Biography
John is a Partner in the Tax team who can advise on most forms of taxation, with a particular specialism in corporate and property related taxation.
John's fields of expertise include corporate taxation (which includes M&A work, restructurings, reorganisations), and also property taxation, (which includes advising on VAT, SDLT and other property related taxes) arising from property acquisitions, disposals and leases. John also advises entrepreneurs on the tax implications of their investments, acquisitions and disposals. His clients include large corporates, SME’s, investors, entrepreneurs and family owned businesses.
Before joining Ashfords, John worked for HMRC for eleven years in a number of technical advisory roles prior to becoming a solicitor. John then went on to hold a number of senior tax advisory positions in large legal firms.
Relevant experience
- British Solar Renewables - Provided tax advice to management shareholders on the sale of their shares to a major player in the renewable energy sector. The work included detailed tax advice on employment related securities.
- Advised the selling shareholders of a major car sales group in Cornwall regarding the tax consequences of the sale of their shares and also assisted in the negotiation of the tax documentation included within the transaction. This was a complicated matter involving the sales of three separate companies, a group of companies and a stand alone business.
- Advised a large manufacturing company based in Devon in their dispute with HMRC regarding a VAT liability in excess of £20M. Settlement was agreed at a substantially reduced figure.
- Advised a large London based private equity fund on the tax issues referable to their acquisition programme of a number of corporate entities within the education and technology sector.
- Advised the shareholder of the Mohawk Investments Group on the sale of the group to a large US equity firm. The nature of the consideration, a mixture of cash, shares and loan notes presented a number of complex tax issues for the selling shareholder.
