Biography:

David Dorgan has established himself as one of the leading lawyers in Jersey combining strengths in private client and trusts, corporate and finance work.

He has a significant specialism in private and commercial trusts and foundations, focusing on providing technical advice on their establishment and on-going administration which is tailored for the practical and commercial requirements of clients. He has extensive experience of drafting bespoke and complex trust instruments and foundation regulations for high and ultra-high net worth individuals and families, preparing bespoke will trusts and providing documentation for SPV, philanthropy, charitable and non-charitable purposes.

David also has considerable experience in corporate and finance matters, in particular transactions involving trustees refinancing or selling and/or purchasing trust fund property and/or high net worth individuals or families entering into entrepreneurial ventures. He has also provided opinions to foreign courts, foreign revenue authorities and institutional lenders on complex issues relating to trust and corporate issues.

David is ranked by Chambers and Partners and Legal500 saying that he “is particularly timely in the delivery of his services, and has a keen technical and business acumen, ensuring advice is appropriate and cost-effective.” and that “He has a pragmatic and commercial approach on difficult matters and is very good at understanding the issues and coming up with reasonable solutions…His drafting is excellent and he can also liaise with other advisers and third parties with a good commercial view for the client.”

David graduated with a Master of Laws degree and qualified as a Jersey Solicitor in 2006, as a Jersey Advocate in 2008 and as a Jersey Notary Public in 2011. He is a member of the Jersey Finance Working Groups for Trusts, Foundations and Charities, is a full member of STEP and holds the Islamic Finance Qualification from CISI.

Biography:

Kiran specialises in executive remuneration and incentives matters.

Kiran advises on the establishment and operation of a wide range of cash and share-based incentive arrangements for both listed and private clients in the UK and globally.  She also works with clients on the remuneration aspects of executive recruitments and terminations and advises on corporate governance issues and compliance.

In addition, Kiran advises clients on the incentive plan aspects of transactions, including takeovers, IPOs, schemes of arrangement, rights issues, demergers and schemes of arrangement.

Kiran is a member of the Share Plan Lawyers group and of ProShare focus groups.  She is also a contributor to Revenue Law – Principles and Practice on the taxation of share plans.

Biography:

Briony advises on all aspects of UK employment law, acting for both employers and employees, and advising on both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Briony advises on litigation in the Employment Tribunal, including claims relating to unfair dismissal and discrimination. Briony also has experience in Data Subject Access Requests, preparing policies and staff handbooks, drafting contracts of employment and advising in relation to settlement agreements.

Biography:

I have worked in audit and assurance since 2009 and received my certification in 2014. I work mostly in audit and assurance but my responsibilities also include a lot of work with VAT, corporate tax, both international and domestic.

Biography:

Nora Matei is a Romanian lawyer as well as a registered foreign legal advisor with the Northern Ireland Law Society. She is one of the founding partners of BMA Legal – Bogoiu, Matei & Associates.

She has experience of practising law in Romania and abroad. Her extensive legal knowledge covers both civil law and court procedure.  She has advised on civil law matters, commercial law, family law, employment law, criminal law, tax dispute as well as data protection. With her extensive experience, she often supplies expert opinions on Romanian law and practise for use in foreign courts.

She has built an extensive practise providing advice to many clients on labour and employment issues as well as visa and immigration issues.  She advises clients in restructuring of their businesses to minimize the legal effect on the business and the employees.

She is an author of the Romania country guide in Tolley’s Global Mobility/Employment Taxes product.

Nora can be contacted at nora@bmalegal.ro.

Biography:

My goal is to help entrepreneurs grow their business in France and abroad by providing them financial, accounting and tax advice and solutions.

15+ years of experience in Finance, External & Internal Audit in a Big 4 Accounting Firm and Industry.

Experience in working with all management levels in cross cultural environments

spanning Asia, Americas, Europe, Middle-East & Africa.

Proven ability to demonstrate a comprehensive approach to resolve complex issues and to achieve targets / meet deadlines despite challenging situations.

Biography:

Emma advises on all aspects of employment law including unlawful discrimination, whistleblowing, equal pay, unfair dismissal, breach of contract, restrictive covenants, protecting confidential information, boardroom disputes and claims under TUPE. She has experience in obtaining and executing interim injunctions for breach of confidentiality and/or restrictive covenant provisions. She also leads diversity issues for Charles Russell Speechlys employment team.

With a strong record in negotiating and resolving complex employment disputes, Emma is considered a skilled deal broker. She is a specialist in contentious discrimination matters and has significant experience in handling high value contentious claims for employers and senior individuals. Emma acts for employers, employees and trade unions. Her client base is broad, both in terms of the range of work and the sectors in which they operate. Amongst these clients are a number of growing, dynamic businesses (including UK start-ups), as well as long established financial institutions, and senior executives.

Emma speaks regularly on diversity issues, edits the diversity sections of Lawtel Employment Precedents and Company Policy Documents and certain diversity sections of Tolley Guidance Employment Tax online, and regularly contributes to article in HR and legal publications as well as comments in the national press on diversity issues.

Experience

• Successfully defended a tribunal claim of race and religious discrimination against a household name private members club. Added complications arose as the matter was reported in the press before judgment was given. An appeal to the Employment Appeals Tribunal was rejected.
• Advised and represented a large London retailer in relation to a multi-discrimination employment tribunal complaint (direct, indirect, victimisation and harassment based on race and religion). The claim was complicated by the variety of allegations and the worker's status; there were three preliminary hearings before a full merits hearing was listed. There were also four named Respondents to the claim. Successfully settled the action for a nominal sum, with agreement that all allegations were retracted and not repeated despite the action continuing against the other Respondents.
• Advised and negotiated service agreements for the senior management team of the seller on a multimillion pound share sale of a UK business.
• A major legal victory for a pilot employed by a household name airline, in a landmark case against the airline for indirect age discrimination. The decision has industry-wide ramifications for airlines and other organisations which provide a combination of long-term permanent health insurance or similar income protection payments via third party and self-insurance.

Biography:

More than 18 years of experience in the analysis and preparation of financial information, providing advice and consulting on accounting, tax and financial matters; compliance with tax obligations, payroll preparation, tax recovery and representation before tax authorities. More than 10 years of experience in auditing and preparing federal, local and social security tax reports.

She has a degree in Accounting from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and a specialty in Senior Management from the same institution.

Biography:

Ros is a HR and payroll industry professional with over 30 years’ experience. Having fellow status of the CIPP, HEA and the CMI, as well as gaining individual chartered status with the CMI, she has proven experience within the strategic HR and payroll community, and from 2014 was elected to, and served as, a non-executive director on the CIPP board for almost 6 years, helping shape the future of the institute. Ros is also a member of the Reward 300 2021 as a ‘Knowledge and Professional Services Leader’.

Industry experience includes 12 years working in the HR and Payroll outsourcing industry, having previously worked for Ceridian, LogicaCMG, and NorthgateArinso in implementation, quality, consultancy, and strategic management roles. Additionally, Ros has extensive experience working as a consultant for her own organisation, assisting in-house payroll departments in improving processes and performance, implementing new HR, payroll, and expense systems, and merging payroll services into HR shared service centres. Ros also provides regular editing support and topical articles for some well-known industry publications.

Working with the CIPP for the last 19 years, Ros also tutors the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management, and the MSc in Payroll Management, and is a registered Payroll Assurance Scheme (PAS) assessor. An additional part of Ros’ role with the CIPP has included writing and developing material for the institute’s qualifications. Ros holds a high profile within the HR and payroll industry, becoming a finalist in the Payroll World Awards 2004, being awarded the IPP Payroll Employee of the Year award in 2007, and named in the Reward Strategy Reward 300 for the last 3 years, including being shortlisted for an individual award in 2020.

Biography:

Zoe Andrews is PSL Counsel and Head of Tax Knowledge at Slaughter and May. She has extensive experience of UK corporate tax and takes a special interest in international tax policy and developments. With her team, she supports all aspects of the firm’s tax practice.

Email: zoe.andrews@slaughterandmay.com; tel: 020 7090 5017

Biography:

Mike Thexton has been talking and writing about tax since passing the examinations of ICAEW in 1983 and CIOT in 1984. He currently spends his working time presenting regular VAT updates for the specialist staff of several large and medium-sized firms of accountants, writing the Quarterly Online VAT Update for LexisNexis, and providing tax and accountancy services to personal and small company clients.

Mike won the Taxation Magazine Tax Writer of the Year Award 2010 for his articles in the professional press, leaflets for the clients of accountancy firms and technical material on VAT. Among the pieces submitted to the judging panel were answers to Taxation magazine's Readers' Queries, concealed behind a mysterious pseudonym.

He has also published a book, "What happened to the hippy man?", about his experience at the centre of the hijacking of PanAm 073 in Karachi in September 1986. He is working on "VAT the heck!", a collection of weird and wonderful stories from the world of VAT, and looking for a publisher…

Biography:

Robert is an expert in UK employment tax matters for employers with UK based employees, including UK employees working overseas, and overseas employees coming to the UK. He has extensive experience of advising clients with regards to PAYE matters, employee benefits and social security as well as employment related payments outside the payroll functions such as termination settlements and payments to consultants and other non-payroll labour.

After graduating in Politics and Law from the University of Southampton, Robert started his tax career at HMRC as an employer compliance officer undertaking enquiries into employers' expenses and benefits systems before moving into a large international practice and then into the Big 4. Here he assisted with tax investigations, flexible benefits planning, employment tax compliance and international social security.

Robert has presented to various audiences and has had a number of articles published in various magazines on employment tax matters.

Robert is a fully qualified member of both the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CTA).

Biography:

As a member of the ICAEW and CIOT Nick specialises in technical corporate tax planning and company reorganisations advising on a variety of projects from mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts and demergers to venture capital schemes (EIS/SEIS) and employee incentives including share schemes.

Nick is a regular writer for various tax journals with articles published in Taxation, Tax Adviser and ICAEW Taxline. He also contributes to Tolley's Tax Planning.

Presenting regular lectures to fellow professionals through various CPD providers including MBL, CPDStore and a variety of CIOT branches.

Nick is host of the Jerroms Miller Tax Hour podcast.

Biography:

Marco Herrmann graduated as a Certified Tax Advisor (Steuerberater) in 2002 and then specialised in VAT consulting. For many years, he has headed the VAT department at the PKF Fasselt Partnerschaft mbB location in Cologne and is also a member of PKF's national and international Indirect Tax (VAT) Expert Working Group. His clients of various sizes and from a wide range of industries have in common that they have to deal with VAT matters with highest professional demands, on a daily basis. Also on a daily basis, clients receive advice from Marco and his team at the required high professional and practice-oriented level. The tasks include, not least, the organisation of coordinated appropriate VAT/GST advice worldwide by the many PKF VAT and GST experts around the world.

Biography:

Angela is an Associate Director at ForrestBrown and leads on the delivery of Patent Box relief claims for clients. She has more than a decade of experience with Big Four accounting and specialist R&D firms and is passionate about the benefits of Patent Box. Based in ForrestBrown’s Scotland office, Angela provides dedicated local support to ensure that Scottish businesses are maximising their reward for investment in innovation, as well as working with businesses across the UK.

Biography:

Stéphane Schwedes has more than 30 years of experience serving international clients in France from incorporation to large local businesses. He is a French chartered accountant and auditor (expert-comptable & commissaire aux comptes). Stéphane is German and French, and fluent in English.

Stéphane’s expertise is knowing how to explain to foreign entrepreneurs how to deal with French complexity and specificities.

Most of his experience was gained during 30 years at PwC of which he is a former partner.

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

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.

Biography:

Omar is working at the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) – a global Islamic finance standard setter, as its Secretary General. Previously he was Partner – Assurance & Head of Islamic Finance (Pakistan & Afghanistan) at Ernst & Young Ford Rhodes Sidat Hyder - A member firm of Ernst & Young. He is a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP).

At AAOIFI, he is responsible primarily for leading the process of development of accounting, auditing, governance and ethics standards for the global Islamic finance industry, besides managing the overall affairs of the institution as the organization’s head.

Omar’s key areas of expertise include assurance and advisory services to Islamic financial institutions, including Islamic accounting advisory, audits, Shari’ah Audits, corporate finance advisory, structuring of Shari’ah compliant transactions, accountancy and financial reporting, Islamic finance training, financial modelling, risk management & development and review of manuals and systems.

His published books include:

1. Managing Finances - A Shariah Compliant Way;
2. Islamic Microfinance Bank: Working Model (in Urdu);
3. IFRS and Shari'ah based reporting: a conceptual study;
4. Textbook on Islamic finance and capital markets (for the Institute of Capital Markets, SECP – Pakistan);
5. AAOIFI’s *** program study texts (in the capacity of chief editor and reviewer) comprising 4 volumes on (i) Accounting and Financial Reporting; (ii) Shari'ah Standards and Shari'ah Governance; (iii) Audit, Assurance and Ethics; and (iv) Business and regulatory environment.

Omar is a member (ex-chairman) of ICAP's committee responsible for the development of Islamic financial accounting standards for Pakistan and also a member of the Insurance Committee leading the accounting regulations development for Takaful. He was a member of Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Shari’ah Board and part of the committee for revision of Takaful Rules, besides being part of several committees and task forces of the State Bank of Pakistan. He was also an advisor to Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA) on Shari’ah issues concerning IFRS adoption.

He has contributed several articles in various newspapers and journals, and papers in conferences and is also a regular trainer and speaker on various forums on topics related to Islamic finance including forums like the State Bank of Pakistan, universities and professional bodies.