South: Shoosmiths strengthens corporate tax team

Shoosmiths has further strengthened the corporate tax team servicing its national network of offices with two new appointments in swift succession.

In the latest expansion at the rapidly-growing firm, highly-rated tax partner Niall Murphy has been appointed to head-up the corporate tax department based in its Solent office.

Murphy, who is triple-qualified as a solicitor, accountant and a chartered tax advisor, has a heavyweight track record advising in all types of property and corporate transactions.

He also specialises in employment-related tax issues including recruitment and termination packages and IR35 structures and joined Shoosmiths in 2006 from Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons where he was head of corporate tax for 10 years.

In the second appointment, assistant solicitor Tom Wilde, who specialises in advising blue-chip companies, investment banks and multi-national corporations, has joined the tax team from City firm Linklaters. He will be based in Shoosmiths’ Thames Valley offices, working closely with corporate tax specialist Stuart Hale.

Murphy’s appointment takes the total number of partners to 97 and illustrates Shoosmiths on-going commitment to add to its already highly-respected pool of talent and experience.

Shoosmiths’ head of corporate, Oliver Brookshaw, commented: “As the calibre and size of our deals increases, we needed to invest in a highly experienced tax team to support these transactions and to supplement our existing tax team.

“Niall brings a depth of knowledge which will not only support existing client transactions but will draw new clients to us who want to take advantage of his expertise in UK and international tax issues.”

In the short time since his arrival Murphy, who is a member of the VAT Practitioners’ Group and the Corporation Tax Sub-Committee of the Law Society, has already advised on projects as diverse as the takeover of Radstone Technology, the establishment of share schemes for Land of Leather plc as well as a host of property transactions.

Shoosmiths has already boosted its corporate and commercial teams significantly over the past year with the appointment of corporate partners Chris Garnett from Eversheds, Geoff Perry from Bevan Brittan, Mark Shepherd from Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons and commercial partner David Jackson from Compass Group.