and she has extensive experience in assessing the interaction of the various taxes.

Caroline is a member of the CIOT Property Committee and Stamp Taxes Practitioners Group.  She regularly speaks to and writes articles for trade press.

John Hood is Moore Kingston Smith’s tax dispute resolution specialist. He is expert at dealing with complex and serious tax investigations launched by HMRC, settling matters on a civil basis. In the most serious cases, this can involve limiting the risk of the enquiry being escalated to a criminal investigation. John genuinely relishes the challenge of unravelling convoluted tax scenarios and establishing a mutually satisfactory endgame.

John aims to minimise the risk for his clients, while also ensuring HMRC is operating within the tax legislation. His clients are generally owner-managed businesses and their families, high net worth individuals and those with complex affairs. Mostly clients are referred to John through their professional advisers. Some might already be the focus of an HMRC investigation, while others might want to make a voluntary disclosure to regularise the past.

With more than two decades of experience in tax dispute resolution, John has vast knowledge of HMRC’s administration and enforcement procedures. Having also previously worked at HMRC in the compliance arena, John has a deep understanding of the key strategies needed to achieve the best result for his clients.

From his clients’ point of view, John has a calming effect at what is often a stressful and emotionally charged time. They are reassured by the fact that he focuses on negotiating the best outcome for both them and HMRC. His easy manner, knack of explaining things in everyday language and sense of humanity are also valued by his clients.

John is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant who has solely specialised R&D tax relief since 2009. He was a Director at the UK’s first R&D tax consultancy firm and his next role saw him head up one of the UK’s largest R&D tax advisory teams. During this time, he managed a large client portfolio and ran an enquiry resolution service for accountants who had got into a spot of bother with HMRC with their own R&D claims.

In 2019, he formed YesTax which won The Best New Tax Practice award at the 2020 Tolley’s Taxation Awards. John is also a member of the HMRC R&D Communication Forum.

His ability to give clear and unambiguous tax advice is popular with his clients – many of whom he has advised for over a decade.

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.

Mala is a Chartered Tax Adviser and non-practising Solicitor and Accountant. She specialises in preparation of disclosures to HMRC and resolution of tax enquiries and CoP8 and 9 Investigations. She has experience in a range of situations – self-employment, property, owner managed businesses, non-UK domiciled individuals – and taxes; direct income taxes as well as PAYE, VAT and SDLT.

She is a well-known tax author, having been published by Taxation Magazine, International Tax Review, Bloomberg Tax, Bloomsbury Professional and Tax Adviser. Mala founded the London Tax Society in 2017 and actively encourages networking and technical development for young professionals.

Mala lectures regularly for professional bodies including the CIOT, CIMA and the ICAEW. She was a finalist for “Best Rising Star in Tax” as part of Tolleys Taxation Awards 2020. The Awards are known for identifying excellence in tax. Being shortlisted demonstrates Mala’s commitment to the tax profession as well as her technical excellence as supported by testimonials from clients and other tax experts.

Max Schofield is a commercial barrister with particular expertise in indirect tax disputes, and is ranked by the 2022 Legal500 directory as a “Rising Star” in the field of VAT.

Max has been instructed to advise and appear on a broad range of tax cases concerning VAT, SDLT, Excise Duties, Remote Gaming Duty, and has a busy practice far beyond his call.

His clients have included social media platforms, television channels, food and drink manufacturers, online casinos, and universities.

As a co-editor of the long-running publication “A Handbook of EU VAT Legislation” (Wolters Kluwer), Max keeps his finger on the pulse with regards to changes to VAT law. He is widely published and often invited to give guest lectures at universities and to present papers at symposia.

Max is regularly contacted to provide expert commentary on changes and trends in tax law and policy.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Max was a tax editor for Bloomberg BNA and a paralegal in Macfarlanes LLP’s litigation department and Clyde & Co LLP’s professional negligence department. He accepts instructions for matters in the High Court, County Court, Court of Appeal, First Tier Tribunal (Tax) and Upper Tribunal (TCC).

Paul is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, with over 30 years’ experience in advising clients and other professionals on a wide range of complex tax issues. He joined Dixon Wilson as a director in 2019, where he provides tax technical support for the firm.

He focuses on wealthy entrepreneurs, advising on tax issues arising in relation to their business and to their personal tax planning. He advises on the structuring of transactions, and strategic planning for the longer term. While focusing on UK taxation, he also advises on how the UK tax system functions on an international basis.

He is a well-known lecturer covering a range of taxes, and often speaks at events around the country for the Chartered Institute of Taxation. He was co-author of Tolley’s Tax Planning for Owner Managed Businesses, and writes articles for various professional publications.

Thomas is a leading share scheme expert and CTA who works with ambitious startup and high growth businesses and their directors. He provides comprehensive tax advice on remuneration, including tax relief available on shareholdings, employee share option plans and bespoke share incentive solutions, along with optimisation of company structures.