1. Sean Randall

    Sean Randall

    Owner, Sean Randall Tax

    Sean Randall

    Sean Randall

    Owner, Sean Randall Tax

    Biography:

    Sean is an independent specialist with 25 years of experience in stamp duty, including 20 years at two Big Four firms. He served as the head of UK stamp taxes at a Big Four firm for five years. Currently, he is the chair of the professional body of stamp duty practitioners, The Stamp Taxes Practitioners Group, which has over 220 members. In addition to his professional roles, Sean is the editor and author of the leading textbook Sergeant and Sims on Stamp Taxes, a position he has held since 2008. He also authored the Law Society’s SDLT Handbook: A Guide for Residential Conveyancers. Sean is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and a non-practising barrister. He also contributes to TolleyGuidance.

  2. David Heaton

    David Heaton

    Director at David Heaton Tax Ltd

    David Heaton

    David Heaton

    Director at David Heaton Tax Ltd

    Biography:

    David Heaton FCA CTA has specialised in employment taxes, national insurance (social security taxes) and tax investigations since the late 1980s. After senior positions in Big 4 firms and partnership for 13 years in a national firm, he became a sole practitioner in 2014.


    His main focuses are:

    • PAYE
    • employment status and temporary/agency workers
    • employee share incentives
    • share valuation for tax purposes
    • expatriate/migrant workers
    • tax investigations

    He was the original author and for many years the editor of CCH's British NIC Guide, but he is now the editor of Tolley's National Insurance and a contributor to Taxwise, Tolley's Tax Planning, Simon's Taxes and Taxline Tax Planning on employment taxes and NIC matters.


    As a lecturer for professional institutes and training businesses he is known for his down-to-earth and often irreverent style. He was briefly a member of HMRC's GAAR panel, invited because of his nationally recognised expertise in employment taxes, but he resigned after a press expose that revealed that he advised clients and fellow professionals as well as HMRC.


    He has chaired the ICAEW's Employment Taxes & NIC Committee for many years and is a past chairman of the Institute's Tax Faculty. He is also a member of two relevant technical sub-committees of the CIOT.

  3. Michael Beard

    Michael Beard

    Senior Manager at Smith & Williamson LLP

    Michael Beard

    Michael Beard

    Senior Manager at Smith & Williamson LLP

    Biography:

    I'm an international tax and transfer pricing specialist, working with a wide range of clients across all aspects of international corporate taxes.

    I joined Smith & Williamson as a graduate, and have experience ranging from fast growth FinTech companies, through to well established, global groups. I'm an active member within the Nexia International network, assisting multinationals with cross-border structuring, transactions, financing and transfer pricing.

  4. Rebecca Benneyworth

    Rebecca Benneyworth

    Lecturer at Rebecca Benneyworth Training Consultants

    Rebecca Benneyworth

    Rebecca Benneyworth

    Lecturer at Rebecca Benneyworth Training Consultants

    Biography:

    Rebecca is a Chartered Accountant in practice, but is best known as a lecturer and author on a variety of tax matters.

    She was named Best Tax Lecturer at the Taxation awards in 2007, and is widely recognised for her down to earth, practical approach to tax issues.

    She lectures for a wide range of training providers and professional firms and has delivered lectures for HMRC and HM Treasury on the impact of tax changes for smaller businesses.

    She serves on the Administrative Burdens Advisory Board which challenges HMRC on the subject of business burdens, and is currently Chair of the Digital Advisory Group which is supporting HMRC in understanding the needs of small businesses and their professional advisers in the move to digital.

    She has won a number of awards, including HMRC's External engagement award in 2011 and was awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list in 2012 for public service and services to the tax profession.

  5. Lisa Jane Harper

    Lisa Jane Harper

    Senior Tutor at Tolley

    Lisa Jane Harper

    Lisa Jane Harper

    Senior Tutor at Tolley

    Biography:

    Lisa-Jane joined Tolley in 2010 to write and lecture on corporate and international tax matters, with a particular focus on the papers for the Advanced Diploma in International Tax (ADIT) offered by the UK Chartered Institute of Taxation.

    A graduate from the University of St Andrews, Lisa-Jane completed her Masters Degree in Law at City University and went into private practice as a barrister (Lincoln's Inn) before training in tax with KPMG at their Tax Business School. Once qualfied as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) Lisa-Jane worked as a tax lawyer in the City, undertaking predominantly cross-border transaction work and banking, before joining EY in 2004 to work offshore in the Channel Islands. Whilst working there she sat the ADIT exams and gained her international tax diploma.

    When Lisa-Jane moved back to London she decided to use her overseas experience by teaching the Principles of International Tax, Transfer Pricing, UK and European Union options for the ADIT qualification, as well as the AT TOMC and APS TOLC papers for the CTA exams. Lisa-Jane also writes for the Tolley Corporation Tax Annual.

  6. Justin Cobb

    Justin Cobb

    Associate Director at Frank Hirth Plc

    Justin Cobb

    Justin Cobb

    Associate Director at Frank Hirth Plc

    Biography:

    Justin is an Associate Director in the UK specialist team at Frank Hirth plc, the leading independent US and UK tax specialists. Justin advises both UK and non-domiciled high net worth individuals on all aspects of their UK taxation position with particular focus on pre-arrival planning, remittance planning, and residency and domicile issues; this includes the use of offshore trusts and the tax effects for UK resident settlors and beneficiaries.

  7. Jonathan Coletta, BA FCA CTA

    Jonathan Coletta, BA FCA CTA

    Head of Leeds Centre / Tutor at Tolley

    Jonathan Coletta, BA FCA CTA

    Jonathan Coletta, BA FCA CTA

    Head of Leeds Centre / Tutor at Tolley

    Biography:

    Jonathan joined the Exam Training team at Tolley in July 2015 and teaches on courses across all of the tax qualifications and is Head of Leeds Centre.

    Jonathan trained as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with Hodgson Harris in Hull, qualifying in 1986 and 1988 and then moved into training.

    He was a regular speaker for the Government Finance Profession Senior Conference and delivered bespoke courses for clients in industry.

    He also presents seminars regularly and delivers tailored training sessions to clients, as well as writing for a variety of publications.

    Jonathan is an enthusiastic and competitive tennis player, but alas not very good, he is also a devout skier. Desperate to find a cheaper sport he has rather naively taken up scuba diving and golf.

  8. Giovanni Faria Milet Brandao

    Giovanni Faria Milet Brandao

    Attorney at Law at Andersen Ballão Advocacia

    Giovanni Faria Milet Brandao

    Giovanni Faria Milet Brandao

    Attorney at Law at Andersen Ballão Advocacia

    Biography:

    Giovanni is an attorney at a top-tier law firm, specializing in tax litigation and consultancy. With extensive experience in both personal and corporate taxation, he has been a key member of the tax department at Andersen Ballão since 2019, where he has continuously expanded his portfolio by assisting multinational enterprises.

    Giovanni's expertise encompasses tax compliance for corporations and family offices, with a strong focus on resolving complex tax litigation cases before the Brazilian Tax Authorities. His experience spans a wide range of areas, including income tax assessments, the collection of state and municipal taxes on services and property, as well as international tax planning.

    An emerging author in tax law, Giovanni has crafted numerous legal opinions for individuals and corporations around the world, always employing innovative thinking and a problem-solving approach. He also serves as a guest lecturer in tax law at a university in Brazil.

    As a partner at Andersen Ballão, Giovanni is dedicated to fostering networking opportunities and supporting the technical growth and development of young professionals in the legal field.

  9. Steve York

    Steve York

    Director at PKF Francis Clark

    Steve York

    Steve York

    Director at PKF Francis Clark

    Biography:

    Steve is a private client tax director with PKF Francis Clark, with over 25 years' experience in advising private clients on wide range of tax matters.

    Steve has a particular focus on advising property owners as well as on capital gains tax and inheritance tax planning, complex tax compliance for individuals and trusts, residency matters and stamp duty land tax.

    Steve has presented at a number of events including for property investors, furnished holiday letting operators and solicitors. He has contributed to a number of specialist tax publications including Tolley's Capital Gains Tax Planning.

    Steve is a member of the ATT (Fellow) and CIOT.

  10. Helen Cuthbert

    Helen Cuthbert

    Senior Tax Manager at James Cowper Kreston

    Helen Cuthbert

    Helen Cuthbert

    Senior Tax Manager at James Cowper Kreston

    Biography:

    Helen Cuthbert is a Senior Tax Manager in the Private Client Team.

    Helen specialises in International Private Client Tax matters. Helen assists international individuals moving to the UK; advising on residence, the remittance basis of taxation and remittance planning. In addition, Helen advises UK resident and domiciled individuals leaving to spend time outside the UK.

    Helen joined James Cowper Kreston in 2013 and advises a varied portfolio of International and UK based clients. Helen gained extensive experience in Big 4 and Top 10 firms, together with a number of years spent as a tax tutor preparing candidates for the Institute professional exams. Helen is experienced in a wide range of taxation issues including; income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, enveloped property and pre-arrival remittance planning. Helen has a particular interest in the UK taxation of offshore trusts including inheritance tax issues, capital gains tax deferral and the transfer of assets abroad.

  11. Julian Hickey

    Julian Hickey

    Barrister at Exchequer Chambers

    Julian Hickey

    Julian Hickey

    Barrister at Exchequer Chambers

    Biography:

    Julian is a barrister at Exchequer Chambers, part of The Barrister Group (www.exchequerchambers.com). He was called to the Bar in 1995 and he has been a partner with major City and West End solicitors’ practices. Julian specialises in disputes that arise from any tax or tax-related matter. His practice covers all areas of tax, including corporate, international, employment, private client, VAT, SDLT, Stamp Taxes, and customs and excise duty; together with areas concerning professional negligence and judicial review. He acts as an advocate and in an advisory capacity and has appeared both on his own and as part of a team in a wide variety of cases in the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, High Court and Court of Appeal (some of which have been live streamed). He represents taxpayers and HMRC. He has a Ph.D in tax (awarded by the University of London); and he has written and lectured extensively on tax issues. For further information please see taxbarrister.com. He also contributes to Tolley's "A Practical Guide to Tax Disputes".

  12. Rory Mullan KC

    Rory Mullan KC

    Barrister at Old Square Tax Chambers

    Rory Mullan KC

    Rory Mullan KC

    Barrister at Old Square Tax Chambers

    Biography:

    Rory Mullan KC is a barrister specialising in revenue law. He advises individuals, trustees and companies on a wide range of taxation matters. He also represents taxpayers in disputes before the Tax Tribunals and Courts.

    Rory contributes to Tolley's Property Taxation.

  13. Sampath Munasinghe

    Sampath Munasinghe

    Director - Tax at B.R De Silva & Co, Chartered Accountants

    Sampath Munasinghe

    Sampath Munasinghe

    Director - Tax at B.R De Silva & Co, Chartered Accountants

    Biography:

    Mr. Sampath Munasinghe FTII, CTA. He is a Fellow member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Taxation and Chartered Tax Advisor (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka). He is experienced in tax planning and tax administration, preparation of personal, corporate, and other entities tax returns and computations. He is experienced in preparation of advice in relation to international and local taxation to ensure compliance with statutory tax obligations, consultation on tax matters, handling tax matters relating to corporate and personal tax with the Department of Inland Revenue and participating in summarizing the budget highlights to be circulated among the clients.

     
     
  14. Richard Coombs

    Richard Coombs

    Tax Partner at Bates Weston Tax Advisory Ltd

    Richard Coombs

    Richard Coombs

    Tax Partner at Bates Weston Tax Advisory Ltd

    Biography:

    Richard has been in practice for over 25 years, originally specialising in corporate tax for large corporates and multinationals but has spent most of his career devoted to looking after the interests of UK owner manager businesses, their owners and their wider families.  He has carved out a reputation for making complicated concepts of taxation understandable for his clients. This is a skill he has put to good use in co-authoring Tolley’s Tax Planning For Owner Managed Businesses 2020-21, with his colleagues Craig Simpson and Cassandra Graham at Bates Weston Tax Advisory Ltd.

  15. Karen Cooper

    Karen Cooper

    Partner at CooperCavendish LLP

    Karen Cooper

    Karen Cooper

    Partner at CooperCavendish LLP

    Biography:

    Karen is an experienced employee benefits lawyer with more than 20 years' experience in advising companies of all sizes in relation to their employee benefit and remuneration issues. She trained and worked for leading law firms Baker McKenzie LLP and Linklaters LLP and spent three years as a remuneration consultant at Ernst & Young LLP. Prior to co-founding Cooper Cavendish, Karen headed up Osborne Clarke LLP's employee benefit practice for 15 years.


    Karen is a thought-leader and regularly speaks and presents at industry conferences and events. She is a member of the Small Quoted Companies Alliance Share Scheme Committee and the Share Plan Lawyers Organisation. Karen is also the author of a wide range of legal publications including the chapter on executive remuneration in Sweet & Maxwell's 'Corporate Governance', the chapter on employee share schemes in Jordan's Company Administration and she contributes regularly to Tax Journal, and Practical Law (PLC). She is ranked as a leading individual on employees share schemes in Chambers and Partners and was recognised in the 2015 International Tax Review Women in Tax Leaders (a comprehensive guide to the world's leading female tax advisers).

  16. Karen Eckstein

    Karen Eckstein

    Solicitor at Karen Eckstein Ltd

    Karen Eckstein

    Karen Eckstein

    Solicitor at Karen Eckstein Ltd

    Biography:

    Karen is a solicitor, as well as being a CTA, with 30 years' experience in defending claims against accountants. In that time she saw where claims commonly arose and developed a good understanding of risk, and that led her to writing a well-regarded book on risk management for accountants and tax advisers, and to ultimately passing the Institute of Risk Management exams.

    Karen then set up her own business advising professionals on how to manage risk in their own businesses, giving advice in a practical and pragmatic way, to help people avoid the traps that so many unwary have fallen into over the years.

    She is a popular and regular speaker at industry events on risk issues, and has set up a 'RiskBites(c) club' to help people with a risk helpline and monthly risk training and discussions.

  17. Sebastian Vicuna

    Sebastian Vicuna

    Manager | Head of Legal and Compliance Services at PKF Chile

    Sebastian Vicuna

    Sebastian Vicuna

    Manager | Head of Legal and Compliance Services at PKF Chile

    Biography:

    Sebastián Vicuña is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience in the field of tax law, international tax law, corporate law, and regulatory compliance. He has a deep understanding of these areas, as well as a strong commitment to ensuring that his clients are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

    He is highly skilled in the areas of corporate formation and structure, mergers and acquisitions, tax consulting, legal advisory, and regulatory compliance. He works closely with his clients to understand their needs and to develop strategies that help them achieve their goals while minimizing risk.

    He has been a lecturer in different academic programs and training courses for different universities and other public and private institutions.

    He's the editor of LCP's weekly Pensions Bulletin and undertakes other technical writing for the firm.

    Sebastian is the author of the Chile country guide for Tolley’s Global Mobility/Employment Taxes.

  18. 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.