Biography:

Andrew Rainford BA (Hons) CTA ATT is a Tax Advisor, author and editor living in North Wales, specialising in advising private clients and other advisers. He has a particular interest in advising Owner Managed Businesses, families and HNW individuals. Andrew trained and qualified with a boutique firm of accountants based in London, before taking over the operation of the tax department of a smaller firm in North Wales, whilst regularly contributing to various professional tax publications. Andrew also previously worked on EY's personal tax consultancy team. Andrew can be contacted at andrew@reddragontax.co.uk.

Biography:

Hemma specializes in supporting U.S. citizens with their U.S. and UK tax reporting obligations, also offering comprehensive advisory services to help clients remain compliant across both jurisdictions. Hemma is known for her practical, client-focused approach and her ability to navigate the complexities of cross-border taxation.

Biography:

Tim is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of ICAEW. After training with Coopers & Lybrand he spent 17 years in the FTSE100, including 12 years at Anglo American plc where he was responsible for tax transparency globally.

Tim became an independent consultant in 2014, founding Engaged Consulting Ltd, and advises large businesses on tax and economic impact transparency, reputation and communication.

Tim is an expert in implementation of international standards including those from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), EU and OECD. He is an expert to the Council of Europe Economic Crime and Cooperation Division and the EU AML/CFT Global Facility, and has been a member of the B20 Integrity and Compliance Taskforce.

He is a recognised expert in beneficial ownership disclosure, and provides technical assistance to governments and government agencies introducing measures to tackle corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes, and has worked with jurisdictions across four continents. In collaboration with Michael Barron, he co-developed the BO6 framework for the design and implementation of beneficial ownership reporting regimes.

Tim has developed and run training and capacity building for private sector, government, and civil society audiences in different countries, including in anglophone and non-anglophone countries. He has written content for publication and advised on communication strategy around ethical business behaviour and good governance.

Engaged Consulting was the winner of the Tolley’s Taxation Award 2017 for Best Independent Consulting Firm and a Finalist in the same category in 2020 and 2022.

Biography:

Simon McKie is the Chairman of McKie & Co which won the ‘Best Tax Consultancy Team’ award in the 2012 and 2015 Taxation Awards and the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners award for ‘Boutique Firm of the Year’ in 2009/2010 and was most recently shortlisted in 2019.

Simon specialises in private client taxation providing bespoke tax advice to solicitors, accountants and private clients themselves.  This includes inheritance tax planning, advice on domicile and changes of residence status, offshore trusts, the remittance basis, the making of voluntary disclosures to HMRC and the review of existing tax structures.  In addition, he has a particular expertise in the management of complex tax legislation and the provision of expert witness reports.

He is the joint author of Tolley’s Estate Planning and McKie on Statutory Residence.

He is a member of both the Private Client (UK) and Private Client (International) sub-committees of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and a member of the Technical Committee of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners.

Biography:

Sarah Robert is a Business Tax director.

Sarah heads up James Cowper's expatriate tax services. She assists corporate clients moving employees overseas and into the UK as well as companies and entrepreneurs setting up in the UK for the first time.

With extensive international experience in Big 4 firms, Sarah moved to James Cowper in 2009 and now advises a varied portfolio of companies. She is experienced in a wide range of taxation issues including; employment taxes, international payroll, international social security planning, double tax treaty advice and HMRC enquiries. She has a particular expertise in advising French companies and individuals and  having worked in France herself, Sarah has a good understanding of international business challenges.

Biography:

Liz is both a solicitor and Chartered Tax Adviser and advises on both domestic and international tax issues particularly, but not exclusively, with real estate at its heart.

She advises on acquisitions, structuring, disposals and reorganisations across the hotel, leisure and retail sectors, logistics, offices, residential and mixed use. Her clients range from buyers, sellers, joint venture parties, investors, management teams, corporate groups, lenders, trustees and intermediaries.

Clients value Liz for her pragmatic and thoughtful approach that gets to the bottom of complex issues quickly and efficiently, her ability to demystify complex tax rules and her energy and enthusiasm.

Liz contributes to Tolley's Property Taxation.

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:

Steve specialises in UK and Ireland accounting standards, IFRS Accounting Standards , auditing and Solicitors Accounts Rules. Steve is the author of several books and articles on these subjects as well as a nationwide speaker.

Steve also works closely with various professional bodies in developing authoritative material on various technical accounting issues.

Steve has sat on the UK and Ireland GAAP Technical Advisory Group at the Financial Reporting Council for five years. In addition, Steve has been awarded 'Accounting Technician of the Year' at the British Accountancy Awards and 'Outstanding Contribution to the Accountancy Profession' by the Association of International Accountants.

Steve currently represents the ACCA Practitioners Network Panel for the North West of England.

Biography:

Dominic Lawrance is a partner in Charles Russell Speechlys LLP's private client division, specialising in individual taxation, trusts, and tax-efficient philanthropy. With Catrin Harrison, he is an author of Clarke’s Offshore Tax Planning: Foreign Domiciliaries. He is a recognised expert on the UK tax regime applicable to foreign domiciliaries and structures created by them.

Biography:

With more than 14 years of experience, Kennya is currently a Senior Tax Consultant at Ecovis Mexico, since 2008. She specializes in local and international tax consulting, preparation of legal opinions, implementation of tax structures, business restructuring, representation of taxpayers in tax audits. In addition to having extensive experience in obtaining confirmations of criteria and negotiation of agreements with the Mexican Tax Authorities (SAT) and PRODECON (taxpayer defense prosecutor's office) and tax litigation, in accordance with the means of defense provided for in the Mexican Legislation.

Law graduate from the Universidad Tecnológica de México, she has specializations in Tax Law and International Tax Law from the same institution and from the Universidad Panamericana, respectively.

She has also taught tax litigation at the Facultad de Estudios Superiores Aragón of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, in the field of tax litigation.

Languages: Spanish and English.

Email: kennya.ramirez@ecovis.mx

Biography:

Muhammad Ali Larik is a seasoned compliance and risk management professional with over 17 years of multifaceted experience spanning regulatory compliance, anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CTF), governance, and operations across the UAE and Pakistan. He has held leadership roles in prominent institutions such as A&A Associate LLC, AJMS Global Consulting, Creative Zone Group, and Al Brooge Securities. As Group Compliance Officer and MLRO, he has developed enterprise-wide compliance frameworks, led regulatory engagements, and implemented cutting-edge AI-based monitoring systems.

Mr. Larik is a DFSA, FSRA, and SCA-recognized compliance expert and an Approved MLRO with the UAE Central Bank. His core competencies include KYC/EDD, regulatory reporting (ESR, UBO, FATCA, CRS), transaction monitoring, internal audits, sanctions screening, and corporate governance. He has extensive experience collaborating with Free Zones, UAE Mainland authorities, and global financial regulators.

He holds an MBA in Banking & Finance and multiple prestigious international certifications, including GRCP, GRCA (GRC-USA), CAMI, CAMS, ICA (UK), CISI (UK), and Certified VAT Compliance from ATT (UK). He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants (Australia) and the Institute of Financial Accountants (UK). His FinTech specialization from the University of Pennsylvania reflects his forward-thinking approach to digital compliance and regulatory tech integration.

With a strong foundation in operations from his early years at BankIslami and a proven record in senior leadership roles, Mr. Larik combines analytical rigor, regulatory foresight, and technological fluency. He is well-versed in leading compliance trainings, enhancing audit readiness, and fostering a culture of integrity and risk-awareness across organizations.

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:

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

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".

Biography:

Biography:

Dr. Asif Zaman, alongside his academic career, also runs a private consultancy part-time. He is the founder and the CEO of EATAS Consulting LTD, UK (A Corporate Education and Training Consultancy). EATAS Consulting specialises in facilitating organisations adapting to the dynamic and complex business environment and advises corporates on organisational development, management, and leadership training to develop human capital.

Dr. Asif Zaman holds an MBA from the University of Wales, Institute Cardiff (UWIC), and a PhD in Corporate Finance / Islamic Banking and Finance from Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Affiliated professional bodies:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (FHEA), UK since 2011
• Academic Fellow of The Association of International Accountants FAIA(ACAD) since April 2015
• CMBE (Certified Management and Business Educator) by CABS (Chartered Association of Business Schools) since March 2020
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) (CIMA - Candidate), since 2017

His expertise lies in Islamic Banking and Finance, Corporate Finance and accounting, sustainable finance, and FinTech and Digital Finance.

Dr. Asif Zaman has over 20 years of extensive business management experience in diversified industries. His entrepreneurial expertise ranges from sales, retail, and project management to the property development sector. Before entering the world of academia, he successfully managed many small and medium-sized enterprises within the UK and internationally. He has worked with industry professionals in the financial sector for commercial and private lending.

Biography:

Emma Haley is a senior associate solicitor at leading private client firm, Boodle Hatfield LLP, renowned for providing first-class and practical legal advice to wealthy clients around the world.

Emma has many years experience in dealing with all aspects of wills, probate, capital taxation and succession planning as well as UK and offshore trusts. Emma currently heads up a technical know-how team and is a regular writer and lecturer on estate planning and inheritance tax and also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Biography:

Joshua Mangeot is a partner in Harneys BVI transactional practice group. Josh is regarded as a leading specialist on the BVI economic substance requirements and has advised several of the world’s largest multinational enterprises (MNEs) and other stakeholders on the implementation of the regime. He regularly advises leading global law firms, businesses, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals on British Virgin Islands law. Prior to moving to the BVI in 2014, Josh was an associate in Slaughter and May’s tax department.