A look back at the most read stories this week on eprivateclient…
Monday
One of the UK’s most wanted tax fugitives was jailed for eight years after spending nine years on the run.
Sarah Panitzke, originally from York, played a leading role in a vast multi-million-pound VAT fraud and became one of the UK’s most wanted criminals after absconding during her trial in 2013.
Nominations opened for the 2022 eprivateclient Top 35 Under 35 rankings - the definitive annual list of young private client advisers, generously sponsored for the ninth year running by Cazenove Capital.
Nominations are invited for young and upcoming stars within the private client advisory professions from the UK and Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man), be they private client and family lawyers, accountants, trustees or residential property buying agents.
Tuesday
Another tax avoidance scheme was exposed by HMRC to help ensure its clients do not end up with large tax bills.
Individuals using a tax avoidance scheme provided by Peak PAYE Ltd were urged to withdraw from it and to contact HMRC as soon as possible.
Jersey-based independent trust, corporate and fund administration provider VG bolstered its private wealth team with the appointment of Wendy Inns as a director, subject to regulatory approval.
Ms Inns has more than 25 years’ experience and joined from fellow Jersey-based trust company Hawksford, where she held the role of director for five years. Before that Ms Inns worked at Minerva, Ogier and a number of global banks.
Wednesday
The eprivateclient Excellence Awards Judging Panel nominated 28 firms on the shortlist of finalists and commended firms across 11 Award categories.
A broad range of firms made the list for the inaugural eprivateclient Excellence Awards programme, which is focused exclusively on recognising the outstanding achievements of firms across the UK and offshore legal, tax, fiduciary and advisory professions over the past year.
UK law firms Weightmans and RadcliffesleBrasseur completed their merger to create the new Weightmans LLP, growing both firms’ presence in London, Leeds, Cardiff and nationally and providing a wider range of advisory services focused on clients.
The combined firm has a turnover of over £120 million, with 225 partners and a total headcount of over 1400 people based across nine offices – Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle.
Thursday
2021 eprivateclient Top 35 under 35 Mohammad Alimahomed launched a new multi-disciplinary tax advisory practice based near the UK’s National Space Centre in Leicester.
Syon Tax, led by Mr Alimahomed and Ammar Mussa, both of whom gained most of their experience with Big Four firm PwC was launched after the founders recognised “the need and gap in the market for a no -nonsense, partner-led approach to tax advice.”
Former chair of STEP worldwide, Edward Buckland, left LGL Trustees Limited. LGL confirmed to eprivateclient that he has now retired from the firm.
Mr Buckland joined LGL in 2016 as a trust director. Latterly, he became senior client partner.
Friday
PraxisIFM appointed former eprivateclient Top 35 Under 35 Nathan Taylor as associate director of the fiduciary services provider's UAE office.
Mr Taylor has worked in offshore finance since 2006, working with high and ultra-high-net-worth clients throughout the Middle East.
Much like the process of making wine, the legal aspects of buying and running a wine estate is complex and presents a mix of legal challenges, according to UK law firm Forsters.
Therefore Forsters launched a specialised wineries and vineyards team. It will be run by senior associate Idina Glyn and associate Henry Vane.