James Bronte-Stewart

IFX

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Dmitry Zapol

Tax Advisor, IFS Consultants

Dmitry Zapol is an international tax advisor with practical knowledge of the principles of individual and corporate international taxation and cross-border business planning. He joined IFS in September 2010 after earning his LLM (Tax) degree at King’s College, London. Five years prior to this, Dmitry earned his LLB at Durham University and completed an LPC at the College of Law. Dmitry is a qualified Russian lawyer — he came to the UK from Moscow, where for five years he worked as an associate at Moscow City Bar Association "Barshchevsky & Partners". Dmitry specialised in advising foreign investors exploring opportunities in Russia on corporate tax implications together with Russian and cross-border tax planning. Dmitry holds the Advanced Diploma in International Tax and is studying to become a CTA.

Roy Saunders

Founder and Chairman, IBSA

Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1967, Roy Saunders has accumulated a wealth of commercial experience working independently in commercial property, international tax, advertising and other industries. He is the Chairman of IFS, a boutique international tax practice based in central London. Academically, he is known throughout the world for his many books and publications, the foremost being his red book, International Tax Systems & Planning Techniques published by Sweet & Maxwell. Roy has also taught an MA Course on International Taxation at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies at the University of London.

Roy is very proud of the fascinating client base of entrepreneurial individuals that he has built up at IFS. He feels strongly about the role that ethical tax structuring plays in the growth of an economy, and that this needs to be better understood by the public at large. Roy founded the IBSA to enable business professionals around the world to discover new business relationships and promote best practice by creating sustainable business structures compliant with international transparency, corporate governance and social responsibility.

Wim Ritz

Managing Director, Vistra

With a masters degree in Law from K.U.Leuven, Wim began his career in a private equity house, where, over the course of five years, he gained extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions.

He lectured in corporate and real estate law at a Belgian business school for seven years, and was also a member of the Belgian Bar Association as an attorney-at-law for ten years.

Wim joined Vistra in 2010 and he currently heads up the Luxembourg office and is the Managing Director for both Corporate and Fund Services. The Luxembourg office is divided into 11 teams on the corporate side of the business as well as the Funds Team. All teams report to their Team Leader who in turn reports to their Regional Director Client Services or Head of Department. All Directors report to Wim.

Wim's everyday responsibilities include a supervisory and business development role for the maintenance of Luxembourg KPI's. Moreover, Wim also takes up management positions in client structures as he guides them through the life-cycle of their cross-border investments.

Geraldine Schembri

EMCS Ltd

Geraldine Schembri is co-founder and Managing Director of EMCS International, where she focuses on international tax consultancy and finance. An accountant by profession, she acquired experience working with a leading audit firm in the field of accounting and assurance, later on specializing in both direct and indirect taxation. She joined the EMCS Group in 1999. Geraldine is involved in various tax committees, has lectured for the Malta Institute of Accountants, assisted with paper-setting for ACCA and actively contributes to the Malta Section of International Tax Systems and Planning Techniques published by Gee Publishing.She is also authorised as Registered Mandatory for the Malta Retirement Programme and Malta High Net Worth Scheme.

Her constant involvement in the developments of the industry and close networking with service providers in overseas jurisdictions characterizes the pro-active attitude adopted by the firm.

David Copping

Partner, Farrer & Co

David specialises in non-contentious intellectual property and commercial law, predominantly advising clients operating in IP rich sectors such as media, culture and higher education.

David regularly advises clients on a range of issues relating to the acquisition, protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights, including in relation to trade marks, copyright, and other forms of registered and unregistered rights. David’s principal areas of focus are complex collaborative projects involving the creation and/or exploitation of intellectual property, and IP considerations arising in corporate transactions, research collaborations and joint ventures.

In terms of more general commercial work, David has expertise in relation to technology contracts, IT and business process outsourcing, supply and distribution agreements and a range of other contractual matters.

Claire Taylor

Chief Executive Officer in SimplyVAT.com

SIMPLYVAT.com was formed to help e-businesses trade internationally and successfully without being burdened by complex VAT legislation.

With over 15 years in the global VAT industry, Claire knows that selling online gives you access to lucrative worldwide markets and moreover, if the VAT is correctly managed, the seller can concentrate on selling.

Claire works with a team of VAT experts to provide first class expertise in international VAT compliance in all European countries and other territories where local laws prevail.

Her last role was as CEO of a financial data analysis company.

Prior to this Claire worked for many years within the international VAT recovery market dealing with numerous SME and multi-national blue-chip companies providing VAT recovery and VAT compliance services.

Nancy Cruickshanks

Principal at Shipleys LLP

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Colin Kingsmill

Managing Partner, Laurier Partners

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Scott Davis

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Aliasghar Kanani

Tax Partner, LE/AX Avocats

Aliasghar Kanani is a tax partner with LE/AX. His favorite field of activity is Swiss and International corporate tax law, which covers varied topics, such as international tax planning for multinationals and SMEs, group and financial restructurings. He also advises high net worth individuals on Swiss and international tax planning aspects, as well as non-profit organizations.

Following his graduation in Swiss Law, he obtained a Master of Advanced Studies in business law (MBL). In order to complete this Master degree, he wrote a thesis on “Merger and its tax treatment”. He completed an LL.M. in International Taxation, during which he specialized in Swiss and International Business taxation and wrote a thesis on “IP restructurings”.

Aliasghar Kanani teaches corporate taxation at the High School Arc, Bachelor in Business Law www.he-arc.ch/gestion/bachelor/droit-economique/, member of the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland (HES-SO), as well as at the CAS in taxation of SMEs at the University of Neuchâtel, Law Faculty www.unine.ch/droit/home/formations/formation_continue/cas-en-fiscalite-des-pme.html. In addition, he is a regular speaker at the University of Lausanne, for WEKA Business Media AG and various organizations of which he is an active member. He is also the author of various publications on tax law, in particular in specialized magazines such as Tax News International (TNI) in the USA and for various professional associations.

He has been an active member of the Tax Law Commission of the Association International of Youngs Lawyers (AIJA, www.aija.org), for which he has been the annual national reporter since 2009. He received the Past President Award for his 2009 national report on "Thin capitalization regulations and similar tax limitations on leveraged buy-outs". Finally, he is a member of the International Tax Specialist Group (www.itsgnetwork.com), the International Business Structuring Association (www.theibsa.org) and the Private Client Dining Club (www.pcd.club), as well as the Geneva Bar Association (www.odage.ch) and the International Bar Association (www.ibanet.org). Aliasghar Kanani is fluent in French, English, Hindi/Urdu and Gujarati.

Chris McLeod

Partner, Elkington & Fife

Chris McLeod is a registered trade mark attorney and an authorised representative at OHIM, with over 25 years’ experience in the field of trade marks, designs and copyright.  He was the president of ITMA, the UK Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, and has been active in ITMA for over 15 years.  He has extensive experience of managing large trade mark and registered design portfolios in many sectors, including fashion, sports, healthcare, publishing, foodstuffs and beverages and has represented numerous charity clients on a pro bono basis.  Chris is a regular conference speaker on IP issues and a frequent press, radio and TV commentator on trade marks and related matters.

Nick Alfille

Partner, Memory Crystal

Nick Alfillé is a partner Memery Crystal’s Corporate team.  He specialises in M&A for both private and public companies, private equity, joint ventures and corporate restructuring.

In particular, he has considerable experience in cross border M&A acting for both UK and international clients.

He regularly acts for clients in the financial services, leisure, property and chemical sectors.

Having taken a break from law to run his own business, Nick understands what is important for clients and brings a commercial approach to transactions.

Outside of the office Nick is an avid foodie and a fan of all sports.

Bernhard Gilbey

Partner, Head of Tax Strategy & Benefits, Squire Patton Boggs

Bernhard Gilbey provides tax advice in relation to a wide range of both domestic and international corporate tax issues. This includes identifying planning opportunities for corporate and individual vendors as well as advising on the tax efficient methods of restructuring corporate groups. Bernhard regularly provides advice to clients on employee benefits schemes ranging from the advice to remuneration committees as to suitable incentive arrangements to the drafting, implementation and ongoing administration of share option and restricted stock rules.

Bernhard is a Director of the International Tax and Investment Center, member of the International Fiscal Association and a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.