Matt is a partner within the Corporate, Commercial and Finance team, specialising in tax law, advising on and efficiently structuring a wide range of corporate and real estate transactions including M&A, land transfers, developments and leases.
He is also expert in employment tax issues and the structuring of employee incentive schemes as well as VAT issues in the public and private sector. He has experience advising clients across a range of sectors from tech to house builders or landlords, and consultancy companies to public bodies.
Matt is a chartered tax adviser who joins from DAC Beachcroft where he has worked for the last 9 years, having trained at K&L Gates LLP.
WHAT CLIENTS AND DIRECTORIES SAY
It has always been a pleasure to work with Matt...He is an expert in a very wide range of taxes and brings a deep professionalism, and his extensive legal knowledge to bear in every engagement. He has an intuitive grasp of complexity but can frame his advice in plain English and help us define and achieve our objectives. For example, in a recent corporate restructuring, he was asked to provide advice on corporation tax and the substantial shareholding exemption, but he also checked and covered CGT and value-shifting, PAYE, employment-related securities, restrictions and S431 elections, the availability of tax clearances, stamp duty and more. His thorough approach in this matter was extremely valuable and we had complete confidence in the outcomes."
A client, 2023
I trust Matt to understand complex legal matters quickly, to pay attention to detail, to solve problems and to give us a considered and clear opinion every time. He is great to work with and I highly recommend him.”
A client, 2023
Matthew got us out of a bit of a tricky situation."
A client, 2021
PUBLICATIONS & PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
- The impact of the Autumn Budget on property practitioners (Law Society, December 2024)
- Gov't consults on tax hikes For fund managers, non-doms - quoted in Law360, July 2024
- UK stamp duty change quietly came into effect at the weekend - Quoted in BuyAssociation, June 2024
- The removal of the multiple dwellings SDLT relief ‘does far more good than harm’ - Quoted in Property Industry Eye, March 2024
- Mortgage and property experts react to Chancellor’s Budget - Quoted in IFA Magazine, March 2024
- Unpicking Hunt’s axing of MDR, Property Week, March 2024
- Tax take up £33bn due to stealth taxes - Quoted in Accountancy Daily, February 2024
- Quoted in LandlordZONE in relation to new property portal, June 2023
RECENT WORK
Some recent examples of the assistance Matt has provided include:
- Creating an Employee Ownership Trust for a client (Click here to read the full case study)
- Creating an EMI share scheme for a fledgling technology company, including agreeing a valuation with HMRC;
- Restructuring a property developer's joint venture transaction to materially reduce the SDLT consequences;
- Advising a public sector health body on the VAT consequences of certain working arrangements; and
- Agreeing tax protections for a company purchaser, including issues around potential employee transactions in readily convertible assets.
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Chartered Institute of Taxation
- Listed as a Citywealth Leader in Tax
