Travers Smith LLP has appointed Emily Clark as Head of the firm's Tax Practice.
Emily joined Travers Smith in 1998 and became a partner in 2011. She advises on all aspects of fund formation across all the alternative asset classes including private equity and venture, credit, infrastructure and real estate. She also advises asset managers, ranging from global multi-strategy houses through to new start-up teams, on the tax issues which impact their businesses.
Emily is a member of Invest Europe's International Tax and Tax Reporting Group, of the Alternative Credit Council's Tax Committee, as well as the British Property Federation's Tax Committee, and has been involved in discussions with HMRC and HM Treasury on the enactment of complex new legislations. Between 2015 and December 2019 Emily was also Co-head of Graduate Recruitment at Travers Smith.
As Head of Tax, Emily leads the team comprising 40 qualified tax lawyers, including nine partners (six of whom are female). In this role she has succeeded Simon Skinner who led the practice for the past two years.
Emily Clark commented: "I am delighted to be taking over as Head of the firm's Tax Department. It is immensely exciting to be part of one of the largest and most diverse practices in the City. As tax becomes even more complex and more internationally focused, we will continue to provide straightforward, commercial tax advice, especially when the tax issues are difficult."
The Travers Smith Tax team has a wealth of experience advising global brands, asset management houses and senior management teams on corporate tax issues linked to the whole lifecycle of their investments and other activities including buying, selling, borrowing, restructuring and fundraising. Key clients include Bridgepoint, Melrose Industries plc, the Peel Group and the Carlyle Group.
The depth of the team's expertise also comprises employee incentives, complex real estate structures, infrastructure investments and issues for tax exempt investors such as pension funds. Prompted by an increase in the number of enquiries issued by tax authorities, the team is increasingly busy advising clients on proactive and cooperative engagement with HMRC and finding solutions that bring matters to a close as smoothly and as quickly as possible.
Additionally, the team has expanded its presence in the real estate tax arena, increasing its share of work for major private equity real estate players, launching new real estate funds vehicles, and continuing to lead as tax advisers on complex deals for long-standing clients.
Reflecting the demand of its clients, in 2019, the department was further bolstered by the hire of a recognised real estate tax expert Cathryn Vanderspar, who is the team's Head of Real Estate Tax, and the promotion of Jonathan Woodall to Senior Counsel to work alongside the existing team of partners led by Emily Clark and including Simon Skinner, Elena Rowlands, Russell Warren, Jessica Kemp, Hannah Manning, Kathleen Russ, Mahesh Varia and Madeline Gowlett.