Catherine Jewell

Partner, Beck Greener

Catherine Jewell is a Partner at Beck Greener LLP and provides patent-related services in the chemical field, from initial advice on patentability, to drafting and filing applications and their prosecution, including opposition and appeals. She has a particular interest in the new unitary patent system which is expected to come into force in Europe in 2017.

She is also a Chartered and European Trade Mark Attorney and has advised on a variety of issues in relation to the use and registration of marks, from clearance searches and pre-filing advice, through to opposition and invalidity/revocation actions.

The majority of her experience relates to European patent and trade mark applications, but she has also handled global portfolios covering countries such as the US, China, Korea, Japan and Canada.

Catherine worked in solid-state and materials chemistry before joining the IP profession, concentrating on the synthesis of inorganic materials and manipulation of their structure and properties.

Maurizio Marullo

Senior Partner, LAWP

Maurizio Marullo is a Partner at LAWP.  His practice focuses on commercial, corporate, international tax law and criminal tax law. He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint-ventures, corporate finance transaction as well as in estate and succession planning, insolvency and restructuring procedure. He is also involved in real estate transactions.

Author of publications on commercial and tax law. Maurizio is the co-author of the Italian chapter of the volume International Tax Systems and Planning Techniques published by Sweet & Maxwell.

Lecturer and speaker at seminars and conferences on commercial law and tax criminal law; lecturer at postgraduate Master courses in Taxation and Business Law organized by Il Sole 24 Ore Business School.

Admitted to practice before the Italian Supreme Court since 2015.

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.

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.

Jose Aguilar Shea

Partner, Squire Patton Boggs

Jose Aguilar Shea is a partner of the Tax Strategy & Benefits department in the Madrid office. He has extensive experience advising national and international corporations and individuals on the taxation aspects of their investments in Spain. His practice includes the organization and structuring of complex transactions of businesses and real estate assets. He assists with negotiating and implementing contracts, mergers, acquisitions and similar transactions, as well as joint venture agreements. Jose is also well versed in the tax matters arising out of fast-growth technology companies through their entire life cycles, working closely with founders and outside investors to guide clients through the challenging early and growth stages of development. 

He also has ample experience advising, with a proactive problem-solving approach, high net worth individuals and families on their wealth planning, and works regularly with family offices, providing comprehensive advice to help preserve and grow clients’ assets and protect their legacy for future generations. He advises on inheritance planning and acquisitions, donations, family wealth and businesses succession planning, partners’ compensation, financial instruments and investment management. 

Jose is a key member of our Brazil desk and is actively involved in cross-border transactions with Latin America.

Jimmy Sexton

Founder & CEO, Esquire Group, Dubai

Jimmy has been advising clients throughout the world on international tax matters for over 15 years. Widely recognised as an expert in international taxation, Jimmy often speaks throughout the world at such organisations as the U.N., eBay, and the American Chamber of Commerce, and is regularly quoted and published by such media outlets as CNN, The Washington Post and Forbes.

From his base in Dubai, Jimmy regularly travels throughout the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, meeting with clients, speaking and overseeing Esquire Group’s global operations.

Jimmy’s area of expertise include: International taxation, Wealth Structuring, Expatriation, Citizenship & Residency Planning, Corporate Structuring and Investment Funds.

Jimmy is an instrument rated private pilot, avid snowboarder and fitness enthusiast.

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.

Mark Bloomberg

Of Counsel, Zuber Lawler

Mark Bloomberg is an intellectual property litigator.  With more than 30 years of experience, he has represented clients in infringement actions, and advised clients concerning patent infringement, validity, remedies and licensing.  During this time, Mr. Bloomberg has participated in all aspects of patent litigation, including jury trials, bench trials, claim construction hearings, arbitrations and appeals.

Mr. Bloomberg’s experience ranges from representing an American-based international consumer product company in a landmark damages trial that resulted in a $925 million damages award, to representing a start-up satellite radio company that successfully launched its satellite radio service after designing around patents asserted by its competitor. He has represented clients in a number of technology areas, including computers, video games, telecommunication systems, electronic trading systems, business methods and medical devices, and has substantial experience representing clients in connection with patent damages and injunctive remedies. Mr. Bloomberg also has experience with patent litigation and counseling concerning a variety of products in the consumer electronics field, including personal computers, video monitors, satellite radios, cellular telephones and cameras.

Mr. Bloomberg also counsels clients in connection with various intellectual property issues and disputes. He has evaluated potential infringement and validity of patents, developed strategies to redesign products to avoid infringement, assessed the merits, potential damages and potential injunctive relief for ongoing litigation in connection with diligence, and negotiated and prepared patent licenses, settlement agreements and purchase agreements.

Prior to joining Zuber Lawler & Del Duca, Mr. Bloomberg was a Partner at Ropes & Gray LLP.  Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Bloomberg worked in the Spacecraft Steering and Control Group at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, where he designed algorithms for the inertial guidance system of the MX Missile.

Vernon Dennis

Partner, Howard Kennedy

A highly experienced specialist in business transformation, Vernon has over 25 years’ experience designing and implementing financial recovery and restructuring plans for business clients and is Head of the Business Recovery and Reconstruction group at Howard Kennedy.  

Leading our specialist group of experts he utilises the full resources available from within the firm, whether tax, employment, banking or real estate to provide pragmatic and commercially driven solutions for clients. And where applicable, he works in collaboration with leading industry experts.

Known for his technical expertise, but for making the complex, simple, Vernon advises insolvency practitioners, creditors, and debtors on a wide range of corporate recovery, reconstruction, and business rescue issues, both domestically and cross-border. He specialises in strategic and advisory support for company boards when planning programmes of business turnaround, restructuring, or transformation.

He has extensive experience in retail and restaurant distress, property portfolio restructuring, and cases known for their technical complexity.

Vernon is a Fellow of R3 (The Association of Business Recovery Professionals). A regular lecturer and commentator on insolvency, he is author of The New Law of Insolvency (2003), Insolvency Law Handbook (1st Ed 2005; 2nd Ed 2007 and 3rd Ed 2013), Administration (2010), Liquidation (2011), and Bankruptcy (2012). These have all been published by The Law Society.

2021 sees the fourth edition of his Insolvency Law Handbook published by The Law Society. This step-by-step guide carefully explains each of the main insolvency processes, highlighting the key decisions to be made, the options available and the potential pitfalls. The handbook continues to act as an essential asset for professionals called upon to advise debtors faced with personal or corporate insolvency, or their creditors.

If you would like to purchase the book, please visit The Law Society Bookshop.

Ben Bidnell

Principal, Shipleys LLP

Ben looks after the audit and accounting requirements of fast growing entrepreneurial businesses, which often need to draw on his corporate finance experience to move forward effectively. His expertise in this area includes financial and commercial due diligence, both for business owners contemplating an acquisition and lenders looking at a borrowing request, debt finance and restructuring and advising on the process of floating on markets such as AIM and Plus.

Anthony Turner

Partner, Farrer & Co

Anthony is a partner in the Corporate team.  He advises both corporate and individual clients on the full range of company law and corporate transactions including acquisitions and disposals, restructurings, equity investments and joint ventures. Anthony is a member of the firm's International Private Wealth group and has particular experience advising trusts and trustees on corporate matters.  Anthony also advises on admissions and fundraisings on AIM.

Anthony is recommended by Legal 500 as a corporate lawyer. He is an editor of the Butterworths Corporate Law Service and is the author of a chapter on the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007. Anthony is a member of the Legal Committee of the Quoted Companies Alliance and he regularly lectures on company and corporate law matters.

Konstantin Kudryavtsev

Crypto Developer and ex-Parity Tech

Konstantin is an ex-Ethereum, ex-Parity Tech. crypto developer, community manager, trader and angel investor.  After achieving an MSc High Performance Computing alumni at Edinburgh University, Konstantin got involved in the Bitcoin scene in 2013 and later joined the Ethereum project as a developer and a community manager. After Ethereum, he helped build Parity Technologies (formerly EthCore) from it's earliest days leading the DevOps team and hiring.  After 2017 he became a full-time trader and investor with a main focus on emerging crypto markets and decentralised finance.

Walter Andreoni

Partner, Mercanti e Associati

Walter Andreoni joined the Studio as a partner in 2017 and deals with all areas of tax law, including in particular corporation taxation, international taxation, transfer prices and Community VAT.

After completing his degree in Economics at the University of Turin, Walter specializes in attending Master's (LL.M.) International Tax Law at the University of Leiden, Netherlands and has worked for several years with Studio Maisto e Associati.

He is a lecturer in primary post-university specialization courses on international taxation issues, author of tax publications and rapporteur at national and international conferences.

Matteo Rapinesi

Senior Partner, LAWP

Matteo Rapinesi is a Partner at LAWP.  His practice mainly focuses on international tax law. He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint-ventures, corporate finance transaction as well as in estate and succession planning. He is also involved in real estate transactions.

Author of publications on commercial and tax law, Matteo is the co-author of the Italian chapter of the volume International Tax Systems and Planning Techniques published by Sweet & Maxwell.

Lecturer at the postgraduate Master courses in Taxation and Business Law organized by Il Sole 24 Ore Business School.

Matteo is also a member to the scientific committee for the Scuola di Alta Formazione delle Tre Venezie.

Peter Fairchild

Partner, Smith & Williamson

Peter deals with tax planning and compliance for professional sportspeople and acts for several Premiership footballers, cricketers, rugby union players, boxers, Formula 1 racing drivers and the current world footgolf champion, in many cases acting as the client’s closest and most trusted advisor. He works alongside sports agents and specialist sports lawyers to provide an all-round service.

Peter also advises entrepreneurs and non-UK domiciled individuals on residence and remittance matters. He is experienced in HMRC tax investigation and enquiry work.

James Dolan

Partner, Corporate Tax, Blick Rothenberg

James joined Blick Rothenberg in April 2017 as an International Tax partner.  He has over 15 years’ experience in advising on international tax matters across a range of industries and sectors including the technology, life sciences and consumer products sectors.

Prior to joining Blick Rothenberg, James was part of the International Tax team at EY in London and New York.

He's particularly experienced in advising US parented groups establish UK and European operations and on international tax and transfer pricing relevant to US parented groups.

Jonathan Riley

Partner, Memery Crystal

Jonathan Riley handles commercial law and commercial contracts work.  His focus is on project structuring, management and delivery, including shareholders' agreements, joint ventures, partnering, collaborations, R&D contracts, outsourcing and service agreements, supply contracts and terms of business.

He also advises on related areas of law including agency, distribution, licensing, franchising, sponsorship, merchandising, e-commerce, and related regulatory areas including data protection, anti-bribery, and consumer protection.  He is also highly experienced in managing and exploiting intellectual property rights, particularly in the technology, brands and media sectors.

Jonathan is well used to implementing tax-driven structures and commercial arrangements usually multi-jurisdictional or with a cross-border element.

Jonathan has a strong international client base, with a particular focus on North America and Europe.

Arjun Chopra

Head of Private Capital, Investec

Andy Peterkin

Partner, Farrer & Co

Andy is a well-regarded partner in our Financial Services team. He undertakes a wide range of general financial services work, as well as advising on fund formation and operation and securities law issues. His broad range of clients include asset managers, investment fund managers, non-financial sector institutions and private banks.

Andy's focus is on the establishment, management and winding up of investment funds, advising on the regulatory aspects of the sale and purchase of regulated firms. Non-financial sector institutions such as charities, universities and schools turn to him for advice on the impact of financial services legislation on their businesses. He also advises issuers and investors on securities regulation.

He has particular expertise in advising investment fund managers on the impact of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), including, capital requirements, leverage, relationships with administrators, depositaries and fund marketing. He also regularly advises private banks, investment managers and fund managers on general Conduct of Business issues including the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and FCA and PRA prudential requirements. He also advises on issues arising on the sale and purchase of regulated firms, including the FCA's Change in Control Regime.

Andy has a particular interest in fintech and has advised on the establishment of several fintech-based products and services. He also has significant expertise in advising on outsourcing arrangements in the financial services sector.

Andy has a strong knowledge of the issues that arise around capital-raising, with a focus on social investment, charities and education, and covering the scope of regulation, structuring and marketing. He often advises on note issues via the Model X note purchase agreement.