1. Sam Thomas

    Sam Thomas

    Barrister at 2 Bedford Row

    Sam Thomas

    Sam Thomas

    Barrister at 2 Bedford Row

    Biography:

    Sam is a tenant at the Chambers of Brian Altman QC and Jim Sturman QC, 2 Bedford Row.

    His practice encompasses advice and advocacy in relation to Financial Crime, Regulatory Compliance and Cyber Law. He has a particular expertise in defending cases of a complex and high profile nature, often with an international aspect. This includes multi-jurisdictional allegations relating to money laundering, corruption, and bribery. Sam has provided advice in relation to investigations undertaken by the SFO, FCA, HMRC, TPR, ICO and the US Department of Justice.

    As an author, Sam has written extensively on the civil and criminal aspects of cyber law, and has utilised this knowledge to advise, individuals and corporates, on the interrelation between the online environment and traditional financial structures.

    He is ranked as a leading junior barrister in the Legal 500.

     
     
  2. Ventsislav Vassilev

    Ventsislav Vassilev

    Senior Partner at PKF Bulgaria & Rex Consulting

    Ventsislav Vassilev

    Ventsislav Vassilev

    Senior Partner at PKF Bulgaria & Rex Consulting

    Biography:

    Ventsislav (Venzi) Vassilev is the Senior Strategist and founder of PKF Bulgaria and has a strong background and experience in the accountancy and tax consultancy sector. Mr Vassilev is a graduate of the University of Bristol in the UK in Economics and Accounting and started his career with Arthur Andersen & Co in the early 90s. Then in 1995 he founded Rex Consulting - a fast growing group of consultancy companies in Bulgaria which in 2014  joined the network of PKF International.

    Venzi Vassilev has extensive experience in consulting and assisting foreign investors in Bulgaria. He leads a team of multilingual professional accountants, lawyers, financiers, business experts and administrative assistants. Under his leadership the team has created a company culture of a welcoming and informal atmosphere which is combined with a strong commitment to the client's business.

    Currently PKF Bulgaria and the Rex Consulting group of companies have four offices in Bulgaria (Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Bansko); all of the offices are registered as separate entities. Rex Consulting Ltd also has a subsidiary in London  that specializes in asset management.

    Mr Vassilev has been retired from his CEO position  since 2019 and remains the chairman of the supervisory board of the Rex Consulting Group. He continues to advise the firm's key clients on various strategic investment and financial issues.

  3. Robert Neeve

    Robert Neeve

    Senior Tax Tutor, Tolley

    Robert Neeve

    Robert Neeve

    Senior Tax Tutor, Tolley

    Biography:

    Robert qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1979 with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co and decided to specialise in tax. Late in 1980 he left to join Financial Training in Newcastle teaching tax at all levels plus a few other topics for good measure.

    After a few years he decided to go back into the profession firstly as a Senior Tax Manager with EY and later as a Group Tax Manager with Pannell Kerr Forster. Both firms made good use of Robert’s outstanding lecturing ability involving him in both local and national in-house training and client seminars.

    In 1992 Robert set up on his own; providing accounting services and tax advice to local professionals, individuals and companies. It was not long before his lecturing skills were called upon again for both exam based training and CPD lectures. By 2000 Robert was in such demand as a freelancer he had to fully focus on lecturing and could take with him the invaluable experience of being in practice.

    Until it was discontinued in 2006 Robert ran the entire CTA residential course at Reed College enjoying much success and several prizewinners: made more rewarding because most students were from small regional firms. Robert continues to teach students at various levels for different tax examination bodies both in the UK and in Europe as well as writing and delivering CPD lectures in the UK.

  4. Ronnie Pannu

    Ronnie Pannu

    Regional Leader PwC Tax Dispute Resolution Network at PwC

    Ronnie Pannu

    Ronnie Pannu

    Regional Leader PwC Tax Dispute Resolution Network at PwC

    Biography:

    Ronnie is regarded as one of the UKs leading tax dispute specialists. Over the last 25 years Ronnie has specialised in the field of HMRC investigations and tax dispute resolution working alongside a broad range of clients, both corporate and personal. He has successfully assisted his clients to resolve a wide range of investigations, enquiries, disputes and disclosures and has built up an enviable reputation of obtaining some great results.

    More recently Ronnie has worked extensively in the sports industry where he has represented a number of leading sports clubs and professionals to resolve their outstanding issues with HMRC. He is regarded as a specialist in the area of the taxation of image right payments and has recently authored the relevant chapter in the latest edition of Sport: Law and Practice (Lewis Taylor).

    Ronnie is a regular lecturer at national tax investigations conferences and is one of a handful of Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) accredited mediators operating in the UK tax market.

    Prior to joining PwC Ronnie spent several years as a tax inspector with HMRC. He was seconded back to HMRC in 2011 where he worked with a team of senior HMRC policy officials on the Review of Tax Disputes. The outcome of this review led to, amongst other things, the publication of updated guidance on HMRCs Litigation and Settlement Strategy and the commencement of HMRC pilots on the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods to resolve outstanding tax disputes.

  5. Nathalie Varga

    Nathalie Varga

    Tax Advisor at PKF Österreicher & Partner GmbH & Co KG Wirtschaftsprüfung und Steuerberatung

    Nathalie Varga

    Nathalie Varga

    Tax Advisor at PKF Österreicher & Partner GmbH & Co KG Wirtschaftsprüfung und Steuerberatung

    Biography:

    Nathalie Varga is a managing director at PKF Österreicher & Partner GmbH & Co KG and advises companies of various sizes and sectors on all tax and business management issues. Since passing the tax advisor exam in 2016, she has also specialised in VAT issues.

    She professionally advises clients on a daily basis on all domestic and international VAT issues, while always keeping an eye on other tax topics as well. In addition to VAT, Nathalie is also an expert in the field of group taxation.

  6. David Missen

    David Missen

    Partner at Larking Gowen

    David Missen

    David Missen

    Partner at Larking Gowen

    Biography:

    David is a former partner in, and consultant to Larking Gowen, based in East Anglia, specialising in agriculture and associated private client work. He is a founder member and past chairman of the ICAEW Farming and Rural Business Community and the group’s subject matter expert. Since retiring from practice David continues his involvement with agriculture, both as a speaker at training conferences and as a farmer in his own right.

  7. Adam Craggs

    Adam Craggs

    Partner at RPC LLP

    Adam Craggs

    Adam Craggs

    Partner at RPC LLP

    Biography:

    Adam is a partner and head of the Tax Disputes Resolution team at RPC LLP. He is an accredited mediator who advises on a wide range of contentious tax issues (direct and indirect), including HMRC enquiries and tax litigation. He also provides advice and assistance in cases of alleged tax fraud.


    Adam has over thirty years’ experience in the contentious tax field, 16 years of which was spent at the Solicitor’s Office of HMRC. He has provided legal assistance in a large number of high-profile cases and has conducted litigation before the Tax Tribunals through to the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union. He also has extensive experience of conducting group litigation and public law challenges by way of judicial review proceedings.


    Adam writes and lectures widely on tax matters and is the author of a number of guidance notes written for Tolley's Online Guidance and PLC. He also contributes to Tolley's Practical Guide to Tax Disputes, and regularly writes for Tax Journal and Taxation.

  8. Shanzé Shah

    Shanzé Shah

    Barrister at Old Square Tax Chambers

    Shanzé Shah

    Shanzé Shah

    Barrister at Old Square Tax Chambers

    Biography:

    Shanzé has recently joined Old Square Tax Chambers as a barrister advising in all areas of tax. Shanzé has worked on various income tax and corporation tax matters. She has also worked on issues involving SDLT, VAT and domicile. She contributes to Tolley's Tax Planning.

  9. Mike Dalton

    Mike Dalton

    Tax Director - Real Estate and Stamp Taxes Grant Thornton UK LLP

    Mike Dalton

    Mike Dalton

    Tax Director - Real Estate and Stamp Taxes Grant Thornton UK LLP

    Biography:

    I am responsible for the delivery of Stamp Taxes advice across the UK firm to all types of client from private individuals to large corporate groups I also provide advice to large corporate, not for profit and public sector clients on a wide range of tax matters, particularly in relation to Real Estate matters and business reconstructions. I have been with Grant Thornton for over 13 years, an have over 17 years experience in Stamp Taxes. I also have significant experience in both urban regeneration and in Public / Private transactions involving property, having advised housing associations, house builders and local and central government.


    Sector experience

    • Property taxation
    • Housing
    • SDLT
    • Public/private transactions
    • Business reconstructions

    Professional qualifications and memberships

    • PhD
    • ACA
    • CTA
    • Stamp Taxes Practitioner's Group
  10. Richard Dew

    Richard Dew

    Barrister at Corporate at 10 Old Square

    Richard Dew

    Richard Dew

    Barrister at Corporate at 10 Old Square

    Biography:

    Richard Dew's practice is a barrister, whose practice is focused on Wills, Estates and Trusts and related professional negligence. His practice is predominantly litigation, and he is frequently involved in large and complex claims. He also advises and represents in Court of Protection matters and provides expert advice in respect of tax and tax planning (principally capital taxation). Chambers UK 2014 describe him as having "superb powers of analysis," and that he "instantly impresses with his intellect. He is excellent with clients and is just as capable on his feet as when handling the paperwork." Previous editions say he is  a "'superb junior,' who combines strong academic credentials … with a flair for litigation and ADR". He is a member of STEP and ACTAPS. He is an author of Parker's Will Precedents and of Tolley's IHT Planning as well as a contributor to numerous books and articles.

  11. Catherine McGovern

    Catherine McGovern

    Tax Partner at PKF O'Connor Leddy and Holmes

    Catherine McGovern

    Catherine McGovern

    Tax Partner at PKF O'Connor Leddy and Holmes

    Biography:

    Catherine is a Tax Partner with PKF O’Connor Leddy & Holmes Ltd and leads the VAT Department.Catherine has advised both domestic and international clients and work closely with foreign tax advisers to deliver VAT advice. Catherine and her team, devise solutions and provide their clients with comprehensive VAT advice enabling them to realise the full tax implications of the transaction.


    Catherine has advised and delivered CPD lectures on business VAT transactions, VAT on property, structuring property transactions, and Brexit VAT considerations. She worked closely with the SFA on their business strategy document ‘A Supportive Tax Environment for Small Firms’.


    Catherine is a contributing author to the Republic of Ireland country guide in Tolley's Global VAT.

  12. Austin Flynn

    Austin Flynn

    Head of Corporate at Morton Fraser LLP

    Austin Flynn

    Austin Flynn

    Head of Corporate at Morton Fraser LLP

    Biography:

    I am a Partner at Morton Fraser, based in Edinburgh, and I head the firm's Corporate Division. I am dual-qualified (Scotland and England/Wales), having practised in England for seven years before moving to Scotland and becoming Scots qualified in 1999.

    I am a former winner of the Law Awards of Scotland's 'Corporate Lawyer of the Year' award and my corporate and commercial practice mainly advises owner-managed SMEs, with particular expertise in private equity/angel investment (advising investees as well as investors), company share/asset sales and purchases, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, contractual commercial matters (agency, distribution and franchising etc), IP, IT and data protection.

    Since 2011, my team has advised the winners of the Converge Challenge, an annual competition run by Heriot-Watt University to support the next generation of research entrepreneurs in Scotland. I am also a member of Heriot-Watt University's Innovation Advisory Group and Morton Fraser's Management Board.

  13. Yuliia Yaniv

    Yuliia Yaniv

    Head of Tax & Legal

    Yuliia Yaniv

    Yuliia Yaniv

    Head of Tax & Legal

    Biography:

    "With over 10 years of experience in the legal and audit field, Yuliia Yaniv specialises in providing expert consultations on tax and law matters, including commercial, civil, corporate, contractual, banking, labor, and other branches of Ukrainian law. Has advised both domestic and international clients, helping them navigate complex legal frameworks and mitigate risks in various sectors.

    As a part of PKF team is committed to delivering high-quality legal support, combining extensive expertise with a practical, results-oriented approach.

    A graduate with a Master's degree in Law, offers tailored legal solutions for businesses and individuals, ensuring compliance with Ukrainian regulations and helping clients achieve their strategic goals.

    Also regularly contributes to professional publications and holds training sessions for legal and business professionals on key tax and legal updates and practices."

  14. Jayne Stokes

    Jayne Stokes

    Associate Director, ForrestBrown Limited

    Jayne Stokes

    Jayne Stokes

    Associate Director, ForrestBrown Limited

    Biography:

    Jayne advises businesses on R&D tax relief and tax disputes and has worked across a range of sectors, including marine, pharmaceuticals, defence and aerospace. Combining an academic background in science with Big Four accounting experience in the UK and Middle East, Jane has a track record of successfully navigating complex HMRC tax enquiries.

  15. Florentina Susnea

    Florentina Susnea

    Managing Partner at PKF Finconta SRL

    Florentina Susnea

    Florentina Susnea

    Managing Partner at PKF Finconta SRL

    Biography:

    Florentina Susnea is a PKF Finconta partner, with over 26 years of experience in the tax field, collaborating with a large number of clients in various fields of activity.

    Her professional experience includes: statutory audit and IFRS, tax consulting, tax residency issues, financial and tax restructuring, documentation and Transfer Pricing policies, mergers and divisions, judicial, accounting and tax expertise, procurement due diligence.

    She collaborates with other members of PKF International Limited companies to provide a more holistic approach to advising on cross-border customer taxation.

    She is an accredited member of the following professional organizations: Chamber of Fiscal Consultants, Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania, Chamber of Experts and Certified Accountants of Romania.

    She also has a PhD in economics and has attended numerous national and international courses in the field of taxation.

  16. Dean Wootten

    Dean Wootten

    Director at Wootten Consultants Limited

    Dean Wootten

    Dean Wootten

    Director at Wootten Consultants Limited

    Biography:

    Dean Wootten has been involved in tax training for many years and lectures on a wide variety of tax matters. Dean started his career as a Chartered Accountant, qualifying with Grant Thornton in 1988. Dean then spent two years overseas with KPMG before returning to a medium sized provincial firm in Sussex. Shortly after returning to the UK Dean qualified as an Associate of the Institute of Taxation in 1991.

    Whilst in practice Dean gained valuable experience including five years at partner level. The experience gained enables Dean to focus his lecturing on the practical aspects of the issues presented.

    Together with Chris Jones, Dean was a founder director of Online Tutors Limited, a company specialising in providing online CPD training. The company is responsible for the tax and accounting CPD update service at www.tolleyseminars.com, the tax learning product Tolley's Tax Tutor and the quarterly Tolley's VAT Update.

    Dean is also the senior lecturer on the CTA VAT route at Tolley's and the EU VAT paper on the ADIT international tax exams.

    Dean is a regular contributor to Taxation magazine where his articles have got a reputation for providing clear practical advice.

    In 2014 Dean worked with the Bahamian Government in preparation for the introduction of VAT in the Bahamas from 1 January 2015

    Trading as Wootten Consultants, Dean and Mike Thexton provide VAT consultancy advice to practitioners throughout the UK. Dean and Mike are uniquely placed to provide practical VAT advice to practitioners and clients in a very clear manner.

  17. Chris Jones

    Chris Jones

    Former President of the CIOT and Director of Tax Division, LexisNexis UK

    Chris Jones

    Chris Jones

    Former President of the CIOT and Director of Tax Division, LexisNexis UK

    Biography:

    Chris Jones, chairman of Tolley tax publishing and former CIOT president, passed away suddenly in November 2017, aged only 50.

    A popular and well respected figure in the tax world, Chris started his professional life by training to be an accountant but he soon switched to tax. After a spell as a tax adviser working for PKF in Luton, Chris became a tax lecturer and gained a strong reputation for his accomplished and entertaining style. ‘He brought huge energy and passion to his teaching and an infectious love for the subject which he conveyed to everybody in the room,’ said one of his contemporaries. ‘He was always in great demand and rightly so,’ said another. ‘Many people can thank Chris for having helped them achieve their professional qualification.’

    During his time as a lecturer, Chris worked for a wide range of CPD providers, and he was a director and co-owner of Online Tutors. On the sale of that business to publisher LexisNexis in 2003, Chris joined the group to run its tax exam and CPD training wing. Under his stewardship, the business thrived, becoming the leading player in the UK tax professional qualifications market.

    Promotion followed in 2009 when Chris became director of tax markets with responsibility for the UK tax publishing portfolio, and he was subsequently appointed to the firm's UK senior leadership team. ‘To say he reinvigorated our business would be huge understatement,’ said one colleague. He restored the Tolley name as the brand for its tax business; he introduced an online research platform specifically for tax professionals; and he masterminded the development of a new and popular practical guidance service.

    Chris was appointed chairman of Tolley in April 2017. During his 14 years with LexisNexis, Chris ‘transformed tax markets with his dynamic leadership, entrepreneurial flair and ebullient personality’.

    Chris also played an active role in the wider tax profession. He joined the Association of Taxation Technicians and the Chartered Institute of Taxation, where he volunteered and served on the councils of both professional bodies.

    Such was the high esteem in which Chris was held, he was elected president of the CIOT for the year 2015/16. ‘Chris very much set the tone for officers when he became president,’ said a fellow former president. ‘His focus was on working as a team, rather than as a single individual.’

    Chris believed the profession had a crucial role to play in making the tax system work, and he thought the institute should be a ‘critical friend’ to HMRC and government. He served a momentous term, heading the tax profession in times of great change. In response to a ministerial challenge over tax avoidance, Chris was heavily involved in the development of the new professional code in relation to taxation, working closely with the major tax and accountancy bodies as well as HMRC and government. ‘Chris took the lead in concluding that it was vitally important for the profession to remain in control of our standards, and then worked closely with tax policy director John Cullinane, the ICAEW and the other professional bodies to deliver a new bar.’

    Chris joined had CIOT council in 2004 and was due to retire in 2019, but council resolved to extend his term to 2021 to enable him to serve as chair of the Institute’s Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, and he served as its vice chair from May 2017.

    In addition, he helped to launch the Institute’s New Tax Professionals initiative; he became a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers; and he was appointed to HMRC’s Taxpayers’ Charter Advisory Committee.

    Outside of work, Chris enjoyed a wonderfully fulfilled family life with his civil partner Tom, their son Charlie and three dogs. The family liked whenever possible to escape to their Isle of Wight bolthole in Cowes, where Chris indulged his passion for jet skiing on the Solent.

    Music was also a big part of Chris’s life: he had an eclectic taste that encompassed everything from Paganini to Meatloaf, and he was particularly fond of Beethoven. A talented violinist at school, Chris played in both the Bedfordshire County and the Anglo-German Youth Orchestras.

    Chris was fiercely proud of his comprehensive state school education, as he felt it amply provided the foundation for anyone with the necessary drive and ambition to achieve, and he would cite the example of a classmate who excelled in a very different field – directing Hollywood blockbusters with Sylvester Stallone and Harvey Keitel – to illustrate his point. Chris studied industrial economics at Nottingham, where he also served as JCR president at Hugh Stewart Hall.

    On news of his sudden passing, friends and colleagues were quick to pay their respects. Chris was ‘as bouncy a character as it was possible to be’, and ‘always great fun to work with’. He was ‘supremely bright and engaging’ with ‘an incredible ability to see beyond himself and create opportunities for people’.

    But perhaps what set him apart most was that ‘he genuinely cared about the students, his colleagues and the profession. It’s no wonder he was so universally liked.'

  18. Claire Cairns

    Claire Cairns

    Tax Manager at Grant Thornton UK LLP

    Claire Cairns

    Claire Cairns

    Tax Manager at Grant Thornton UK LLP

    Biography:

    Claire Cairns is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, and is currently a corporation tax manager at Grant Thornton UK LLP.


    She advises entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses and large international groups on a wide range of tax issues.


    Claire has a keen interest in sustainability, and supports the tax lead for ESG at Grant Thornton. As part of this role, she became well versed in the Plastic Packaging Tax legislation and is helping clients nationally navigate the new tax.